Mission Statement

The Banipal Trust for Arab Literature was founded in September 2004 by the publisher of Banipal magazine to support and celebrate the publication of Arab authors in English translation and the production of live literature events in the UK with Arab authors.

The Trust supports the deepening and enriching of cultural dialogue between the Arab world and the West (particularly Europe and North America) in order to bring the literature of today’s Arab authors to the multicultural readership of the UK and English speakers worldwide. The Trust sees this intercultural dialogue and exchange as opening a window for a Western audience on the realities of Arab culture in all its diversity and vibrancy.

The Trust seeks to support and promote the translation of literary works by contemporary Arab authors into English. Arab literature is an essential part of world culture and human civilisation, and it is through translation that modern Arab literature becomes accessible to the widest possible audience, can take its rightful place within world literature and speak for itself.

In particular the Trust supports the publication of Banipal magazine of modern Arab literature in English translation (ISSN 1461-5361) three times a year and the magazine’s publishing of a wide range of authors from all parts of the Arab world and its diaspora, and of a variety of genres and styles of creative writing.

The Trust supports the production and promotion of live literature events for Arab authors in the United Kingdom and for the promotion of Banipal magazine.

The Trust is non-profit making.
The Trust supports equal opportunities, and non-discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender or age.