Kirkcudbright Book Week, which is making a welcome return after twice being cancelled due to the covid outbreak, will take place between Monday February 27 and Saturday March 4, 2023, and is designed to celebrate the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and Galloway area.
It will feature performances by both professional authors and local writing groups at venues in Kirkcudbright and will include poetry and prose as well as film, song and music. The programme will be unveiled later in 2022.
Aims include:
For the authors - A chance to develop new audiences and showcase new books and projects, particularly as live performance continues to recover after pandemic.
For community writing groups - the chance to experience live performance, in some cases for the first time
For audiences - The chance to enjoy live performance, be exposed to new voices and to meet the writers. The emphasis will be on high quality literature.
For the society - The opportunity to build on the work done in the first book week by developing an annual event which earns its place on the Scottish festivals calendar.
For the town - The creation of a ‘buzz’ during the week and an optimistic sign that the town’s cultural scene is emerging from dark pandemic times when performances were strictly limited. The attraction of visitors from outside the area to attend events, alongside local people. Book Week is seen as part of efforts to raise the profile of the area.
Income for venues and local accommodation providers and shops – the first book week in 2020 featured a dozen events which attracted 250-plus audience members and saw £2,374 spent on everything from meals and hotel bookings to tickets to book sales.
The money raised via Crowdfunding will enable the Society to underwrite some of its costs and remove the need to rely entirely on ticket sales. More information is available www.kirkcudbrightbookweek.org and on Facebook