Since 1968, Arvon has been offering people time and space to write, with an annual programme of residential courses and retreats at three rural writing houses – in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire.
The courses are tutored by some of the most acclaimed authors writing today, including Mark Haddon, Bernardine Evaristo, Jim Crace, Sinead Morrissey, Simon Armitage, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Willy Russell, Malorie Blackman and Melvin Burgess. Past tutors have included Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie and Beryl Bainbridge.
The adult programme covers a wide range of genres, for all levels of experience, from beginners to emerging and published writers. They also run Arvon City,the three-day non-residential creative writing courses in city centres. A third of all the courses are with schools and community groups.
They offer you more than a writing course. They have cultivated the ideal environment for creativity to thrive. Time and time again, they hear how surprised and delighted people are by the results of their Arvon week, and how the experience has boosted their confidence and creativity long after.
They believe creative writing can change lives for the better. Creative writing allows us to harness the imagination and find the voice. It creates new possibilities, new ideas, new futures. It unlocks potential, the empathy and the hope. And they are keen to share this opportunity for transformation with as many people as possible
INCLUSIVE: Everyone is creative. They make spaces that are open to all, where anyone, regardless of writing experience, feels welcome and included as part of a community of writers.
INSPIRING: Step away from the routine, be inspired by writers and the beautiful places and release 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 in creative writing nourishes the imagination, can deepen the connection to self and to the world, and can lead to dramatic change and progress.
