Stuart GouldenYork Literature Festival have been awarded £6,236 from the Arts Council to stage the 2013 Festival. It is the first time ever that the Festival has received funding.
Miles Salter, Festival Organiser, said: ‘It’s fantastic news. We’ve submitted several bids to the Arts Council before but have never been successful. The grant means we can stage the 2013 event without worrying about finances. It will help us to stage a more professional event. The 2013 programme is currently being drawn up and it looks like it will be a great festival. York Literature Festival has huge potential in York. We have a great city centre with many excellent veneus and a huge tourist audience. The Festival welcomes enquiries from any generous sponsors who would like to help with the long term life of the event, beyond 2013.’
The festival began in 2007 and was initially supported by City of York Council Libraries, who withdrew support in 2009. The Festival has run on a voluntary basis since then. Writers and speakers who have appeared at the festival include Carol Ann Duffy, Kate Atkinson, Gervase Phinn, Ian McMillan, Tony Benn and Tracy Chevalier. In 2012 Ticket Sales were £5,000 for the first time.
York Literature Festival 2013 is working with local partners, including York St John University, York Theatre Royal, Friargate Theatre and City Screen Cinema.
One of the acts to appear at the festival is crime novelist Peter Robinson, who will perform alongside respected folk musician Martin Carthy at the National Centre for Early Music on Tuesday 20th March at 8.00pm.
York Literature Festival have been awarded £6,236 from the Arts Council to stage the 2013 Festival. It is the first time ever that the Festival has received funding.
