Arvon

Who we are

Arvon is the UK’s home of creative writing. Our programme, led by highly acclaimed and diverse writers, spans poetry to playwriting,songto screenplay, fact to fiction, and starting to finishing.

Arvon was founded fifty years ago on a belief in the power of the imagination and the benefits of creative writing. If you share our conviction that these benefits should be availableto everyone, regardlessoftheir background or circumstances, then you could be our next Chair. We know that, for so many people in our society, equality has not yet been realised, and we are particularly keen to meet candidates whose life experience will help us work towards greater equality of access, opportunity and participation in all our programmes.

Arvon's vision 

We believe creative writing can change lives for the better. Creative writing allows us to harness our imagination and find our voice. It creates new possibilities, new ideas, new futures. It unlocks our potential, our empathy and our hope. And we’re keen to share this opportunity for transformation with as many people as possible.

Arvon’s Values

INCLUSIVE: Everyone is creative. We make spaces that are open to all, where anyone, regardless of writing experience or background, feels welcome and included as part of a community of writers.

INSPIRING: Step away from the routine, be inspired by writers and our beautiful places and unlock your imaginative potential. Arvon is a place for contemplation, challenge and going beyond what you thought you were capable of achieving.

SUPPORTIVE: Creative writing is a craft that can be learnt, through guidance from experts, and through the peer support that comes from creative friendships with fellow writers. At Arvon writers teach writers, and everyone encourages each other to become a better writer.

TRANSFORMATIVE: Immersing yourself in creative writing nourishes the imagination, can deepen the connection to self and to the world, and can lead to dramatic change and progress.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

In recognition of direct and indirect discrimination on the basis of the following protected characteristics: race, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and paternity, gender reassignment, religion or belief, disability, age and also national or ethnic origin, Arvon is committed to working towards providing equality of opportunity in its employment practices for staff and Board composition, marketing, artistic and learning and participation policies, all staff policies, programming and services offered to individuals, partners and members of the public. Please see see the Arvon website for our full Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement.