Literary Festivals
Guernsey Literary Festival: The first ever Guernsey Literary Festival will taking place from May 12-15, 2011 and will be featuring writers inspired by Guernsey. Just some of the speakers and performers Guernsey will be welcoming are Annie Barrows, Tim Binding, Mary Horlock, Edward & Olivia Chaney and John Cooper Clark. For full Festival information click on the link above.
Writing, Creativity and Ritual: A Writing Retreat for Women on the Ancient Isle of Avalon! Glastonbury, England, July 25 to August 4, 2011.
UBUD Writers & Readers Festival: Workshops 5-9 October, 2011. Location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Open to anyone who appreciates the Arts and Literature. The program will feature challenging and stimulating venues including: Bi-lingual readings, discussions, poetry, workshops, bookshops, perfomances, exhibitions, book & magazine launches, literary lunches, musical events, cultural tours. If you would like to be included in the program please send a brief bio to info@ubudwritersfestival.com.
Derbyshire Literature Festival: A month-long celebration of reading and writing, held in June every two years.
Contact details:
Ann Wright
Derbyshire County Council
Cultural & Community Services Department
Alfreton Library
Severn Square
Alfreton
Derbyshire
DE55 7BQ
Tel: 01773 – 832497
E-mail: ann.wright@derbyshire.gov.uk.
Obadiah Christian Publishing House and Magazine: Announces 3rd Annual Christian Writer’s Conference. Speakers include: Shirley Kawa-Jump, author of How to Publish Your Articles, several Silhouette Romances, and numerous other books; and Don Woods, sales and marketing consultant at Action Printing.
Middlesex University: For more information contact Adam on (020) 8202 0982 or check out the website.
North East Lincolnshire Annual Literature Festival
Aims to make literature accessible to all ages and abilities.
Contact details:
Arts Development Unit
North East Lincolnshire Council
Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, DN35 8LN
Phone: 01472 323007
Knutsford Literature Festival
www.knutsfordlistfest.co.uk
King’s Lynn Fiction Festival
An annual festival which brings together 8 published novelists for the weekend for readings and discussions.
Contact details:
19 Tuesday Market Place
King’s Lynn
Norfolk PE30 1JW
Phone: 01553 691661
Bath Literature Fesitval
An annual 9-day festival. Leading guests writers, including readings, discussions and workshops.
Contact details:
Bath Festivals Trust
5-6 Broad Street
Bath BA1 5LJ
Phone: 01255 462231
The London Festival of Literature: The Word
Features the world’s largest gathering of writers, musicians and artists. The programme includes performances and conversations.
Contact details
245 John St
London EC1V 4NB
Phone: 020 7837 2555
Email: admin@theword.org.uk
Cambridge Conference of Contemporary Poetry
Annual weekend of poetry readings, discussion and performance in the modernist tradition.
Contact details:
Dr Rod Mengham
Jesus College
Cambridge CB5 8BL
Phone: 01223-339493
Email: r.mengham@jesus.cam.ac.uk
Federation of Worker Writers and Community Publishers Festival of Writing
A weekend festival of readings, workshops and discussions. Promotes working class writing as an alternative to establishment literature.
Contact details:
PO Box 540, Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6DR
Phone/fax: 01782 822327
Web site: http://www.thefwwcp.org.uk/
Brighton Festival
General arts festival, covering a broad range of subjects. Leading guest writers.
Contact details:
12A Pavillion Buildings
Castle Square
Brighton BN1 1EE
Phone: 01273 700747
Email: info@brighton-festival.org.uk
Web site: www.brighton-festival.org.uk
Salisbury Festival
Multi-arts festival with a programme of literary events.
Contact details:
75 New Street
Salisbury
Wilts SP1 2PH
Phone: 01722 323883
Swindon Festival of Literature
www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
The Sunday Times Hay Festival
Aims to celebrate the best in writing and performance from around the world. Commissions new work and promotes young writers of excellence and potential. May/June.
