Latest news with #literaturefestival
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wolverhampton literary talent called to step into spotlight
A literature festival is calling for local talent to feature at its next Wolverhampton Literature Festival is looking for authors, poets and creatives to appear at the annual event on 6 February to 8 February 2026. Organisers have said submissions to feature as a creative, workshop facilitator or panellist are are also calling for people from around the country to apply to feature at the event that celebrates literature and the deadline for proposals is 17 August and must include the event title, contact details and a 250-word proposal. Councillor Chris Burden described the event as a "celebration of stories, voices, and creativity that bring our community together."He said: "Whether you are an emerging talent or a seasoned storyteller, we invite you to share your passion, challenge perspectives, and ignite must also include a budget breakdown and any technical requirements. It can be submitted through the events online form or as a five to ten minute audio or video entry by email. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Line-up unveiled for crime writing festival with guest programmer Sir Ian Rankin
Authors Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs and Jo Nesbo will be among those appearing at an 'incredibly welcoming' crime writing festival guest programmed by Sir Ian Rankin. The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival schedule unveiled on Thursday also features Horrible Histories author Terry Deary, doctor turned comedian Adam Kay and broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and the Rev Richard Coles. Sir Ian, creator of the detective John Rebus, is the first guest programmer for the festival, which takes place in Stirling in September. In a nod to the police officer, the programme also includes James McPherson who made his name in Taggart and narrates the Rebus audiobooks, and former Coronation Street star Gray O'Brien, who recently played Rebus on stage. Scottish writers on the line-up include Chris Brookmyre (with Marisa Haetzman as Ambrose Parry), Denise Mina, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Judy Murray. Sir Ian said he has some experience of programming as he has been involved in a small festival in Cromarty, and he was thrilled everyone he asked to take part in Bloody Scotland agreed. He said: 'You get in touch with writers you admire, you say we've got a festival going on, would you fancy coming along? I'll be interviewing you on stage, and nobody said, no, which is a real thrill. 'So we've got everybody from Philippe Sands, who's a human rights lawyer, talking about human rights violations in South America, to Kate Atkinson talking about Edinburgh and other things as well, Kathy Reichs coming from North America. 'We've got a whisky and music night, which will be fantastic with two musicians who've turned their hands to writing books, and a bunch of other stuff besides.' Sir Ian said the festival includes a wide selection of authors ranging from the cosy to the 'hard-boiled', as well as non-fiction writers. He added: 'It's an incredibly welcoming festival. The fans, the readers, the authors all mingle. There's no differentiation between them because all the authors are also fans.' Festival director Bob McDevitt said: 'It has been an absolute joy working with the legendary Sir Ian Rankin on this year's programme and I think he has helped to deliver one of our strongest-ever line-ups. 'There are so many treats in store for our audiences this year, from established names writing at the very top of their game to brand new voices bringing a different perspective to the crime genre – roll on September.' Others appearing include actor Joey Batey who was in The Witcher on Netflix, Chris Chibnall, creator and writer of Broadchurch, and American crime writer Laura Lippman who will be on stage with Mark Billingham. Fringe events at the festival this year will include a 'Day of the Deid' procession led by Sir Ian and the winners of the two prizes, and Sir Ian's Whisky Night with songs from James Yorkston and Colin MacIntyre. Alan Bett, head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland said: 'Bloody Scotland brings the big names of crime writing to Stirling each year, and 2025 offers an incredible list of authors, enhanced by Ian Rankin's role as guest programmer. 'Of huge importance is the platforming of emergent writers. Bloody Scotland provides new Scottish authors the opportunity to launch their careers and build readerships, and for Scotland's fans of crime fiction, the chance to find their next favourite book.' The festival takes place in various venues including the Albert Halls, Trinity Church, Central Library and The Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling from September 12-14. Sir Ian previously said: 'Bloody Scotland manages to remain the world's friendliest and most inclusive crime fiction festival while also attracting the biggest and brightest names in the business to the city of Stirling. It's epic.' The author has been involved in Bloody Scotland since its inception, has captained the Scotland crime writers' football team and has led the event's torchlight procession through the streets of Stirling.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Literacy event works to improve child reading rate
