About Us

Our aim is to open up the flexible literature artform of poetry and story, creative writing and reading as widely as we can to the benefit of all in the South West of England. We are committed to diversity and to the socially engaged use of literature to develop communities and support wellbeing. We nurture talent and provide resources. Our website is a dynamic and constantly updating source of information, rich with activity around the region.

We are the regional literature development agency for South West England, a registered charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation. We are developing the historic Exeter Custom House as a hub for literature and act in an artform mentoring role on the Steering Group for Exeter as a UNESCO City of Literature. Our ‘Poetry Cares’ project trains poets around the region to deliver poetry and reminiscence sessions for people living with memory loss. We host a thriving online community of emerging and established writers. Through the Literature Works Annual Fund, we make small seed-funding grants to community-based projects, which we then mentor and support to develop. This is just some of our work – there is much more to explore on this site.

The region is large, combining major cities with rural areas. From Gloucestershire down to Land’s End and across to Hampshire, the region has some stunning landscapes, but these rural areas also face the dual challenges of high unemployment and the fastest growing older population in the country. Some of the region’s urban areas in Torbay, Plymouth, Bristol and Somerset fall within the top 25% of the most deprived economic areas in England.

Our vision

Is a vibrant, connected and sustainable literature ecology in South West England, where barriers are removed, access is opened up and a wealth of opportunities are available to all. The literature artform, in all its many and flexible forms, is used, appreciated and enjoyed as a powerful means to enrich lives, strengthen communities, enhance wellbeing and explore pressing issues such as climate change and inequality.

Our mission in full

We create and advocate for access to literature in all its contexts, for everyone and for all ages

We use socially engaged practice to deliver specific impacts and to extend and diversify reach

Innovative use of technology as a creative medium and as a means of connecting and expanding reach

Providing opportunities for writers to develop their craft, nurturing talent and supporting them to sustain a living as writers

Demonstrating the relevance, power and impact of our artform through continuous evaluation of our work

Generating income from our skills, expertise and connections in support of our non-profit work

Delivering and connecting through a wide network of partners from within and beyond our sector including: libraries, arts organisations, local authorities, place-based organisations, charities, publishers, booksellers, producers, practitioners, health sector, community groups, education sector, commerce and heritage organisations

Championing literature’s place, growth, relevance and value, now and in the future.

Our values

These are embedded in everything we do –

Leadership – championing our region and artform with passion, ambition and expert knowledge

Learning – continuously exploring and improving, looking at new ways of delivering, asking questions and evaluating impact as we go

Inclusivity – embracing all comers and championing literature as a flexible and democratic artform

Collaboration – with a wide range of partners and practitioners, regionally, nationally and internationally

Openness – to wide-ranging influences, ideas and innovation

Integrity – always operating in a fair, transparent and honest manner

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Registered Office: Literature Works, C/O The Arts Institute Office, Roland Levinsky Building,
Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL48AA

Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales

Company Registration Number: 06858956
Registered Charity: 1132586.