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Events by date
If you're looking for a festival or event near you,
have a look through our events guide. Events are organised
by date, by name
or by location.
Our Events spotlight offers bloc's recommendations for
the month.
Stratford-on-Avon Poetry Festival
27th June - 22nd August 2004
A celebration of poetry featuring Tom Paulin, Bernard
O'Donoghue, Gillian Allnutt and Adam Thorpe.
Further information from: www.shakespeare.org.uk
Buxton Festival
9th July - 25th July 2004
A festival of music, literature and theatre featuring
Alain de Botton, Melvyn Bragg, Blake Morrison and Patrick
Stewart.
Further information from: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
Events by date
January,
February, March,
April, May, June,
July, August,
September, October,
November
Many festivals run over more than one month so they
are listed by the month in which they start.
Wordsworth Trust - Weekend Book
Festival
David Cooper
Press Officer
Wordsworth Trust
Dove Cottage
Grasmere
Cumbria
LA22 9SH
015394 35544
http://www.wordsworth.org.uk/
bookfestival@wordsworth.org.uk
A residential course of lectures, surgeries and workshops
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Bath Literature
Festival
Nicola Bennett
Head of Literature
Bath Festivals Trust
5 Broad Street
Bath
BA1 5LJ
01225 462231
www.bathlitfest.org.uk
info@bathfestivals.org.uk
Jewish Book Week
PO Box 20513
London
NW8 6ZS
Tel: 20 7483 2092
www.jewishbookweek.com
A festival to promote the reading of books on all aspects
of Jewish thought and culture.
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Between the Lines - Belfast Literary
Festival
Crescent Arts Centre
2-4 University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NH
028 9024 2338
www.crescentarts.org
info@crescentarts.org
Workshops and readings
Essex Book Festival
June Turner
Reader Development Co-ordinator
Essex Library Headquarters
Goldlay Gardens
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 0EW
01245 284981
www.thisisessex.co.uk/bookfestival2004/bookfestival2004.html
june.turner@essexcc.gov.uk
A month long festival bringing readers and writers
throughout the county, with many events in libraries
International Festival of Mountaineering
Literature
Dr Terry Gifford
Bretton Hall College
West Bretton
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF4 4LG
0113 343 9022
www.festivalofmountaineeringliterature.co.uk/Festival.htm
tgifford@leeds.ac.uk
Featuring the presentation of The Boardman Tasker Award
for Mountaineering Literature and the High Writing Competition
Oxford Literary Festival
Angela Prysor-Jones
Festival Director
Oxford Literary Festival
301 Woodstock Road
Oxford
OX2 7NY
01865 514149
oxford.literary.festival@ntlworld.com
Talks, panel discussions and readings
Spit-lit: The Spitalfields Literary
Festival
Maggie Pinhorn
Director
Alternative Arts
Top Studio
Bethnal Green Training Centre
Deal Street
London
E1 5HZ
Tel: 20 7375 0441
http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/html
info@alternativearts.co.uk
A celebration of women's writing
StAnza
Brian Johnstone
Admin Director
Gilstonbrig
by Upper Largo
Leven
Fife
KY8 5QW
01334 474610
www.st-and.ac.uk/standrews/stanza
stanza@st-andrews.ac.uk
A spring poetry festival
Words by the Water
Kay Dunbar
Ways with Words
Droridge Farm
Dartington
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 6JQ
01803 867311
www.wayswithwords.co.uk
wwwords@globalnet.co.uk
A Cumbrian literature festival that features literary
walks, readings, poetry workshops and family events
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Aberdeen Arts Carnival
Arthur Deans
Aberdeen Arts Centre
33 King Street
Aberdeen
AB2 3AA
01224 635208
http://www.aberdeenartscentre.org.uk/
Annual festival focusing on creative writing, drama,
dance and music with local amateurs as well as professional
artists
Academi's Annual Literature Festival
The West Academi
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5FQ
029 2047 2266
www.academi.org
post@academi.org
This festival alternates between North Wales (Ty Newydd
Literature Festival) and South Wales (Bay Lit - a Literature
festival in Cardiff Bay)
Cambridge conference of Contemporary
Poetry
Rod Mengham
c/o Jesus College Cambridge
Cambridge
CB5 8BL
01223 339493
www.cccp-online.org
r.mengham@jesus.cam.ac.uk
A conference emphasising modernist developments in
international poetry
Camelford Poetry Festival
Helen Wood
The Indian King Arts Centre
Fore Street
Camelford
Cornwall
PL32 9PG
01840 212111
info@indianking.co.uk
Set up in commermoration of the poet Jon Silkin
Dorchester Festival of Music and
Arts
Dorchester Arts Centre
School Lane
The Grove
Dorchester
DT1 1XR
01305 266926
enquiries@dorchesterarts.org.uk
A biennial festival with a small literary programme.
