SMASHING IT published autumn 2019

Salena Godden

SMASHING IT published autumn 2019

Smashing It: Working Class Artists On Life, Art And Making It Happen

Edited by poet and playwright Sabrina Mahfouz. The book began when Mahfouz wrote a tweet about how being working class has been the principal obstacle she has faced in the arts, although she is only ever asked about her gender or ethnicity. The tweet was viewed 214,727 times and clicked on almost 7,000 times, and prompted a host of responses. Mahfouz took this as a call to action and set up a free workshop to help working class writers access UK arts funding, The success of that first workshop, which attracted people from around the country, meant Mahfouz now holds them monthly. 

Smashing It will use contributions from writers, musicians, visual artist and filmmakers, including Kerry Hudson, DJ Target, Riz Ahmed, Bridget Minamore, Anthony Anaxagorou, Salena Godden, Madani Younis and Bryony Kimmings, to explore how they overcame obstacles from the financial to the philosophical. It will incorporate journalistic, reportage-style pieces alongside memoir and excerpts or images of original works, as well as offering practical information in a guide section on issues such as how to apply for funding or present a proposal. This book will be published autumn 2019 by Westbourne Press.