Ted Hodgkinson

Ted Hodgkinson is Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, Europe’s largest arts centre. From talks with cultural icons and leading thinkers, to world renowned authors and exciting new voices, he oversees the year-round programme of literature and spoken word activity, including London Literature Festival and a range of cross-arts projects and festivals. He is a senior member of the curatorial steering group for the organisation as a whole.

His previous experience encompasses working as online editor at Granta Magazine and managing global communications and literature programming at the British Council, where he developed and delivered projects across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. He has contributed to a range of publications and platforms, including the New Statesman, the Literary Hub, the Times Literary Supplement and co-edited, with the Icelandic author Sjón, The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat and other stories from the North. He has judged numerous literary awards, including the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and RSL Encore Award. In 2020 chaired the judging panel of the International Booker Prize.

He is a trustee of English PEN, the founding centre of PEN International, which champions the freedom to write and read around the world. He has twice been named in The Bookseller’s list of the 100 most influential people in publishing.

“I have long admired the inspirational work of New Writing North, from the transformative initiatives they run across the region, to the positive impact they have had on the publishing and literature ecology across the UK and beyond. From my editorial days at Granta to my current role at the Southbank Centre, supporting and spotlighting new talent has always been one of the most rewarding aspects of the work I do, so I was thrilled and honoured to be asked to join the board at this pivotal moment for the organisation.

“I’m looking forward to working with the brilliant team at NWN as they embark on a major capital project, which will be a vital catalyst for the writing community across the region.”