Cornwall's only literature festival for children is expecting 4,000 visitors this Friday and Saturday, organisers say. The St Austell Festival of Children's Literature, held at locations around the town, was set up three years ago by the head teacher of Carclaze Community Primary School to improve pupils' literacy. It has now expanded to include schools from mid Cornwall, so students from Newquay, Liskeard and the clay villages can take part too. It started out with just 500 locals and schoolchildren turning up for events and workshops run by authors and illustrators, but the £1-per-talk event has proved popular and has grown as parents seek to engage their children with reading. According to figures from research conducted in 2024, the National Literacy Trust reported children surveyed in the South West of England were among the least likely to read for pleasure. Just 35% did such reading, compared to 40% in places such as London; and only 16% said they wrote for pleasure for least 10 minutes daily. A year-on-year decline in children's interest in picking up a book in their own time was something that worried Carclaze head teacher Simon Pollard, prompting him to set up the festival. He said: "The current rates of choosing to read [are] dropping all the time. Parents are not necessarily knowing how to read to children. "There's definitely been a sharp decline since the [Covid-19] pandemic. "We just want communities and families to fall in love with reading because we know, if you choose to read, the outcomes for you when you become an adult are exponentially better. "We really need to teach people how to share books together again." The festival has a day of events for schools on the Friday. On Saturday, children and parents can book talks and workshops. Author and illustrator Tom McLaughlin, from Exeter, is going to be running a comic book-making workshop and said pictures and drawing were a good way to get children engaged in the process of creating and telling stories. He said: "Drawing, for me, inspires the words, and words inspire the drawing. "We see this with kids who do exercises in class, when they get a picture and have to write a story about it. "It helps you write a story if you have something to work with visually. Some kids respond much better to visual learning." Tom has dyslexia and said he found school difficult. He said he hoped sharing his writing journey and tips would give reluctant young storytellers a chance to shine. A partnership with the children's newspaper First News will allow some of the pupils to see their own work published. Junior journalists are going to be interviewing authors at the events and get their work in the paper. Helen Mulley, head of education for First News, said it was a great partnership and "a good way to get children writing". She said: "We talk a lot about reading for pleasure. Something we don't talk about quite as much is writing for pleasure. "Last year, the National Literacy Trust did some research and they found out enthusiasm for writing was an all-time low. "But one of the ways to boost children's desire to write is to give them a real reason to write. "Let them choose what to write about and give them audience to write for... so that's what we are doing." The festival's first official patron is the best-selling author AF Steadman, known for her popular Skandar series. She has family links to Cornwall and said she wanted to give the event her support when she realised it was going to help families enjoy a literature festival in their own county. She said: "I was really honoured... I said I have to do this festival. "I think the thing that really convinced me it was such an amazing thing was that it was going to cost people £1 a ticket. "For me that was a really really big deal, especially as someone who, when I was growing up, couldn't afford books." Public events for St Austell Festival of Children's Literature are being held on Saturday 14 June in various locations around the town, with tickets costing £1 per talk. The cost has been kept low by seeking out grants and funding from the town council, the Cornwall Community Fund and local businesses sponsorship. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Storytime sessions encouraging children to read Sensory kits help children interact with stories St Austell Festival of Children's Literature Literacy Trust
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Growing literature festival hopes to get Cornish children reading
