Steve Dearden

Steve Dearden serves as a Visiting Teaching Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University within the School of English, where he directs the Writing Squad—a development programme for writers aged 16-21 and beyond across northern England.

Professional Expertise:

• Former Director of Ilkley Literature Festival and National Association for Literature Development
• Ex-Literature Officer for Yorkshire Arts
• Board memberships: Grimm & Co., Inpress, New Writing North, Scottish Arts Council Literature Panel
• Arts Council England working groups: Reader Development, Live Literature, Writers in Prisons

His research-driven practice spans creative writing mentorship, literature festival curation, and site-specific productions like Overworlds & Underworlds for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. As a short story writer, he has held residencies at Bluewater Shopping Centre (ARCHItexts) and Wakefield Literature Festival.

Contact: writingschool@mmu.ac.uk in room 5.03 Grosvenor East Building.