Contact details:
Festival Office
Hay-on-Wye
HR3 5BX
Phone: 01497 821217
Email: admin@litfest.co.uk
Web site: www.LitFest.co.uk
Dublin Writers’ Festival
Presented by Dublin City Council and the Arts Council of Ireland, the Dublin Writers Festival is the largest event of its kind in Ireland, taking place annually in mid June and featuring some 40 Irish and international writers over four days of readings, discussions and other events.
Contact details:
Pat Boran
Programme Director
Dublin Writers Festival
Address: 13 Moyclare Road, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, Ireland
Fax: 0044 870 127 2089
Email: programme@dublinwritersfestival.com
Website: www.dublinwritersfestival.com
Female Eye National Festival of Women’s Writing
A non-profit organisation to promote writing by women. A chosen theme each year. The festival comprises performance, writing workshops and discussion. Also collaborative events with other festivals and provides a networking base.
Contact details:
Female Eye
Watersmeand, Norwood Green Hill
Halifax, West Yorkshire
HX3 8QX
Phone: 01274 670181
Chichester Festival
An annual arts festival with a programme of music and literature events.
Contact details:
Canon Gate House
South Street
Chichester PO19 1PU
Phone: 01243 785718
City of London Festival
Multi-arts festival with a programme of literary events, including leading guests writers. June/July.
Contact details:
City Arts Trust, Bishopsgate Hall
230 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4HW
Phone: 020 7377 0540
Email: admin@colf.org
Web site: www.colf.org
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Festival
Promotes the Welsh language and the culture of Wales. Over 200 competitions in all artistic fields. A contemporary art exhibition with over 4000 submissions each year.
Contact details:
Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales
40 Parc Ty Glas, Llanishen
Cardiff CF4 5WU
Phone: 029 2076 3777
Exeter Festival
Includes a programme of literary activities.
Contact details:
Festival Office
Civic Centre
Exeter EX1 1JJ
Phone: 01392 265200
Web site: www.exeter.gov.uk
Festival at the Edge
A weekend of stories, music and song. Also residential story-telling workshops.
Contact details:
c/o 3 Highpoint
Little Wenlock
Telford TF6 5BT
Phone: 01952 504929
Harrogate International Festival
Annual international multi-arts festival.
Contact details:
1 Victoria Avenue
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1EQ
Phone: 01423 562303
Email: info@harrogate-fesitval.org.uk
Web site: www.harrogate-festival.org.uk
Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival
Annual festival which aims to present poetry of many different ages. Provides opportunities for readings by contemporary poets.
Contact details:
Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW
Phone: 01789 204016
Email: info@shakespeare.org.uk
Web site: www.shakespeare.org.uk
Dylan Thomas
Annual festival celebrating the life and work of Dylan Thomas. Performance, lectures, debates, poetry, music, and film. July-mid August.
Contact details:
The Dylan Thomas Centre
Somerset Place
Swansea SA1 1RR
Phone: 01792 463980
Warwick & Leamington Festival
Music festival which includes some literature and poetry; readings performance and workshops.
Contact details:
Warwick Arts Society
Northgate
Warwick CV34 4JL
Phone: 01926 410747
Ways with Words Literature Festival
Festival includes readings, talks, interviews, discussions, seminars, workshops with leading guest writers. Literary weekends and writing courses.
Contact details:
Droridge Farm, Dartington
Totnes, Devon
TQ9 6JQ
Phone: 01803 867311
Email: wwords@globalnet.co.uk
Web site: www.wayswithwords.co.uk
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Europe’s largest book event. Over 350 writers contribute to the programme of events. Runs concurrently with the Edinburgh International Festival.
Contact details:
Scottish Book Centre
137 Dundee Street
Edinburgh EH11 1BG
Phone: 0131 228 5444
Email: admin@edbookfest.co.uk
Web site: www.edbookfest.co.uk
Rye Festival
An annual festival featuring novelists, biographers and political writers.
Contact details:
Lamb House, West Street
Rye
East Sussex TN31 7ES
Phone: 01797 224982
National Association of Writers’ Groups Open Festival of Writing
St Aidan’s College, University of Durham
Dozens of high-class workshops, good food, friendly atmosphere, Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony, Afterglow. Details from Brian Lister atbriannawgfestival@yahoo.co.uk or write to NAWG Secretary Diane Wilson, 40 Burstall Hill, Bridlington, East Yorkshire YO16 7GA
Aspects Festival
A celebration of contemporary Irish writing. Includes readings, discussions, workshops and a children’s day.
