BBC PROMS LITERARY FESTIVAL
19 July - 10 September 2008

This year’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, will be accompanied by a Proms Literary Festival for the first time. The Proms Literary Festival launches this year and will look at the relationship between writers and composers, with talks from experts on Russian, English and contemporary writers as well as number of special literary commissions.

Web links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/whatson/literary.shtml

BEYOND THE BORDER: THE WALES INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
3 - 5 July 2009 (Biennial)

An international festival celebrating oral tradition and bringing together storytellers, poets and musicians from around the world. Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival is the largest event of its type in the UK.

Contact: Debbie Burch (Marketing Manager)
St Donats Arts Centre
St Donats Castle
Nr Llantwit Major
Vale of Glamorgan
CF61 1WF
Tel: +44 (0)1446 799100 (Box office)\par +44 (0)1446 799096 (Debbie Burch - Marketing Manager)
Fax: +44 (0)1446 794711/+44 (0)1446 799101 (Box office)
E-Mail: boxoffice@stdonats.com,
Web links: http://www.beyondtheborder.com

BUXTON FESTIVAL
9 - 27 July 2008

A major festival of opera, music and literature.

Contact: Glyn Foley (Chief Executive)
Buxton Festival
3 The Square
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6AZ
Tel: +44 (0)1298 70395 (information)/+44 (0)845 12 72190 (box office)
Fax: +44 (0)1298 72289
E-Mail: infobuxtonfestival.co.uk
Web links: http://www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

DARTINGTON HALL FESTIVAL - WAY WITH WORDS
July 2008

The Ways with Words Festival - set in the medieval courtyard at Dartington Hall, Devon, this large literature festival has around 200 speakers.

Contact: Kay Dunbar
Ways with Words
Droridge Farm
Dartington
Totnes
Devon
TQ99 6JQ
Tel: +44 (0)1803 867373 (Administration)/+44 (0)1803 867311 (Box office)
Fax: +44 (0)1803 863688
E-Mail: admin@wayswithwords.co.uk
Web links: http://www.wayswithwords.co.uk

FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE
July 2008

Festival at the Edge is a story telling festival. Stories to make you laugh, cry and wonder. FATE is a festival for everyone, as well as for those already bitten by the story bug. The theme for next year is 'A Changing World'. Since 1999, the festival has commissioned a major new storytelling performance each year to premiere at the festival. Details of 2007 are on the web site.

Contact: Ali Quarrell
Rose Cottage
Church Road
Welshpool
Powys
SY21 7LN
Tel: +44 (0)1939 236626 (information and bookings)
E-Mail: info@festivalattheedge.org
Web links: http://www.festivalattheedge.org

HARROGATE CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL
The Cedar Court Hotel
July 2008

Featuring: Val McDermid, Stella Duffy, Mark Billingham, Stephen Booth and many more in 2007.

Contact: Sharon Canavar (Festival Manager)
1 Victoria Avenue
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1EQ
Tel: +44 (0)1423 562303
Fax: +44 (0)1423 521264
E-Mail: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk
Web links: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime

HEBDEN BRIDGE ARTS FESTIVAL
28 June - 13 July 2008

A general arts festival with literary events. Includes music, spoken word, comedy, children's events, open studio trail, open garden trail, exhibitions and film. Talks given in the past by Malorie Blackman, Nicholas Parsons, Clare Shaw, Honor Blackman, Linda Green and more.

Contact: Enid Stephenson
New Oxford House
Albert Street
Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 7BT
Tel: +44 (0)1422 842684
Fax: +44 (0)1422 846837
E-Mail: hbartsfestival@hotmail.com
Web links: http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival

HENLEY FESTIVAL
9 – 13 July 2008

The festival has a mixed programme of classical, opera, jazz, world music, comedy, poetry, street theatre and the visual arts, with nightly firework events.

Contact: Leslie Metzler (Marketing Manager)
14 Friday Street
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 1AH
Tel: +44 (0)1491 843400 (Administration)/+44 (0)1491 843404 (Box Office)
Fax: +44 (0)1491 410482
E-Mail: info@henley-festival.co.uk
Web links: http://www.henley-festival.co.uk

JOHN CLARE FESTIVAL
The John Clare School, Helpston near Peterborough
11 - 13 July 2008

The festival is a celebration of the life and works of John Clare with poetry readings, talks, discussions and entertainment.

