Arvon Foundation
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The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which promotes creative writing. It was founded by two young poets, John Fairfax and John Moat, in 1968.
The Arvon Foundation runs residential creative writing courses at centres in four locations: Devon, Shropshire, Yorkshire, and Inverness. The courses provide an inspirational space and dedicated time to practice the art of writing.
Previous tutors include Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Andrew Motion, Arnold Wesker, Ted Hughes, Ali Smith, Carol Ann Duffy, Ian Rankin, George Szirtes and Will Self.
The Arvon Foundation runs the biennial Arvon International Poetry Competition which was first judged in 1980 by Ted Hughes, Charles Causley, Seamus Heaney and Philip Larkin. In 2006 the judges are Sujata Bhatt, Edna Longley and Michael Symmons Roberts. For more information follow the link through the organisation's main website.
Arvon also runs residential creative writing courses for under-18s and partnership organisations. Arvon fundraises to ensure that those people who could not afford the full course fee can attend the course.