Contact details:
North Down Heritage Centre
The Castle, Bangor
Co. Down BT20 4BT
Phone: 01247 271200
Ballymena Arts Festival
General arts festival which inlcudes literary events.
Contact details:
Ballymena Borough Council
Ardeevin, 80 Galgorm Road
Ballymena, Co. Antrim
BT42 1AB
Phone: 01266 660300
Birmingham Readers & Writers Festival
9-day festival which aims to promote the best in contemporary literature, both from the city and internationally. 100 events on offer, including workshops, performances and talks.
Contact details:
Festival Office, Central Library
Chamberlain Square, Birmingham
B3 3HQ
Phone: 0121 303 4244
Email: readers.writers@dial.pipex.com
Cantebury Festival
A general arts festival with a literature programme.
Contact details:
Festival Office
Christ Church Gate, The Precincts
Cantebury, Kent CT1 2EE
Phone: 01227 472820
Cheltenham Festival of Literature
A wide range of events, including talks and lectures, poetry readings, novelists in conversation, exhibitions, discussions and workshops. Book It! is a festival for children within the main festival.
Contact details:
Town Hall, Imperial Square
Cheltenham, Glos
GL50 1QA
Phone: 01242 521621
Web site: www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk
Chester Literature Festival
Festival including international and national writers, events by local literary groups, events for children and workshops.
Contact details:
8 Abbey Square
Chester CH1 2HU
Phone: 01244 319985
Dublin Theatre Festival
Contact details:
Address: 44 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin
Phone: 6778439
Fax: 6797709
Guildford Book Festival
An annual festival on a chosen theme. A programme of over 40 events at 12 venues, including readings, literary lunches, discussions, performance poetry, and competitions.
Contact detials:
c/o Arts Office, University of Surrey
Guildford GU2 5XH
Phone: 01483 259167
Email: s.wallach@surrey.ac.uk
Web site: www.surreyweb.org.uk
Lancaster Lit Fest
Annual festival including readings, performances and workshops by contemporary writers.
Contact details:
Sun Street Studios
23-29 Sun Street
Lancaster LA1 1EW
Phone: 01524 62166
Email: info@lancslitfest.demon.co.uk
Web site: www.folly.co.uk/litfest
Leicester Literature Festival
A biennial festival with a set theme. Includes readings, discussions, exhibitions and workshops.
Contact details:
Leicester Ciy Council, 12th Floor
New Walk Centre, Welford Place
Leicester LE1 6ZG
Norfolk and Norwich Festival
General arts festival with some literary events.
Contact details:
42-58 St George’s Street
Norwich NR3 1AB
Phone: 01603 614 921
Email: info@nnfest.demon.co.uk
Web site: www.eab.org.uk/festivals
Off the Shelf Literature Festival
The festival comprises a wide range of events for adults and children. Author visits, writing workshops, competitions and theatre performances.
c/o Sheffield Libraries and Information Services
Central Library, Surrey Street
Sheffield S1 1XZ
Phone: 0114 273 4716
Poetry International
The biggest poetry festival in the British Isles. Bringing together a wide range of poets from around the world. Readings, workshops, discussions and events for children.
Contact details:
Literature Department
Royal Festival Hall
London SE1 8XX
Phone: 020 7921 0906
Email: literature&talks@rfh.org.uk
Web site: www.sbc.org.uk
Wells Festival of Literature
Annual festival featuring leading guest writers and poets. Includes writing workshops and competitions.
Contact details:
Tower House, St Andrew Street
Wells, Somerset BA5 2UN
Phone: 01749 673385
Web site: www.somersite.co.uk/wellsfest.htm
Writearound: Middlesbrough’s Annual Festival for Writers and Readers
Independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging, promoting and developing literary activity on Teeside and surrounding areas. Includes workshops, performances, poetry and children’s events.