Federation of Worker Writers
& Community Publishers Festival Of Writing (FWWCP)
Tim Diggles
Burslem School of Art
Queen Street
Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 3EJ
01782 822327
www.fwwcp.mcmail.com
fwwcp@cwcom.net
A celebration of community writing and offers opporunities
to share publishing and writing skills and learn new
ones
John Masefield Society Festival
Peter Carter
The Frith
Ledbury
Hertfordshire
HR8 1LW
01531 631647
petercarter@btinternet.com
John Masefield was the Poet Laureate from 1930 to
1967; this festival celebrates his work
New Writing Festival
David Williams
24 Haslemere Drive
Cheadle Hulme
Cheshire
SK8 6JY
ouds.org/nwf/index.html
nwf@ouds.org
A national festival for full-length plays open to anyone
normally resident in England
Ty Newydd Festival
Sally Baker
The Welsh Academi
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5FQ
029 2047 2266
www.academi.org
post@academi.org
Biennial festival, mixing poets, storytellers, novelists
and critics
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Banstead Arts Festival
Bob Reeve
6 Wellesford Close
Banstead
Surrey
SM7 2DP
01737 360707
www.bansteadarts.co.uk/index.html
A general arts festival, mainly music, with a small
literary content
Brighton Festival
Jane McMorrow
Festival Manager
Festival Administration Office
12a Pavilion Buildings
Castle Square
Brighton
BN1 1EE
01273 260805
www.brighton-festival.org.uk
info@brighton-dome.org.uk
A general arts festival with a large literature programme
Bury St Edmunds Festival
Nick Wells
Festival Manager
Borough Offices
Angel Hill
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP2 1XB
01284 757630
www.buryfestival.co.uk
info@buryfestival.co.uk
A general arts festival with a strong musical element
and some literary events
Charleston Festival
Diana Reich
Festival Programmer
The Charleston Trust
Firle
Lewes
East Sussex
BN8 6LL
01323 811626
www.charleston.org.uk
info@charleston.org.uk
A number of well-known writers discuss their literary,
artistic, intellectual and romantic pre-occupations
Chelmsford Cathedral Festival
of Music and Arts
Hilary Simmons
Festival Administrator
Festival Office
New Street
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1AT
01245 359890
www.chelmsfordfestival.org
chelcathfest@lineone.net
A general arts festival with a small programme of literary
events
Daphne du Maurier Festival of
Arts and Literature
Jonathan Aberdeen
Festival Co-ordinator
Restormel Borough Council
Penwinnick Road
St Austell
Cornwall
PL25 5DR
01726 223300
www.restormel.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3229
rbc@resotrmel.gov.uk
A festival to celebrate the life and works of Daphne
du Maurier
Dulwich Festival
Alison Loyd
Festival Director
37 Calton Avenue
Dulwich
London
SE21 7DE
Tel: 20 8299 1011
www.dulwichfestival.co.uk
A community arts festival that features literary talks
and readings. Next festival 2005
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
Lynn Otty
Literature Convener
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1JQ
01387 260447
www.dgartsfestival.org.uk
dgartsfestival@ukgateway.net
A regional general arts festival involving music, visual
arts, drama, film, dance, children's events and literature
Hay Festival of Literature and
the Arts
Clare Purcell
Festival Officer
Festival Offices
Belmont Road
Hay-on-Wye
HR3 5BX
01497 821217
www.hayfestival.co.uk
admin@hayfestival.co.uk
A ten day celebration of literature and the arts, including
book reviews, questions and answer sessions, and debates
Newbury Spring Festival
Mark Eynon
Festival Director
1 Bridge Street
Newbury
Berks
RG14 5BH
01635 32421
www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk
info@newburyspringfestival.org.uk
A general arts festival with some literary events
Norfolk and Norwich Festival
Claire Bowdler
Marketing Manager
42-58 St George's Street
Norwich
Norfolk
NR3 1AB
01603 614921
www.nnfest.demon.co.uk
info@nnfest.demon.co.uk
A general arts festival
Perth Festival of the Arts
Sandra Ralston
3-5 High Street
Perth
PH1 5JS
01738 475295
www.perthfestival.co.uk
artsfestival@perth.org.uk
Mainly a music festival with a small literary content
Poetry-next-the-Sea
Helen Flanagan
Festival Office
Rowans
Warham Road