Cornwall's only literature festival for children is expecting 4,000 visitors this Friday and Saturday, organisers St Austell Festival of Children's Literature, held at locations around the town, was set up three years ago by the head teacher of Carclaze Community Primary School to improve pupils' has now expanded to include schools from mid Cornwall, so students from Newquay, Liskeard and the clay villages can take part started out with just 500 locals and schoolchildren turning up for events and workshops run by authors and illustrators, but the £1-per-talk event has proved popular and has grown as parents seek to engage their children with reading. According to figures from research conducted in 2024, the National Literacy Trust reported children surveyed in the South West of England were among the least likely to read for 35% did such reading, compared to 40% in places such as London; and only 16% said they wrote for pleasure for least 10 minutes daily. A year-on-year decline in children's interest in picking up a book in their own time was something that worried Carclaze head teacher Simon Pollard, prompting him to set up the said: "The current rates of choosing to read [are] dropping all the time. Parents are not necessarily knowing how to read to children. "There's definitely been a sharp decline since the [Covid-19] pandemic. "We just want communities and families to fall in love with reading because we know, if you choose to read, the outcomes for you when you become an adult are exponentially better."We really need to teach people how to share books together again." The festival has a day of events for schools on the Friday. On Saturday, children and parents can book talks and and illustrator Tom McLaughlin, from Exeter, is going to be running a comic book-making workshop and said pictures and drawing were a good way to get children engaged in the process of creating and telling said: "Drawing, for me, inspires the words, and words inspire the drawing."We see this with kids who do exercises in class, when they get a picture and have to write a story about it."It helps you write a story if you have something to work with visually. Some kids respond much better to visual learning."Tom has dyslexia and said he found school said he hoped sharing his writing journey and tips would give reluctant young storytellers a chance to shine. A partnership with the children's newspaper First News will allow some of the pupils to see their own work journalists are going to be interviewing authors at the events and get their work in the paper. Helen Mulley, head of education for First News, said it was a great partnership and "a good way to get children writing".She said: "We talk a lot about reading for pleasure. Something we don't talk about quite as much is writing for pleasure."Last year, the National Literacy Trust did some research and they found out enthusiasm for writing was an all-time low."But one of the ways to boost children's desire to write is to give them a real reason to write."Let them choose what to write about and give them audience to write for... so that's what we are doing." The festival's first official patron is the best-selling author AF Steadman, known for her popular Skandar has family links to Cornwall and said she wanted to give the event her support when she realised it was going to help families enjoy a literature festival in their own county. She said: "I was really honoured... I said I have to do this festival. "I think the thing that really convinced me it was such an amazing thing was that it was going to cost people £1 a ticket. "For me that was a really really big deal, especially as someone who, when I was growing up, couldn't afford books." Public events for St Austell Festival of Children's Literature are being held on Saturday 14 June in various locations around the town, with tickets costing £1 per cost has been kept low by seeking out grants and funding from the town council, the Cornwall Community Fund and local businesses sponsorship.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford Literature Festival CEO says no topic is off limits
Multi-culturalism, the Israel-Palestine conflict and freedom of expression are among the topics due to be discussed at this year's Bradford Literature on 27 June, the annual event will be held in venues across the city, and feature panel discussions, lectures and workshops over 10 the guests due to appear at the event are poet John Cooper Clarke, broadcaster Mishal Husain and actor Larry co-founder Syima Aslam said: "We are rooted in books, but I always say there is nothing in the world that there isn't a book about so there is nothing that we can't talk about." Ms Aslam, who grew up in Bradford, launched the festival in 2014 with a view to making literature accessible to the city's diverse said she wanted to overcome the financial barriers for people in Bradford, as well as other cities in the UK, which stopped many from enjoying cultural events."We have to recognise that those barriers are real, with the cost of living and all of those things," Ms Aslam said."One of the tests that I've always applied to the festival is if you're a single mum with four kids to feed, are you going to feed them or are they going to come to the festival?"So, we've done a lot of work in that area to ensure that's not the case." Bradford Literature Festival is a Community Interest Company, which means it exists to benefit the community rather than private Aslam said: "Having a festival that is openly accessible to everyone, that everyone feels they can take part in and there are no financial barriers is really, really important."I don't think we can talk about wanting everyone to engage in culture and not think about the barriers that actually mean they may not be able to."So, for us it's a founding principle and it's one of the foundations that we are built on."The full programme is due to be published on the Bradford Literature Festival in the coming weeks. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
