Two new Creative Associates join New Writing North
Posted by
We’re excited that Tammie Ash and Adam Cooper have joined New Writing North in two new Creative Associate roles.
Tammie Ash is a new writer from Bradford keen to bring more South Asian voices to books. She’s hoping to write for children and tell stories that include the culture and experiences of Indian women.
She’s an alumna of New Writing North’s ‘A Writing Chance’ scheme for working-class voices. As part of this, she’s written for publications such as The New Statesman and The Mirror and was part of the ‘Margins to Mainstream’ podcast on BBC Sounds which featured Michael Sheen.
She recently completed training in investigative journalism with the Centre for Investigative Journalism on the Lyra McKee Scheme 2022 alongside her day job as a researcher in factual TV where she’s worked on shows for Channel 4 and the BBC. Prior to this, she studied and worked as a civil engineer.
Tammie joins NWN as a Creative Associate (Residency). Over six months she will be working on developing her skills as a picture book writer and working with an experienced mentor, as well as advising on and supporting our talent development programmes.
Tammie Ash said: “I’m really excited to join New Writing North as a Creative Associate. They’re a fantastic team and I can’t wait to grow as a writer with them. I’ll be developing my Indian-inspired picture book idea and I’ll be working with them to raise an awareness of writing and literature in my home city of Bradford.”
Adam Cooper has over a decade of experience in senior roles and consulting in the cultural sector, an MBA from Durham University, and a PG Dip in Leadership and Philanthropy. Most recently, he was Executive Director of Invisible Dust – a leading art and science organisation.
Adam joins NWN as a Creative Associate. He is working with us over 1 year to co-create climate action with communities in the North East, and to develop NWN’s climate action work. With NWN’s support, Adam is founding a new climate hope organisation, Threads in the Ground.
Adam Cooper said: “The stories we tell about climate change will shape our species’ response, and our future. Our cultural sector needs to unearth more hopeful climate action stories. The Creative Associateship is my opportunity to be a better ancestor, and to offer that same opportunity to more people.”
Anna Disley, Executive Director (Programme and Impact) said: “We are delighted to welcome two new creative practitioners into the centre of organisation, who alongside writer Adam Sharp will be developing their own projects and also informing the creative decisions we make from their own unique perspectives. The Creative Associates programme has already proved to be a very exciting and fruitful way of working at NWN, with Sharmin Islam’s Brown Girls Write programme in Newcastle still going from strength to strength.”