AFTER a year of hard work and planning, Poole Literary Festival has had its efforts rewarded with a £30,000 grant boost and backing from Arts Council England.
The high-profile event will take place at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts and other local venues over the last weekend in October.
Festival director Sue Luminati said: “We intend to deliver a festival that lives up to this coveted endorsement. We aim to showcase a festival that Poole residents will be proud of. It’s full steam ahead.”
A wealth of literary luminaries is already lined up for the event, including former children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo as patron, and writers Michael Rosen, Dorchester-based Minette Walters, Gervaise Phinn, Deborah Moggach and Mavis Cheek.
Marianne Pape, of Poole Arts Development Unit, Borough of Poole, said the event would give residents the chance to meet authors and take part in inspiring activities, projects and events in schools and community venues.
Elspeth McBain, chief executive of Lighthouse, added: “I have no doubt this will become a highly anticipated landmark on the cultural calendar and put Poole firmly on the map of the literary world.”
Alongside the varied programme, the festival is also running a new media writing prize, in conjunction with Bournemouth University.
Entrants must compose an interactive piece for delivery on-line or via smart phone. It can be any style or genre.
Sue said: “This competition offers writers working in new media the chance to showcase their work, raises awareness of the creative potential inherent in digital media and looks to the future of the written word.”
Michael Bhaskar, digital publishing manager at Profile Books and a member of the panel of judges, said the award was ground-breaking.
“As the first award of its kind globally it will be a landmark in the increasingly exciting arena of new media writing and I am thrilled to be involved,” he said.
Prizewinners will be announced at an awards ceremony to at Lighthouse, Poole, on October 31 and will receive £250 and an Apple iPad.
More details about the contest can be found on the festival website at poolelitfest.com For tickets and further details call 0844 406 8666 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk
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