Manchester Central Library to 'break down barriers' with celebration of black British writers

Manchester Central Library will be the host of The Black British Books event the largest celebration of black authors and black literature.

The event will be partaking in a summer tour around the UK giving black authors a platform to showcase their work and for it to gain recognition.

Starting in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the event brought in around 600 attendees and is growing in popularity more each year with this being their third event.

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The event will have many activities available such as workshops, speaking events and a social side in which writers will be able to hear advice and connect with others in the industry.

The festival event will feature storytelling, workshops, and speeches from notable black authors, such as British professor and author Kehinde Andrews and poet Jackie Kay of Manchester.

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills Employment, and Leisure said: "We have a wealth of interesting and creative talent in Manchester across diverse communities.

"I am particularly pleased that we are hosting this family-friendly festival, of established and emerging black British authors representing all literature genres, in Manchester Central Library.

"We need to be able to reach out to all communities to make literature more accessible and engaging and break down barriers to inspire a love of reading and light the spark for future generations in the city. This is a step in the right direction.”

The event will be taking place at Manchester Central Library on the 17th of September 2023. For more information, you can visit the Black British Book Festival website.

Tickets for the event will be free