WOWFest: Class of ’23
Venue: Liverpool
Date(s): 1.5.23 - 31.5.23
Time(s): All Day
As the economy spirals into turmoil and workers from all sectors take to the picket lines in demand for better wages and conditions, WoWFEST is raising its banner high. We invite everyone to join us in a month-long celebration of working-class culture and life, in all its diversity. Our line-up of writers, artists, and commentators will explore the ways in which class shapes our perceptions, experiences, opportunities, and culture, and how we view our place in the world. We’ll delve into the impact of race, gender, and sexual orientation on class, and examine how literature addresses or reinforces class inequality. Join WoWFEST: Class of ’23 and be part of the change you want to see – make your voice heard in the campaign for social equality!
Meet the class of ’23
Michael Rosen, Travis Alabanza, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lowkey, Shami Chakrabarti, Gary Younge, Kenan Malik, Joelle Taylor, Kit De Waal, Chris Nineham, Tomiwa Owolade, She Drew The Gun, Peter Hooton + Many more!
Opportunities for working-class people are dwindling, and past gains in employment, education, and health are being eroded. Working-class writers and publishers are pushing back, but the industry is still dominated by white, middle-class voices. Writing on the Wall is proud to be part of the movement to elevate the value of our lives and voices. We offer a platform to explore the difficult and sometimes traumatic experiences of working-class people, while also celebrating their multifaceted lives
Class has always been central to our work at Writing on the Wall and our festival, WoWFEST. But now, more than ever, it’s time to stand up and say, ‘class matters’. Writing on the Wall was born out of the Liverpool Dockers Strike in the late ’90s, a two-and-a-half-year struggle against an employer and government who sought to strip away the rights the workers had fought for over centuries. We remain true to our roots, providing a platform for discussion on the issues that affect us and publishing the work of hundreds of working-class participants in our projects. We use writing and creativity to transform individuals and communities, as an act of resistance and a tool to inspire and mobilize change.