Contact details:
c/o Cleveland Arts, Gurney House
Gurney Street, Middlesbrough
Cleveland TS1 1JL
Phone: 01642 262424
Email: ClevelandArts@onyxnet.co.uk
Web site: www.clevelandarts.org
Durham Literature Festival
Contact details:
c/o Durham City Arts Ltd
Byland Lodge
Hawthorn Terrace
Durham DH1 4TD
Phone: 0191 301 8821
Aldeburgh Poetry Festival
International poetry festival of contemporary poetry. The weekend includes readings, workshops, a public masterclass, a lecture and children’s event.
Contact details:
Aldeburgh Poetry Trust
Goldings, Goldings Lane
Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4EB
Phone: 01728 830631
Belfast Festival at Queen’s
Largest annual arts event in Ireland. Includes literature evetns.
Contact details:
Festival House
25 College Gardens
Belfast BT9 6BS
Phone: 028 9066 7687
Email: festival@gub.ac.uk
Web site: http://www.gub.ac.uk/festival
Book Now
Annual Literature Festival. Leading British guest writers and poets hold discussions, talks and debates.
Contact details:
Leisure Service Department
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Langholm Lodge, 146 Petersham Road
Richmond, Surrey TW10 6UX
Phone: 020 8332 0534
Email: n.cutting@richmond.gov.uk
Hastings Poetry Festival
Includes the prize-giving of the Hastings National Poetry Competition, Poems are invited for consideration for the bi-annual First Time poetry magazine.
Contact details:
c/o The Snoring Cat, 136 Harold Road
Hastings
East Sussex TN35 5NN
Phone: 01424 428855
International Playwright Festival
An annual competition for full-length unperformed plays. Entry forms available from the theatre. The weekend festival includes readings of selected plays and works from the leading Italian Festival, the Premio Candoni Arti Terme.
Contact details:
Warehouse Theatre
Dingwall Road, Croydon
CR0 2NF
Phone: 020 8681 1257
Email: warehouse@dircon.co.uk
Web site: www.warehousetheatre.co.uk
Many literature festivals are held throughout the year on a seasonal basis:
Chaucer Festival
An annual festival which includes commemoration services, theatre productions, exhibitions and readings. Takes place in London, Cantebury and the County of Kent in the Spring (Easter), Summer (June-July) and Autumn (Oct).
Contact details:
Chaucer Heritage Trust, Chaucer Centre
22 St Peter’s Street
Cantebury, Kent CT1 2BQ
Phone: 020 7229 0635
Huddersfield Poetry Festival
This festival consists of a Spring season (April) and an Autumn season (October). Both seasons include multi-arts performances, projects and workshops.
Contact details:
The Word Hoard Ltd
Kirklees Media Centre
7 Northumberland Street
Huddersfield HD1 1RL
Phone: 01484 452070
Email: hoard@zoo.co.uk
Web site: www.wordhoard.co.uk
Ilkley Literature Festival
The 10-week Word of the North event is an international festical of regional significance. There will be 40 events featuring international writers, performers and poets.
Contact details:
The Manor House
2 Castle Hill, Ilkley
North Yorkshire LS29 9DT
Phone: 01943 601210
Email: ilf@pop3.poptel.org.uk
Web site: www.openingline.co.uk/ilf
Lincolnshire Literature Festival
A monthly series of literary events throughout Lincoln. Occasional festivals throught the UK.
Contact details:
Education and Cultural Services Directorate
Lincolnshire County Council
County Office, Lincoln LN1 1YL
Phone: 01522 552831
Email: david.lambert@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Lit Up!
An all-year-round literature programme including workshops, readings, performances and exhibitions, as part of a larger programme of arts work.
Contact details:
Beaford Arts
The Plough Arts Centre
9-11 Fore Street, Torrington
Devon EX38 8HQ
Phone: 01805 622552
Royal Court Young Writers’ Festival
A national festival which anyone up to the age of 25 can enter. Promising plays are then developed and performed at the Royal Court’s Theatre. Biennially.
Contact details:
The Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme
Sloane Square
London SW1W 8AS
Phone: 020 7565 5000
If you would like to contact us about listing a literary festival on this site email: beth@author-network.com