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The British Guild of Beer Writers broadens diversity opportunities
The British Guild of Beer Writers has launched a new grant to highlight stories that celebrate diversity and inclusion within beer, pubs and the wider hospitality industry.
The grant, which is in partnership with Good Beer Hunting, aims to help both new and established beer writers and shine a light on those who are not always well-represented within the broader beer landscape, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ people, and disabled people.
Writers are encouraged to submit their pitches before 1 August and three winners will be selected, each of whom will be awarded £350. Winners will have the opportunity to work closely with the British Guild of Beer Writers director David Jesudason and the Good Beer Hunting editorial team to edit and illustrate their work.
Speaking to db, Jesudason said: “From my perspective, it’s great to be someone who gets commissioned to write about Desi pubs, Jamaican landlords, and the colour bar that once operated in pubs, but I’m only one perspective. There must be more voices in the industry, and more representation of Asian, Black, LGBTQ+, and disabled writers.”
He suggested that a balance needed to be struck and that, currently, the beer-writing arena was not a level playing field for everyone, but that the grant is an opportunity to change things and give all people the best chance of success in a sector that was determined to adapt and become more inclusive.
Jesudason observed: “If I’m being honest, I’m fed up of being the only non-white guy in the room when I walk into a beer event. Beer is the most inclusive pursuit in theory, but beer writing is still dominated by white, middle-class men,” and added: “the Diversity in British Beer Writing Grant is a chance for different writers to be heard, and have their stories told in their own voices. And it’s a chance for new writers to get published and learn about the editorial process, and receive a helping hand into the industry”.
The final piece will appear across both platforms, and they will be invited to participate in an interview on the Good Beer Hunting Podcast about their story. Winners will additionally be awarded one year of Associate membership to the Guild, including access to training, events, and awards, and will be invited to take part in a Zoom panel discussion for members about their stories. They will also be awarded one year of membership to the Fervent Few, Good Beer Hunting’s subscriber community.
The winners will be announced on 1 September. To find out more, people are encouraged to sign up with their pitches for a chance to take part. The grant is a chance to not just tell stories that need to be heard, but to help reflect experiences and perspectives of all people in order to help further educate the beer community at large.
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