Wells-next-the-Sea
Norfolk
NR23 1NE
01328 710193
www.poetrynextthesea.com
enquiries@poetrynextthesea.com
Poets feature in inter-arts events such as poetry and
music, or poetry and art
Salisbury Festival
Trevor Davies
Festival Director
75 New Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2PH
01722 332241
www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
info@salisburyfestival.co.uk
A general arts festival with some literature events
Swaledale Festival
Philip Parr
Director
Thornborough Hall
Leyburn
North Yorkshire
DL8 5AB
01969 622217
www.swaledale-festival.care4free.net
swaledale-festival@care4free.net
A general arts festival with some literary events
Spread the Word
Joshua Sofaer
Co-Director
Unit 8, Eurolink Business Centre
49 Effra Road
London
SW2 1BZ
Tel: 20 7207 2025
www.spreadtheword.org.uk
info@spreadtheword.org.uk
A series of literary events
Swindon Festival of Literature
Matt Holland
Festival Director
Lower Shaw Farm
Shaw
Swindon
Wilshire
SN5 5PJ
01793 771080
www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
swindonlitfest@isfarm.co.uk
Readings, writing workshops, discussions and storytelling
Warwick & Leamington Festival
Richard Phillips
Festival Director
Warwick Arts Society
Northgate
Warwick
CV34 4JL
01926 410747
www.welcome.to/warwickarts
boxoffice@warwickarts.org.uk
A music festival with some literary events
Wigtown Book Town Festival
Ian Barr
Wigtown Book Town
26 South Main Street
Wigtown
Newton Steward
DG8 9EH
01988 402633
www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk
booktown@wigit.btinternet.com
An annual book festival for both adults and children
Word 04:
University of Aberdeen Writer's Festival
Word - University of Aberdeen Writers Festival
Office of External Affairs
University of Aberdeen
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX
01224 274444
www.abdn.ac.uk/word/
word@abdn.ac.uk
A writing festival with a focus on readings
Writing on the Wall Festival
Dave Cotterill
Writing on the Wall Co-Ordinator
Writing on the Wall
Unity Theatre
1 Hope Place
Liverpool
0151 709 4988
www.writingonthewall.org.uk
wow@livjm.ac.uk
A festival based on real-life issues and set against
a multicultural backdrop
Young Readers UK Festival
Anne Everall
Festival Director
Central Library
Literature Office
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
0121 303 3368
www.birmingham.gov.uk
anne.everall@birmingham.gov.uk
A celebration of books and reading
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Broadstairs Dickens Festival
Sylvia Hawkes
Festival Organiser
10 Lanthorne Road
Broadstairs
Kent
CT10 2NH
01843 861827
www.broadstairs.gov.uk/DickensFestival.htm
A festival inspired by the works of Charles Dickens
Broomhill Literary Festival
Julie Cooke
Events Organiser
Broomhill Art Hotel & Sculpture Park
Muddiford
Barnstape
Devon
EX21 4EX
01271 850262
www.broomhillart.co.uk
info@broomhillart.co.uk
A family festival with a variety of events for adults
and children
Chaucer Festival
Chaucer Heritage Trust
Chaucer Centre
22 St Peter's Street
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2BQ
020 7229 0635
Annual series of events celebrating Chaucer
Chelsea Festival
Clare Wheatley
c/o 18 Cadogan Gardens
London
SW3 2EP
020 7351 1005
clarewheatley@chelseafest.fsnet.co.uk
A general arts festival with a small literary content
Chichester Festivities
Amanda Sharp
Festival Administrator
Canon Gate House
South Street
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1PU
01243 785718
www.chifest.org.uk
info@chifest.org.uk
A general arts festival with some literature events
City Of London Festival
Bishopsgate Hall
230 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4HW
020 7377 0540
www.colf.org/
admin@colf.org
A general arts festival with some literature events
Corsham Festival
Nicholas Keyworth
Festival Director
Osborne ouse
1 Station road
Corsham
Wilts
SN13 9EU
01249 713509
www.corshamfestival.co.uk
corsham.festival@virgin.net
A mainly music festival with a small literary content
East Grinstead Book and Literary
Festival
R J Broadway
Festival Organiser
East Grinstead Town Council
Council Offices
College Lane, East Court
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 3LT
01342 323636
