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UK Literary Festivals
JULY
All literature festivals across the UK taking place in July.

BBC PROMS LITERARY FESTIVAL
July - September 2009

Last year’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, was accompanied by a Proms Literary Festival for the first time. The Proms Literary Festival looked 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/2009/whatson/guide.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)\+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

BRADFORD BOOK FESTIVAL
29 June - 16 July 2009

Last year's highlights included Poetry Please presenter Roger McGough, Gervase Phinn, Deric Longden, Yorkshire TV’s Ian Clayton and Malika Booker.

Contact: Paula Truman
Bradford Central Library
City Centre Library
Prince's Way
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1NN
Tel: +44 (0)1274 433915
Fax: +44 (0)1274 731142
E-Mail: paula.truman@bradford.gov.uk

BUXTON FESTIVAL
10 - 28 July 2009

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: info@buxtonfestival.co.uk
Web links: http://www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

DARTINGTON HALL FESTIVAL - WAY WITH WORDS
10 - 19 July 2009

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/festivals/dartington-hall-18

EALING LITERARY FESTIVAL
Various local venues

10 - 19 July 2009

Author talks, writing workshops, spoken word performances, story-telling and poetry all combine in a lively weekend celebrating the written word, with entertainment for all the family.

Contact: Martha Lambert
E-mail: mlambert@ealing.gov.uk
Website: http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/ealing_summer/literary.html

FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE
17 - 19 July 2009

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.

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

THEAKSTON'S OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL, HARROGATE
23 - 26 July 2009

John Banville as Benjamin Black, Mark Billingham, Lee Child, Reginald Hill, and George Pelecanos are the special guests confirmed so far for the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival with more still to come. Val McDermid, Jasper Fforde, John Harvey, Peter James, Simon Kernick, Laura Lippman, Stuart MacBride and many, many more are also appearing on a murderous mix of panels running the entire gamut of crime fiction from nursery tale misdemeanours to hard-boiled, modern ultra-violence.

Contact: Sharon Canavar (Festival Director)
Raglan House
Raglan Street
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1LE
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
27 June - 12 July 2009

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
8 – 12 July 2009

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
10 - 12 July 2009

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
16 - 19 July 2009

A large music and arts festival with a stage dedicated to performance poets and writers.
http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/

LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL
3 – 12 July 2009

Britain’s largest Poetry Festival, brimming with events over ten days every summer.

Contact: Chloe Garner (Director)
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Church Street~
Ledbury
Herefordshire HR8 1DH
Tel: +44 (0)1531 634156
E-Mail: director@poetry-festival.com
Web links: http://www.poetry-festival.com

LICHFIELD FESTIVAL
9 - 19 July 2009

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
17 - 19 July 2009

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/

LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL
July 2010 (tbc)

London Literature Festival returns to the UK's foremost literature venue for a third year with an enticing programme of some of the world’s best writers, performances by internationally renowned musicians and hard-hitting debate on contemporary issues by leading commentators. Great minds of today meet the great minds of yesterday as the enduring relevance of classic texts are revealed and presented in exciting and innovative performances.


Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
Ticket Office: +44 (0)870 160 2522
Switchboard: +44 (0)871 663 2501

PORT ELIOT LIT FEST
Port Eliot
24 - 26 July 2009

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. Past festivals have featured 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: info@porteliotlitfest.com
Web links: www.porteliotlitfest.com

SHOREDITCH FESTIVAL - AROUND THE WORD IN SHOREDITCH
Shoreditch, London

18 July 2009

A stellar line-up of internationally-renowned and locally based writers and performers in Shoreditch Park from 1pm-7pm as part of the free Shoreditch Festival.

Contact: Alex Finlayson
Tel: 020 7033 8520
Web links: www.shoreditchfestival.org.uk

WINCHESTER FESTIVAL
9 - 18 July 2010

A multi-arts festival including classical music, literary events, childrens events, drama, jazz suppers and an open air concert. Authors Frank Gardner, Edna O’Brien and Michael Wood featured in 2009.

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
Web links: http://www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

WINCHESTER WRITERS' CONFERENCE AND BOOKFAIR
3 - 5 July 2009

Last year Colin Dexter, OBE, acclaimed crime novelist and creator of the Inspector Morse series, gave the Plenary Address and lead an outstanding line-up of more than 60 professional writers. poets, playwrights, producers, commissioning editors, literary agents  and book industry specialists who join this conference to help aspiring and published writers to harness their creativity and to learn all -important technical and marketing skills during 10 mini courses, 20 workshops, 60 talks and seminars and 300 one-to-one appointments with literary agents and commissioning editors.  This year Michael Murpurgo, famed children's author and musician, will give the Plenary Address and lead this 'force of writers'.   Four  Weeklong  Writing Workshops  precede this unique event. Fifteen writing competitions are attached, with 62 prizes and trophies awarded during the Writers' Awards Reception and Dinner. Writers may submit even if they are unable to attend. A Midnight Read for new writing and tours to Jane Austen's home, Winchester Cathedral to view the earliest illuminated bibles, The Study Centre for Women's Literature, Chawton and the Southern Echo newspaper offices complete this popular event fo all writers.

Contact: Barbara Large, MBE FRSA HFUW
Winchester Writers' Conference
Faculty of Arts
University of Winchester
Winchester
Hampshire S022 4NR UK
Tel: +44 (0)1962 827238
E-mail: Barbara.Large@winchester.ac.uk
Website: www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

WORDSWORTH TRUST - POETRY SEASON
April - October 2009

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

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