Contact: Sue Holgate (Hon. Secretary)
9 The Chase
Ely
Cambridgeshire
Tel: +44 (0)1353 668438
Web links: http://www.johnclare.org.uk/jcsevents.htm

LATITUDE FESTIVAL
Henham Park Estate, Suffolk
17 - 20 July 2008

A large music and arts festival with a stage dedicated to performance poets and writers. Artists include Louis de Bernieres, Stella Duffy, Jenny Colgan and many more.
http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/

LICHFIELD FESTIVAL
3 - 13 July 2008

A general arts festival with a small literary content.

Contact: Peter Bacon (Administrator)
Festival Office
7 The Close
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 7LD
Tel: +44 (0)1543 412121
Fax: +44 (0)1543 306274
E-Mail: Lichfield.fest@lichfield-arts.org.uk
Web links: http://www.lichfieldfestival.org

LIVERPOOL ARABIC ARTS FESTIVAL
July 2008

The Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival partnership is proud to present this annual event, showcasing and celebrating cultural achievements from across the Arab world and its diaspora. Artistic representation this year comes from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Palestine, France, America and Britain.

Contact:
Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival
The Bluecoat
School Lane
Liverpool
L1 3BX
Tel: 0151 703 6737
E-mail: laafcoordinator@bluecoatartscentre.com
Web links: http://www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk/events.htm  

PORT ELIOT LIT FEST
Port Eliot
July 2008

Featuring a mix of writers, poets, filmmakers and musicians. Visitors, who can pitch their tents for free and enjoy the performances in over 100 acres of 18th century landscaped parkland and walled gardens in the grounds of an ancient stately home. Last year’s festival saw: Hari Kunzru, Hanif Kureishi, Toby Litt, Aisle 16 and many more.

Contact: Rick Worthy
Port Eliot
St. Germans
Saltash
Cornwall
PL12 5ND
Tel: +44 (0)7776 033069
E-Mail: rick@sacredsnake.co.uk, info@porteliotlitfest.com
Web links: www.porteliotlitfest.com

STRATFORD-ON-AVON-POETRY-FESTIVAL
July/August 2008

Sponsored by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It comprises a mixture of established contemporary poets reading their own work, and well-known actors, mainly from the Royal Shakespeare Company, reading verse on different themes or concentrating on past poets. Nine events are held on Sunday evenings in a variety of venues in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Contact: Julia Howells (PA to the Festival Director)
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6QW
Tel: +44 (0)1789 204016
Fax: +44 (0)1789 296083
E-Mail: info@shakespeare.org.uk
Web links: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk

Ways With Words – a festival of words & ideas
Dartington Hall
11 - 20 July 2008

Set in the beautiful medieval courtyard at Dartington Hall, surrounded by stunning gardens and green Devon countryside, this festival has a unique ‘Oxbridge college’ atmosphere. Visitors can stay on-site on a package including all tickets and accommodation or just come for the day or for individual events.

Contact: Kay Dunbar
Ways With Words
Droridge Farm
Dartington
Devon TQ9 6JG
Tel: 01803 867311
Fax: 01803 863688
Email: admin@wayswithwords.co.uk
Web links: http://www.wayswithwords.co.uk

WINCHESTER FESTIVAL
July 2008

A multi-arts festival including classical music, literary events, childrens events, drama, jazz suppers and an open air concert.

Contact: Angela Ryde-Weller (Administrative Director)
Music at Winchester Box Office
The Brooks Shopping Centre
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8QY
Tel: +44 (0)1962 877977
Fax: +44 (0)1962 877654
E-Mail: info@winchesterfestival.co.uk
Web links: http://www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

WORDSWORTH TRUST - POETRY SEASON
May - October 2008

Various readings held at St Martin's Students Union Bar, Ambleside in 2007. Poets included Gillian Allnutt, Simon Armitage, Jackie Kay, Jacob Polley, Geraldine Green and more. Refer to the website or the contact details to obtain further information.

Contact: Will Carr (Arts Officer)
The Wordsworth Trust
Dove Cottage
Grasmere
Cumbria
LA22 9SH
Tel: +44 (0)15394 35544
Fax: +44 (0)15394 63503
E-Mail: enquiries@wordsworth.org.uk
Web links: http://www.wordsworth.org.uk