Berwick Literary Festival takes place annually in mid October. This year will be the 11th edition of the Festival and again we will be celebrating words: written, spoken and performed.
Celebrating Words, Written | Spoken | Performed
When launched in 2014, nobody envisaged how the Festival would grow to include so wide a range of subjects and speakers, with an international perspective and speakers with global reputations, whilst supporting local writers and regional interests. Working with local organisations, each year we offer events to appeal to a wide range of interests including fiction, poetry, history, archaeology, politics, nature & environment, art & music, local & military history, biography and comedy.
Speakers such as Simon Armitage, Anne Cleeves, Alexander McCall-Smith, Rachel Joyce & Lemn Sissay have entertained and enthralled our audiences. In addition we have held our ever-popular writing workshops, Poetry Cabarets and tours of Martins the Printers. There really is something for everyone.
The Festival could not happen without our patrons, sponsors, our brilliant volunteer team and above all, the inhabitants of Berwick-upon-Tweed, North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders who have come out in ever-increasing numbers to enjoy our events. The Festival is also committed to working in partnership with all those who are passionate about Arts and Culture not just for entertainment, but because books and music and art all contribute significantly to our well-being as individuals and as communities.
Our work with schools has always been a very important aspect of the Festival. Each year we provide a range of workshops and events to engage young people and enrich the curriculum. The Schools’ and Young People’s Programming Group work hard talking to teachers about what would be useful and feasible activities to enhance the schools’ curriculum activities. Last year we engaged over 900 pupils at all levels in our activities and we work with Berwick Library to offer sessions to young people over the Festival weekend too. One aspect of the Festival’s planned expansion is to include schools in the Eastern Scottish Borders.
The 11th Berwick Literary Festival will take place 7 – 13 October 2024. For further information about this year’s Programme and how to buy tickets, please go to our website.
