Renaissance One: diversifying literature

Renaissance One is an independent arts company that produces, curates and galvanises literature. We promote high-quality literature of all kinds.  We highlight global voices in Britain, and the diverse literatures that its writers, artists and communities produce. Our name is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and historical renaissance periods as forms of artistic freedom, and rebirth.

Since 1999, we have worked with leading and emerging voices in contemporary writing and the arts, including Ali Smith, Bernardine Evaristo, Chris Ofili, Gary Younge, Caroline Bird, Hannah Lowe, Sophie Woolley and Romesh Gunesekera.  We work across the UK and we produce festivals, tours and events. We are developing creative projects with Grace Nichols and Seni Seniviratne.

Our agency  arm represents writers for bookings including John Agard, Patience Agbabi, Jason Allen-Paisant and Mark Gwynne Jones. Annually, we will tour with a Caribbean, US or Europe-based writer to audiences in England, and this has included Shivanee Ramlochan, Paul Beatty, Caryl Phillips, Shara McCallum, Ursula Rucker, and the late Amiri Baraka. We push for greater diversity in the arts, and shape mentoring and education projects that can connect with, and support, audiences and communities.