b.broadway@eastgrinstead.gov.uk
A festival of literary and cultural events for the
public
Grassington Festival
Joan Haspel
Publicity Officer
Lythe Cottage
Grassington
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 5AU
01756 752691
www.grassington-festival.org.uk
info@grassington-festival.org.uk
A general arts festival with a small literary content
Haringey Literature Festival
Dana Captainino
Haringey Arts Council
The Chocolate Factory
Unit 104, Building B
Clarendon Road
Wood Green
London
N22 6JX
20 8365 7500
dana@haringeyartscouncil.org
Readings, events and workshops
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
Enid Stephenson
c/o Tourist Information Centre
West End
Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 9EX
01422 842684
www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival
hbartsfestival@hotmail.com
A general arts festival with some literary events
Highland Festival
Highland Festival Office
40 Huntly Street
Inverness
IV3 5HR
01463 719000
http://www.highlandfestival.org.uk/
info@highlandfestival.demon.co.uk
A festival of all the arts throughout the Highlands
and Islands, celebrating the creativity and cultural
diversity of the region
Humber Mouth: Hull Literature
Festival
Rita Muth
Hull City Arts Unit
Central Library
Albion Street
Hull
HU1 3TF
01482 616875
www.humbermouth.org.uk
humber.mouth@hullcc.gov.uk
An array of readings, performances and workshops by
writers from around the world and from the city
Leominster Festival of the Arts
Chris Sansom
c/o Capriole Music
11 The Buttercross
Leominster
Hereford and Worcester
HR6 8BN
01568 611190
www.leominster-festival.com
chairman@leominster-festival.com
A general arts festival with some literary events
Lowdham Book Festival
Ross Bradshaw
Literature Officer
Nottinghamshire County Council
Mansfield Library
Westgate
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 1NH
01623 647229
www.lowdhambookfestival.co.uk
ross.bradshaw@nottscc.gov.uk
A week long festival including nationally-known fiction
and non-fiction writers
Ludlow Festival Literary Weekend
Michael Turner
Administrator
Festival Office
Castle Square
Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8 1AY
01584 875070
www.ludlowfestival.co.uk
info@ludlowfestival.co.uk
Covering a wide range of literary subjects with authors
speaking about their recent publications
Mananan international Festival
of Music and the Arts
John Bethell
Erin Arts Centre
Victoria Square
Port Erin
Isle of Man
IM9 6LD
01624 835858
www.erinartscentre.com
erinartscentre@enterprise.net
A general arts festival with a small literary content
Peterborough Festival
Peter Newman
Principal Cultural Services Officer
Peterborough City Council
Community Services Department
Bayard Place, Broadway
Peterborough
PE1 1HZ
01733 237073
www.peterborough.gov.uk
peter.newman@peterborough.gov.uk
A festival with a small literary content
Purple Patch Poetry Convention
Geoff Stevens
Festival Organiser
Purple Patch
25 Griffiths Road
West Bromich
B71 2EH
07950 591455
www.nhi.clara.net/pp.htm
A festival of poetry workshops, discussions and readings
Spitalfields Festival
Judith Serota
Festival Manager
75 Brushfield Street
Spitalfields
London
E1 6AA
Tel: 20 7377 0287
www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk
info@spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk
Predominantly a music festival with a small literary
content
St Magnus Festival
Angela Henderson
Festival Administrator
60 Victoria Street
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1DN
01856 871445
www.stmagnusfestival.com
info@stmagnusfestival.com
A midsummer celebration of the arts
Stoke Newington Festival
Fiona Fieber
Programme Producer
Room 15, Old Town Hall
Stoke Newington Church Street
London
N16 0JR
Tel: 20 8356 6410
www.stokenewingtonfestival.co.uk
info@stokenewingtonfestival.co.uk
A multi-arts programme focusing on literature, spoken
word, performance, texts and readers
Ways with Words Literature Festival
Kay Dunbar
Ways with Words
Droridge Farm
Dartington
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 6JQ
01803 867311
www.wayswithwords.co.uk
wwwords@globalnet.co.uk
The main Ways with Words Festival at Dartington, with
readings and other events
X-Trax on the Street
