Panel : Future Proofing Equality : An Action Plan
Reflecting on voices and stories from the day, this panel will explore what actions we all need to take to protect and advance equality, wherever we are in the children’s literature and publishing eco-system. Chaired by Dylan Calder, panel includes:
Cherise Lopes Baker, Tate Children’s Books
Meike Eckern, Frankfurt Book Fair
Meera Ghanshamdas, Roundtable Books
Franziska Liebig, Arts Council England
Ken Wilson Max, Harper Collins, Alanna Max, author-illustrator
Erika Meza, author-illustrator
Future proofing Equality in Children's Publishing was a one day Symposium on the 14th of November exploring the impacts that an increasing global political resistance has on equality, diversity and inclusion within children's publishing. The event featured various discussions from a plethora of authors, publishers, illustrators and Booksellers sharing their experience with publishing in the US where the full force of the executive, judicial and litigious power is having an effect on minority representation in Children’s books and the effect that this can have on the future generations to come.
This symposium puts Manchester Metropolitan University front-and-centre in a planned longer series of urgent dialogues, including at the 2026 Bologna and Frankfurt book fairs, with practitioners across the children’s literature and publishing eco-system, around protecting black, queer, migrant and disabled voices and stories in children’s books from censorship and book bans
Dylan Calder, Centre For Fiction – Conference Convenor
Symposium supported by AHEAD Arts and Humanities Engagement and Dialogue