The Lewes Literary Society (until 2015 the Monday Literary Society) was founded in Lewes in 1948 by authors Barbara Willard and Frances Howell, chaired by Leonard Woolf from 1954 to 1969, and currently by the poets John Agard and Grace Nichols, who live in the town. The Needlewriters is a co-operative of poets and writers which hosts a quarterly evening of poetry and prose at the Needlemakers Cafe, showcasing writers from across Sussex and Kent. The poetry imprint Frogmore Press, founded in Folkestone in 1983, moved to Lewes in 2010. Lewes Live Literature (LLL) was founded 1995 as a promoter of art and literature events, with an autumn festival which ran 2001–2007 bringing together spoken word with performance, music, film and visual art. Since 2007, LLL has concentrated on live literature production work.
tHe LEwES litErary SocIEty (untiL 2015 tHE monday literary SocIety) was founDed in leWeS IN 1948 bY authorS barbAra willArd aND francEs HoWeLL, ChaIrEd By lEoNard WOolf FRom 1954 to 1969, and currentlY BY the poeTS jOhN agarD anD grAcE nIchOLS, whO lIVE iN tHE Town. tHE needLewriTERS is a co-operatiVe OF pOets aND writeRs whICH hOsts a qUarTerly evenINg Of poetRY aNd pRoSE aT THe neeDlEmakers Cafe, showcaSIng wRiTerS FrOM across suSSex and KenT. The Poetry ImPrint frOGMOre press, FOunded in foLkEStONE IN 1983, Moved to lEwes IN 2010. lewEs LIve literatUre (lll) wAs FoUnded 1995 AS a promOTeR oF art anD LitERaturE evEnts, witH An auTumN festival which rAn 2001–2007 BRInGing togeTHer spoken worD with PerformaNce, muSic, fiLm And visual aRt. SinCE 2007, lll has COnCEntRATED on live liteRAture producTIOn worK.