Manchester International Arts
3 Birch Polygon
Manchester
M14 5HX
0161 274 0647
www.xtrax.org.uk/xtrax/welcome.html
info@xtrax.org.uk
Puppets, street theatre, music and dance with a small
literary content
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Beyond the Border - International
Storytelling Festival
David Ambrose
Director
St Donats Arts Centre
St Donats Castle
Nr Llantwit Major
Vale of Glamorgan
CF61 1WF
01446 799100
www.beyondtheborder.com
info@beyondtheborder.com
An international festival celebrating oral tradition
Buxton Festival
Glyn Foley
General Manager
5 The Square
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6AZ
01298 70395
www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
info@buxtonfestival.co.uk
An opera festival with a small literary element
Crime Scene
Ian Cuthbert
NFT Press Office
National Film Theatre
South Bank
Waterloo
London
SE1 8XT
Tel: 20 7815 1327
www.bfi.org.uk/nft
ian.cuthbert@bfi.org.uk
A festival of criminal films and fiction
Dartington Literature Festival
Kay Dunbar
Droridge Farm
Dartington
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 6JQ
01803 867373
www.wayswithwords.co.uk
wwwords@globalnet.co.uk
A festival of around 200 novelists, biographers, historians,
scientists, politicians, actors and poets
Festival at the Edge
Jackie Douglas
3 High Point
Little Wenlock
Shropshire
TF6 5BT
01952 504882
www.festivalattheedge.org
jackie@festivalattheedge.org
A storytelling festival with music, drama, poetry and
song
Frome Arts Festival
Martin Bax
Festival Director
10 The Retreat
Frome
Somerset
BA11 5JU
01373 453889
www.fromefestival.co.uk
fromefestival@ukonline.co.uk
A festival celebrating all aspects of visual and performing
arts and entertainment
Harwich Festival
Anna Rendell-Knights
2a Kings Head Street
Harwich
Essex
CO12 3EG
01255 503571
anna@rendell-knights.freeserve.co.uk
A general arts festival which includes poetry and literature
content
Henley Festival
Leslie Metzler
Marketing Manager
14 Friday Street
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 1AH
01491 843400
www.henley-festival.co.uk
info@henley-festival.co.uk
A general arts and music festival with a small literary
content
King's Lynn Festival
Joanne Rutterford
Administrator
5 Thoresby College
Queen Street
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 1HX
01553 767557
www.kl-festival.freeserve.co.uk
enquiries@kl-festival.freeserve.co.uk
A general arts festival with some literary events
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Charles Bennett
Festival Manager
Festival Office
Town Council Offices
Church Street
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 1DH
01531 634156
www.poetry-festival.com
prog@poetry-festival.com
Featuring contemporary poetrs, actors and media personalities
Lichfield international Arts
Festival
Ruth Hardingham
Administrator
Festival Office
7 The Close
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 7LD
01543 306270
www.lichfieldfestival.org
lichfield.fest@lichfield-arts.org.uk
A general arts festival with a small literary content
Ryedale Festival
Anne Jones
Ryedale Festival
The Memorial Hall
Potter Hill
Pickering
North Yorkshire
YO18 8AA
01751 475777
www.ryedalefestival.co.uk
RyedaleFestival@aol.com
A general arts festival with some literature events
Stratford-on-Avon Poetry Festival
Josephine Walker
PA to the Festival Director
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6WQ
01789 204016
www.shakespeare.org.uk
info@shakespeare.org.uk
A festival taking place on Sunday evenings during the
summer months
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Arundel Festival
Anthony Phillips
The Mary Gate
Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 9AT
01903 884243
A general arts festival with literary content
Chapel Allerton Arts Festival
Siobhan MacMahon
Rutland Cottage
Potter Newton Lane
Leeds
LS7 3DR
0113 262 0138
www.chapelallerton.org.uk/view.php?id=88
A general arts festival involving performing arts and
literature
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Owen O'Leary
Press and Marketing Officer
180 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1QS
0907 159 2002
www.edfringe.com
admin@edfringe.com
Fringe programme of the Edinburgh international Festival
