Over the past twenty years I have worked with clients such as Port Eliot Festival, the Southbank Centre, English PEN and Ledbury Poetry Festival on everything from sit-down readings to collaborative readings to participatory installations. I also chair literary events, with gigs at Newcastle Poetry Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Off the Shelf and the London Book Fair among many others.
I’m currently the Artistic Director of Winchester Poetry Festival, a wonderful festival that takes place every two years in the south of England, and having a lot of fun programming the 2027 edition.
I’m proud to be a trustee for Adverse Camber Productions, a storytelling production charity based in Derbyshire.
And I am a singer and composer – currently mostly singing with Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir.
Arts Council access support
I’m now offering access support to writers applying for Arts Council England grants. I help to navigate the forms, finesse budgets and project plans, and input answers into the grant portal. It’s a good way to make use of over a decade’s experience of writing bids, for arts charities as well as for my own projects. If you’re eligible for access support (see here for the criteria), I can support you at no cost to you – get in touch below and I’ll help you to get set up. My skillset is especially suited to neurodivergent writers.
‘Erica’s work was sublime. She quickly adapted to support my specific access needs, assisting me in a wide range of tasks to help remove obstacles to my progress. Most importantly, she created an environment that was inclusive, empowering, grounded and kind.’ Jess Murrain, poet
Erica Hesketh 