Young Writers’ Summer Schools

Ready for a summer bursting with ideas and creative energy? With music, art, poetry and theatre? Well done, you’ve found New Writing North’s Young Writers’ Summer Schools.

Our 3-day Young Writers’ Summer Schools take place across the North East. Here, young people aged 12-19 work on exciting creative writing projects with professional writers and artists. Recent projects have included songwriting, animation, rap, plays, crime writing and poetry.

We want to make sure you get the chance to write all year round, so whether you’re already a keen writer or just looking to try something new, Summer Schools are a great way to get involved and immerse yourself in a project.

Is it for me?

Lots of different people take part in our Summer Schools. Some of them already attend our weekly Young Writers’ Groups, while others are looking for fun new stuff to do during the holidays. Either way, you’ll meet new people and spend a fun few days being creative and trying out new ideas.

How much does it cost?

We want everyone to be able to access our Young Writers’ programme, including our summer schools and our weekly writing groups, so we fundraise to make the entire programme FREE to take part in. Hooray!

Parents, if you would like to support us to keep the programme free throughout the year, you can do so by selecting a ‘donation ticket’ on the Summer School of your choice below or by donating on our Just Giving page.

How do I sign up?

Young Writers’ Summer Schools sign-ups are now open! Spaces on our summer schools are limited and usually become fully booked, so check out what’s on offer below and book your free place soon. Make sure to keep up to date with our summer school news by signing up to our newsletter.

2019 Summer Schools

Sunderland Summer School: Young Songwriters

Wednesday 24 – Friday 26 July 2019, 11am – 4pm

Pennywell Youth Project, Petersfield Rd, Sunderland SR4 9BB

Group Leader: Jennie Brewis

Join us at our first Songwriting Summer School in Pennywell.

You will work with professional songwriters and musicians to write, create and record your own songs.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t play an instrument, if you’re someone that enjoys writing, music, singing or songwriting this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved.

Gateshead Summer School: In the Frame

Wednesday 31 July to Friday 2nd August 2019, 11am –4pm

Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Rd, Gateshead NE8 4LN

Group Leader: Lauren Vevers

For our first Gateshead Summer School we will be taking inspiration from works of art to create our own film stories!

After looking around the Shipley Art Gallery for hidden stories to excite our imagination, we will make our own pieces of spoken word poetry with masterclasses from writers John Challis and Lisette Auton. Then, on the final day, we will use these to have fun making our own short films.

Newcastle Summer School: Must-see Stories

Monday 5 – Wednesday 7 August,
11am – 4pm

Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JA

Group Leader: Zoe Murtagh

Join us at the Discovery Museum where we’ve teamed up with Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums to bring you a summer school filled with creative opportunities.

Work with actor, writer and spoken word artist Tracy Gillman along with group leader Zoe Murtagh, to pull out and create must-see stories inspired by the collections.

This is a great opportunity for writers of all levels and interests to come along and try new things.

South Shields Summer School: Pick and Mix

Wednesday 7 – Friday 9 August 2019, 11am – 4pm

The Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF

Group Leader: Lisa Burns

Come along to The Word to our ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’ Summer School, where we’ll be programming a jam-packed line-up of creative writing sessions to spark your imagination.

From poetry to fantasy, folklore to true crime, there will be something for everyone.

Sign-up to register your interest and in the meantime keep your eyes peeled for line-up announcements!

Northumberland Summer School: Make Some Noise

Wednesday 14 – Friday 16 August 2019, 11am – 4pm

Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF

Group Leader: Sarah Tarbit

This year we are holding our first summer school at the fantastic Woodhorn Museum and Nature Reserve, open to members of Cramlington and Amble Young Writers groups, as well as everyone else who fancies trying writing.

Come and experiment with sound!

Together with guest writers Carmen Marcus and Kris Johnson we will create poetry and prose inspired by the natural surroundings and the industrial heritage of the unique site.

Then, we will work with a composer and poet, Martin Heslop, to create amazing audio recordings using sounds from the site.

'It was a positive, engaging experience. I have made new friends and fallen in love with writing again. I will definitely be coming in term-time' - 2018 participant

Read about our Young Writers’ Summer Schools in 2018 »