Asia House Literature Festival
Words, stories, ideas from Asia and the diaspora
About the Festival
The Asia House Literature Festival takes place every autumn and seeks to increase the awareness and understanding of the diverse cultures of Asia and the diaspora through the power of stories. We do this by holding panel discussions and debates, author talks and live literature performances.
By acting as a neutral space for the exchange of ideas and the highlighting of key Asian issues, and providing a platform for debate, the festival brings together a predominantly millennial and ethnically diverse audience for a series of educational and entertaining events.
We have showcased talent across the spoken and written word, including speakers such as Jung Chang, Elif Shafak, Mohsin Hamid, Nadiya Hussain, Nish Kumar and Mishal Husain.
The Power of Stories
We aim to bring literature to life. We believe in the power of stories. Stories connect us to people and culture. They fire our imaginations, hold our present, share our histories and shape our futures. Stories are powerful and they matter to us and our audience.
The Diverse Cultures of Asia
We explore the world’s largest continent – from Turkey to Tokyo – and the experiences of the Asian diaspora. From examinations of British South Asian identity to socio-economic discussions on the future of China, the festival’s programme is as diverse as the region, cultures and people that we cover.
Representation Matters
The 2011 UK census showed that the Asian population formed the largest ethnic minority group, yet a 2015 report commissioned by Spread the Word (a writer development agency) found that only 4% of writers appearing in the largest UK literature festivals were from ethnic minority backgrounds. We are committed to representation and this is reflected in our programming.
THE 2018 FESTIVAL DEMOGRAPHICS
24%
Aged 18-24
61%
BAME backgrounds
(Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic)
39%
Aged 25-34
72%
Female
15%
Aged 35-44
8+ out of 10
Event rating from 86% of our audience
About Asia House
Asia House, an independent think tank and advisory service, supports a vibrant Arts and Learning programme - a creative hub for Asian arts and culture in the UK. The mission of Asia House Arts and Learning is to inspire and engage diverse audiences through a pan-Asian artistic and cultural programme, which takes place through panel discussions, exhibitions, performances, talks and screenings and spans artistic forms ranging from music, dance, visual art, film, fashion, literature and food.
For more information visit www.asiahousearts.org