WILL KITSON is Managing Editor of Seymour Magazine.

Will holds a Masters in English Literature from King’s College London, prior to which he earned a BA in Creative Writing (with Honours) from the University of Greenwich.  Previous to his post at Seymour Magazine, Will has worked as a Reviewer, Copy Editor and Editorial Assistant/Arts Administrator at A Younger Theatre, Blake Friedmann Literary Agency and Brand Literary Magazine, respectively.

 

 

Dear readers,

It’s with an extremely heavy heart that I tell you that this will be my final edition of Seymour Magazine as managing editor. After three-and-a-half wonderful years in Paris I’ve decided to move back to London to start a new chapter in my life, a chapter which I hope will bring me as much joy as my time in this beautiful city has.

By departing I leave here many dear friends, many special places, and my position at this magazine and as manager of the SEYMOUR+ space. I can’t tell you how much of a privilege it’s been working for Seymour Projects; I’ve strived to deliver articles and essays of which I couldn’t be more proud, which I hope have inspired you in one way or another, and which, I’ve realised, have been an immense benefit to me as an editor, a writer, a creative, and, most importantly, a human.

Of course, this type of evolution wouldn’t have been possible without the help of many many people: our team of contributing editors who bring so much energy and passion to Seymour; our incredibly gifted contributors, each of whom have been an absolute joy to work with; and you, our readers and community, who respond with such warmth to all our endeavours. And last but not at all least, to Melissa Unger and the permanent Seymour team. Seymour Projects is a non-profit organisation; a small group of dedicated hard-working individuals; a dream which was borne from an idea, was developed at a kitchen table, and became a thriving reality that has touched so many.

During these past weeks I’ve taken the time to look over previous issues and essays published here, reliving old memories that have shaped so much of my Parisian experience. And what I realise is that there is a common thread which runs through them all, a quality that is imbibed by everyone in the Seymour community. Hope. There are those who overcome their fears and anxieties, those who achieve their dreams against all the odds, those who simply continue to express themselves in the face of adversity; all of these inspiring people are fuelled and driven by hope. It is a force that cannot be bought or traded, but it can be shared. It’s contagious. And, for me, it is one of the most quintessential elements of Seymour Projects. It’s our currency. And with the help of our contributors, partners, and community, we strive to deliver and distribute hope.

Indeed, Seymour Projects still runs on hope. That’s not to denigrate the incredible work done by the inspiringly tireless Melissa and the incredibly diligent Nora Lalle, but we guard an intensely bright burning hope for the future. As I said, it’s contagious and it runs deeper in me than ever before. It brought me to Paris in 2012, kept me going here, and breeds an optimism in me for my future pursuits.

Thank you all for helping stoke this precious commodity, for keeping it strong within me, and for being such an important part of my life these past years.

 

W.K. 2015