Edinburgh International Book
Festival
Catherine Lockerbie
Director
Edinburgh international Book Festival
Scottish Book Centre
137 Dundee Street
Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH11 1BG
0131 2285444
www.edbookfest.co.uk
admin@edbookfest.co.uk
Over 500 events for adults and children including readings,
discussions, debates, performances, workshops and quizzes
Edinburgh International Festival
The Hub
Edinburgh Festival Centre
Edinburgh
EH1 2NE
0131 473 2001
www.eif.co.uk
eif@eif.co.uk
One of the world's most prestigious arts festivals
that presents the best in international dance, theatre,
opera and music
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The Organiser
Eisteddfod Office
40 Parc Ty Glas
Llanisien
Caerdydd
Wales
CF14 5WU
029 20763777
http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk
info@eisteddfod.org.uk
This festival celebrates Welsh language, culture and
identity
Poetry OtherWise
Paul Matthews
Emerson College
Forest Row
East Sussex
RH18 5JX
01342 822238
www.poetryotherwise.org
mail@emerson.org.uk
Workshops, discussions, readings, performances and
literary walks
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Arthur Miller Centre International
Literary Festival
Val Striker
University of East Anglia
School of English & American Studies
Norwich
NR3 7TJ
01603 592810
www.uea.ac.uk/eas/events/intro.shtml
v.striker@uea.ac.uk
An annual festival celebrating Arthur Miller. Also
includes information on the Centre for Creative and
Performing Arts' Literary festival.
Durham Literature Festival
Alison Lister
Festival Co-ordinator
Durham City Arts Ltd
Byland Lodge
Hawthorne Terrace
Durham
DH1 4TD
0191 301 8245
www.literaturefestival.co.uk
alison@durhamcityarts.demon.co.uk
Falmouth Festival of Literature
and Arts
12 Kernick Business
Park
Annear Road
Penryn
Cornwall
TR10 9EW
http://www.falmouthfestival.co.uk/
admin@falmouthfestival.co.uk
A wide-ranging literary
festival. Authors for 2004 to be confirmed.
Gaelforce
Ruari McNeill
GaelForce Co-ordinator
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1NW
07803 268859
http://www.gaelforcefestival.co.uk/
ruarimcn@aol.com
Scottish arts and entertainment with live music, theatre,
literary events, exhibitions, films and workshops
Graham Greene Festival
The Secretary
Graham Greene Birthplace Trust
Rhenigidale
Ivy House Lane
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2PP
01442 865158
www.grahamgreenebt.org
secretary@grahamgreenebt.org
A festival looking at Graham Greene's work
Hastings International Poetry
Festival
Josephine Austin
The Snoring Cat
16 Marianne Park
Dudley Road
Hastings
East Sussex
TN35 5PU
01424 423105
www.hastings.gov.uk/events/year2004.asp
Includes the prize-giving ceremony of the Hastings
National Poetry Competition
National Association of Writers
Groups - Open Festival of Writing
Brian Lister
Festival Administrator
The Arts Centre
Washington
Tyne and Wear
NE38 2AB
0191 4169751
www.nawg.co.uk
briannawgfestival@yahoo.co.uk
A residential literary weekend with workshops led by
professional poets and writers
North Pennines Storytelling Festival
Gillian Wall
Art's Development Manager
The DLI Museum & Durham Art Gallery
Aykley Heads
Durham
DH1 5TU
0191 384 2214
gillian.wall@durham.gov.uk
Storytelling, music and performance in a variety of
venues in Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham
Peterloo Poets International
Poetry Festival
Harry Chambers
Peterloo Poets
The Old Chapel
Sand Lane
Calstock
Cornwall
PL18 9QX
01822 833473
www.peterloopoets.co.uk/
poets@peterloo.fsnet.co.uk
Poetry festival and other events and competitions throughout
the year
Rye Festival
Chris Drew
Press Officer
PO Box 33
Rye
East Sussex
TN31 7YB
01797 224442
www.ryefestival.co.uk
info@ryefestival.co.uk
A general arts festival with some literature events
Tenby Arts Festival
Chris Sierwald
Treasurer
1 Rock House
St Julian Street
Tenby
Pembrokeshire
SA70 7BJ
01834 842974
www.tenbyartsfest.com
tenbyartsfest@tenby.org
A music, arts and literature festival
Wonderful Words - Cornwall Library
Book Festival
Rebecca Rowland
Bodmin Library
Lower Bore Street
Bodmin
PL31 2JX
01208 72286
A series of events held in libraries throughout Cornwall.
