Impact
Skriveriet ('the Writery')
Those who write about the world, shape the world.
This has remained true throughout the centuries. Even after the increase in European literacy rates and the more recent proliferation of personal blogs and influencers, the fact remains that influential writers impact the direction of the world in profound ways.
Making writing your profession is difficult though, and so it remains the case that it is the people who know other writers or publishers that become the next generation of writers. In the UK, just 6% of the journalism industry is non-white and only 11% are from working class backgrounds (compared to 60% of the population). In Sweden too, writers and other public figures are disproportionately made up of urban people from well-off backgrounds.
Perspective matters, and it is for this reason that the Global Shapers Stockholm Hub is creating a youth prize in literature. Literature can increase empathy, further social cohesion, and create a new vocabulary for nuanced discussion. For this to happen, however, we need a broader range of literary voices that reflects society as it looks today.
The Skriveriet project is aiming at widening the pool of young writers who consider writing their career and inspiring a broader range of perspectives to be represented on the Swedish literary scene.
The first edition of the competition ran in 2020 with the theme ”Om jag var du” (“If I was you”). It targeted marginalized youth in ages 15-25 from all over Sweden. The winner was chosen by a jury of prominent Swedish writers, and given a stipend of 10.000 SEK with the hope that this would allow them to dedicate some time specifically to writing. A total of 13 winning texts were selected for publication.
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Number of participants & submissions: 386 participants and 540 submissions, geographically dispersed across the country with a concentration on urban areas.
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Prize winner: Alexander Acosta Nyman
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Social media activity: 705 instagram followers, 72 posts.
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Panel discussion on Diversity & Inclusion participants: 95 registered participants.
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Media presence: Two news articles published in Kultmagasin & Mynewsdesk, one shaper participated on local radio (P4 Stockholm).
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Book Publication: A book with 13 winning texts published in three largest online book retail stores: Bokus, Adlibris, AkademiBokhandeln. 95 copies sold by April 2023.
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Jury: Dona Hariri, Golnaz Hashemzadeh Bonde, Mariama Jobe, Sami Said, Gunilla von Platen
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Partners: Teach for Sweden, Global Utmaning
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Project team: A core group of 5 members with an additional number of shapers providing intermittent support with outreach, evaluation of submissions, book design etc.
Contact information:
This project is closed for now.
