Photo by João Silas on Unsplash
Photo by João Silas on Unsplash.

New-look for Humber Mouth Festival

A new-look Humber Mouth has been launched, introducing a number of residencies and commission opportunities for readers and writers alike.

The literature festival, which has been produced by Hull City Council and partners since 1992, is taking a break from the usual festival format with a number of programmes taking place until the summer.

Projects include:

Reader-in-residence

Hull writer Jennifer Hodgson has been commissioned to curate and lead a monthly programme of readings and talks to bring a range of excellent new writing talent into the city. This is being delivered in partnership with Hull Libraries.

Digital writing commission

Joanna Walsh has been commissioned to explore the possibilities of writing in a digital context, with the support of York Mediale, the international media arts festival based in York.

International writer residency

City Arts, working with the University of Hull, will recruit an international writer from countries that the local authority identifies in its cultural strategy as being particularly relevant to Hull i.e. from Northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Local writer opportunities

A number of opportunities for local writers will also be advertised on the Humber Mouth website to offer opportunities to develop new work.

Councillor Dave Craker, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Hull City Council, said: “Humber Mouth is loved by many so we were keen to refresh and offer audiences something new and exciting as well as offering writers and avid readers something they could get their teeth into.

“The council’s Cultural Strategy 2016-26 encourages small scale, niche programming that will be both sustainable and powerful in its message and Humber Mouth is a vital part of this approach.

“We’re very much looking forward to getting stuck into the festival in the New Year and look forward to welcoming audiences old and new.”

More information on the festival is available here.

A £42 million investment in the city will see the height of defences raised along more than four miles of the Humber foreshore, from St Andrew’s Quay and Victoria Dock Village.