World Haiku Festival
Susumu Takiguchi
Chairman
The World Haiku Club
Leys Farm
Rousham
Bicester
Oxon
OX25 4RA
01869 340261
www.worldhaikuclub.org
whc.susumu@virgin.net
A celebration of Japanese poetry
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Bangor Fiction Festival: Words
& Images
Dr Graeme Harper
Director
Development Centre for Creature and Performing Arts
University of Wales
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
01248 3/83656
g.harper@bangor.ac.uk
A festival celebrating literature and film
Belfast Festival at Queen's
Graeme Farrow
Festival House
25 College Gardens
Belfast
BT9 6BS
028 90667687
www.belfastfestival.com
g.farrow@qub.ac.uk
A broad based festival with a large literary element
Birmingham Book Festival
Helen Thomas
Birmingham Arts Marketing Ltd
10th Floor
Alpha Tower
Suffolk Street Queensway
Birmingham
B1 1TT
0121 685 2600
www.birminghamarts.org.uk/default.asp
info@bookcommunications.co.uk
Events including performances, reading, talks, discussions
and debates
Bristol Poetry Festival
Hester Cockcroft
Festival Director
The Poetry Can
Unit11 Kuumba Project
20-22 Hepburn Road
St Paul's
Bristol
BS2 8UD
0117 942 6976
www.poetrycan.demon.co.uk
festival@poetrycan.demon.co.uk
A wide range of performances, competitions, workshops,
exhibitions, public poetry interventions, community
work, cross art form and digital projects
Canterbury Festival
Mark Deller
Festival Director
Festival Office
Christ Church Gate
The Precincts
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2EE
01227 455600
www.canterburyfestival.co.uk/
info@canterburyfestival.co.uk
A mixed arts festival with some literature events
Cheltenham Festival of Literature
Adam Pushkin
Festival Officer
Town Hall
Imperial Square
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 1QA
01242 263494
www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk
adamp@cheltenham.gov.uk
The main festival takes place every October with a
smaller one in the spring
Chester Literature Festival
Freda Hadwen
Festival Adminstrator
Chester Liteature Society
8 Abbey Square
Chester
CH1 2HU
01244 320700
www.chesterfestivals.co.uk
csmf@dial.pipex.com
The festival includes readings, talks and related events
exploring the world of books
Dylan Thomas - The Celebration
David Woolley
The Dylan Thomas Centre
Somerset Place
Swansea
SA1 1RR
01792 463980
www.dylanthomas.org
dylan.thomas@cableol.co.uk
A festival between the dates of Dynlan Thomas's birth
and death with readings, talks, performances, films,
exhibitions and lectures
Essex Poetry Festival
Jeremy Over
Festival Co-ordinator
Poetry in Practice
Chelmsford
Essex
01245 606505
www.come.to/the-essex-poetry-festival
Readings and workshops take place across Essex
Exeter Festival
Festival Office
Civic Centre
Paris Street
Exeter
EX1 1JJ
01392 265200
www.exeter.gov.uk/festival
A general arts festival with some literary events
Guildford Book Festival
Tourist Information Centre
14 Tunsgate
Guildford
GU1 3QT
01483 444334
www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordWeb/Leisure/Book+Festival/
Festival brochures will be available in September
Ilkley Literature Festival
Dominic Gregory
Director
The Manor House
Ilkley
West Yorkshire
LS29 9DT
01943 601210
www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
admin@ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
An international festival including workshops, readings
and lectures
Isle of Man Literature Festival
Dawn Maddrell
Arts Development Manager
Isle of Man Arts Council
10 Villa Marina Arcade
Harris Promenade
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 2HN
01624 611316
www.artscouncil.org.im
maddrell@artscounciliom.freeserve.co.uk
Various literary events
Lancaster LitFest
Andy Darby
Artistic Director
Sun Street Studios
29 Sun Street
Lancaster
LA1 1EW
01524 62166
www.litfest.org
info@lancslitfest.demon.co.uk
Featuring poetry and fiction from Britain
Lewes Live Literature
Mark Hewitt
Artistic Director
Lewes Live Literature
PO Box 2766
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2WF
01273 476686
www.lewesliveliterature.co.uk/index.php
leweslivelit@hotmail.com
Poetry, literary, aritistic and music events
Manchester Poetry Festival
Megan Brown & Ric Michael
Co-ordinator & Director
114 Fog Lane
Didsbury
Manchester
