Launched in 2023, the BORN::FREE Writers’ Collective (BFWC) is London’s only development programme open specifically to Black writers. 

Completely detached from the history or politics of colonial cultural institutions, BFWC operates within a framework that orbits around African and Afro-diasporic writing and performance techniques. Now in its third year, we are working in partnership with library/bookshop and events space Reference Point, where BFWC Members will originate works in dialogue with and in response to the venue's Black and African literature across forms and genres. 

The course is led by BORN::FREE's Creative Directors: poet, sound artist & educator Belinda Zhawi (she/her), and writer & theatre-maker malakaï sargeant (they/them), along with exercises designed by established writers who are friends of BORN::FREE. BORN::FREE's specialisms lay within the writing of poetry, essays, short stories and playwriting but we invite Black artists working with text in any medium to join.

Over five sessions, Members will dissect a range of texts found in Reference Point and be guided through a series of discussions and exercises to stimulate the generation of new work– whilst in a safe space centred around Afrocentric methods of creation, craft and critique. The sixth session (6 October, online) will be a peer review session, with online 1-2-1s with course tutors throughout October to edit work that Members will share in an experimental showcase event at Reference Point in November.

More information and a downloadable info pack, which summarises the course contents, ethos and schedule, is available on the BORN::FREE website.

About BORN::FREE

BORN::FREE is a literary arts agency founded in 2014 for established, young & emerging writers of all narratives– with a special interest in African/Afro-diasporic & experimental writing.

Having presented work in the UK and internationally, partnering with organisations including the V&A, the ICA & British Council, as well as festivals like We Out Here and Brainchild, BORN::FREE is a staple in the UK poetry scene.

Our education work spans workshops and half-term programmes for communities, young people and emerging artists with organisations like Royal Museums Greenwich, the Migration Museum and Serpentine Gallery. BORN::FREE FM, previously broadcast on Threads Radio– centring our values of curation, craft and critique– features soundscapes, interviews, poetry and music.

Our passion for the latter has seen BORN::FREE recently launch an immersive club night platforming Afro-diasporic bass and dance music with live percussion, GET::FREE.