Saboteur Awards Festival 2020: Updates and Applications

For 2020, the Saboteur Awards will be spending another year in the beautiful city of Birmingham, UK. We have a venue confirmed but contracts haven’t been signed just yet so we’ll been announcing those details as soon as we can, but we do have a brand new home lined up for both the daytime and evening events.

The provisional date is set for 16th May 2020, and this is the date that we have submitted to the venue so this is unlikely to change in the future.

After the feedback from last year, we have decided to try something a little different for the Saboteur Awards 2020. Rather than running a day of workshops and panels, we’re welcoming applications of a slightly different nature for the coming year, with an emphasis resting on workshops and performance works, although panel discussions will still be considered. With that in mind, for the daytime event we still welcome applications for:

  • Panels
  • Workshops
  • Performances – including poetry shows

All of these will take place in Room One of the daytime programme – which brings us to the exciting announcement of Room Two. This is the new part of the Saboteur Awards that we’re trialing for 2020 in the hope that it will bring a more indie element to the event as a whole. Room Two will feature 4-5 tables that are available for independent publishers – or lone authors – to rent for the day (10:30am to 4:30pm), for the price of £35. Publishers renting these spaces are invited to bring along as many books as they comfortably can, and Room Two will be a selling space for the duration of the daytime event.

Given that this is a completely new move for us, please do keep in mind that there may be some trial and error on our part. That said, we hope that this will be a positive change for the daytime event that allows indie literature specialists a new outlet for their work.

In the interest of clarity, you can rest assured that the evening event will be the same traditional awards structure – with a glass of bubbly on arrival!

The opening date for proposal submissions is 13th September 2019 and we will close submissions on 18th October 2019. Submit by emailing Charley Barnes at [email protected], with the subject line ‘Saboteur Awards Proposal’ – please follow the instructions below to include the right information.

Panels

We are looking for diverse and thought-provoking 30-45 minute panels investigating an aspect of indie literature (whether fiction, spoken word, publishing, producing, digital and interactive modes etc.), bringing to light a particular feature/point of view, or opening up discussion on a pertinent topic.

We prefer fully formed panels with a title and secured panellists.

Apply by sending in:

  • Title of your panel
  • a 250 word description of your panel
  • where applicable short third-person biographies for each panellist
  • an estimated fee + any travel expenses

For the sake of clarity: we are applying for Arts Council Funding and hope to be able to pay panellists a fee + cover travel expenses. If funding is not possible we will work out a ticket-based system of remuneration.

Workshops

We are looking for creative workshops on any aspect of indie literature (whether fiction, spoken word, publishing, producing, digital and interactive modes etc.).

You can lead a workshop alone or in pairs.

Apply by sending in:

  • Title of your workshop
  • 250 word description of your workshop
  • short third-person biographies for each workshop leader
  • indicate skill level required, number of ideal participants, and whether it is an open or closed workshop
  • Length of time (ideally 1 hour although exceptions can be made)
  • an estimated fee + any travel expenses

For the sake of clarity: we are applying for Arts Council Funding and hope to be able to pay workshop leaders a fee + cover travel expenses. If funding is not possible we will work out a ticket-based system of remuneration.

Performances

Rather than traditional readings, we are open to submissions from poetry collectives, or for group projects, to deliver poetry shows or performances of anything up to 30 minutes.

Outside of this, we are open to maybe 1 or 2 more ‘traditional’ readings as groups of 2-3 but preference will be given to groups choosing an unusual theme or experimenting with performance and delivery through their work.

Apply by sending in:

  • Title of your concept
  • 250 word description of your performance
  • short third-person biographies for each performer
  • Indicate whether it’s a PechaKucha performance or other, and what technology will be needed
  • an estimated fee + any travel expenses

For the sake of clarity: We are applying for Arts Council Funding and hope to be able to pay performers a fee + cover travel expenses. If funding is not possible we will work out a ticket-based system of remuneration.

Other

Great idea that doesn’t fit into the above? Email anyway!

Publishers

If you are interested in hiring table space in Room Two of the Saboteur Awards Festival daytime event, please email Charley Barnes at [email protected]. Charley is open to discussing any queries, concerns or general interest in this new venture so please don’t be shy about emailing.

Apply

The opening date for proposal submissions is 13th September 2019 and we will close submissions on 18th October 2019. Submit by emailing Charley Barnes at [email protected], with the subject line ‘Saboteur Awards Proposal’ – please follow the instructions above to include the right information.