2025
The Asian Literary
Festival
Brussels
the
writing
lab
The Asian Writing Lab forms the creative heart of our festivals, nurturing emerging writers to push beyond conventional boundaries and harness the transformative power of imagination. This dynamic incubator seamlessly blends stage and classroom into an infinite space of collaborative creation.
We offer diverse programmes designed to dismantle the barriers that constrain human creativity, addressing these challenges with the urgency they deserve. Our experimental approach encourages writers to explore uncharted territories of storytelling, discovering new forms and voices that challenge traditional frameworks.
The Asian Writing Lab is championed by a global network of authors, thinkers, and cultural strategists who share our unwavering belief in imagination as a force for change. Together, we cultivate a space where emerging voices can flourish and redefine what writing can be.
Through this unique fusion of performance and pedagogy, we're not just developing writers—we're fostering the next generation of creative revolutionaries who will reshape the literary landscape.
The Living Memory Vault
A Global Initiative to Preserve Our Intangible Heritage
As modernization accelerates, centuries of stories, rituals, and traditional knowledge are fading into silence. The Living Memory Vault, a collaborative initiative by The Asian Literary Festivals and The Purple Umbrella Theatre Festival, aims to safeguard these priceless cultural treasures. From ancient healing methods to folklore and community rituals, this digital archive honors the wisdom that shaped generations—ensuring it remains accessible and inspiring for those yet to come.
We call upon storytellers, cultural custodians, scholars, and passionate individuals worldwide to contribute. By sharing your knowledge, you help ensure no story is lost and no tradition forgotten. Join us in building a living archive that celebrates our shared human heritage. Register today to become a contributor to The Living Memory Vault and help preserve humanity's greatest stories for tomorrow.
Launchpad 1000
Manuscript Pitching Platform
The Asian Literary Agency, our talent management wing, hosts live pitching sessions at festival locations. Our platform features two distinct tracks: an original manuscript submission desk for unpublished work and a translation pitching deck for published titles seeking international markets.
Book your slot and present your work directly to agents actively seeking compelling narratives and market-ready content. Whether you're submitting debut manuscripts or published works for translation opportunities, Launchpad 1000 provides the essential gateway to advance your literary career on the global stage.
Stage, Page, Revolution: The Future of Storytelling Starts Here
Kipenzi reimagines storytelling from the ground up—breaking rules, shattering norms, and daring to explore what lies beyond the expected. Kipenzi’s work defies convention, stretching the very limits of narrative and reshaping how stories can be told. Kipenzi doesn’t just challenge the norms—it reinvents them, opening bold, uncharted paths in literature. This isn’t just innovation—it’s a literary revolution.
Kipenzi Connect