M20 6SP
0870 787 0037
www.manchesterpoetryfestival.co.uk
mpf@dial.pipex.com
Brings together poets with a huge array of styles
Mere Literary Festival
Adrienne Howel
Lawrence's
Old Hollow
Mere
Wiltshire
BA12 6EG
01747 860475
hometown.aol.co.uk/merewilts/MLFHome.html
Includes literary quizzes, writers' lunches and workshops,
and this year, a short story competition
Off the Shelf Literature Festival
Maria de Souza & Su Walker
Community Arts Officers
Sheffield Central Library
Surrery Street
Sheffield
S1 1XZ
0114 273 4716
www.offtheshelf.org.uk
off-the-shelf@pop3.poptel.org.uk
A celebration and promotion aiming for the widest possible
audience
Poetry International-
Royal Festival Hall
The Poetry Library
Level 5
Royal Festival Hall
London
SE1 8XX
0207 921 0943
www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
A biennial event. Next festival 2004
Proud Words
Mary Lowe
Development Officer
PO Box 181
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE6 5XG
07973 894912
www.proudwords.org.uk
pwcwf@hotmail.com
A creative writing festival for lesbians, gay men and
bisexuals
Royal Court Young Writers Festival
The Royal Court Young Writers' Programme
Sloane Square
London
SW1W 8AS
020 7565 5000
www.royalcourttheatre.com/young_festivals_detail.asp?FestID=34
A biennial national festival for under 25s
Scottish International Storytelling
Festival
Joanna Bremner
Festival Director
Neterbrow: Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1SR
0131 557 5724
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/index.html
scottishstorytellingcentre@uk.uumail.com
A festival exploring indigenous storytelling set in
an international context
Wells Festival of Literature
Wells Tourist Information Centre
Wells Tourist Information Centre
Town Hall
Wells
Somerset
BA5 1SE
01749 672552
www.somersite.co.uk/wellsfest.htm
Lectures, readings, children's events, poetry workshops
and competitions
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Aldeburgh International Poetry
Festival
Naomi Jaffa
Festival Director
Aldeburgh Poetry Trust
The Cut
9 New Cut
Halesworth
Suffolk
IP19 8BY
01986 835940
www.aldeburghpoetryfestival.org
aldeburghpoetry.trust@virgin.net
An international celebration of contemporary poetry.
Book Now! - Richmond's Literature
Festival
Emma Nicol
Assistant Arts Officer
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Arts Office, Education and Leisure
1st Floor, Regal House
London Road
Twickenham
TW1 3QB
Tel: 20 8891 8831
www.richmond.gov.uk
leisure@richmond.gov.uk
Focusing on poetry and serious fiction
Booktide Children's Arts Festival
John Leeding
Ceredigion County Council
Ceredigion Library
Corporation Street
Aberystwyth
Wales
SW23 2BU
01970 633716
www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre
A programme of performances, talks and workshops for
schools throughout Ceredigion
Farrago Festival of Spoken Word
John O'Neill
Farrago Poetry
108 High Street
West Wickham
Kent
BR4 0ND
0790 507 8375
www.e-poets.net/Farrago
farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk
This festival is aimed at children and young people.
A selection of poets perform their own work. There are
poetry workshops
International Playwriting Festival
Rose Marie Vernon
Festival Co-ordinator
Warehouse Theatre
Dingwall Road
Croydon
CR0 2NF
Tel: 20 8681 1257
www.warehousetheatre.co.uk
warehous@dircon.co.uk
A National and international stage for new writing,
open to entries worldwide. The best selected work is
showcased at the festival
London International Poetry and
Song Festival
Richard Deakin
Director of LIPS
21 Salford Road
London
SW2 4BJ
Tel: 20 8674 9311
www.lipsfest.co.uk
richard@achillesprod.demon.co.uk
A weekend of poetry and music featuring international
poets and musicians
Northern Children's Book Festival
Ann Key
22 Highbury
Jesmond
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 3DY
0191 281 3289
www.ncbf.org.uk
annkey@waitrose.com
Annual children's book festival
Poetry in the City
Cathy Grindrod
Literature Officer
Nottingham City Council
Leisure and Community Services
14 Hounds Gate
Nottingham
NG1 7BD
0115 915 7231
www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/poetry
cathy.grindrod@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
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