Literary Festival: Read All About It!

Friday 27 March 2015

The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, best-selling children’s writer Holly Smale and the ex-wife of Professor Stephen Hawking whose books became the basis of The Theory of Everything will be the top names heading a new literary festival this autumn.

The Connections: Jersey Festival of Words event takes place from Wednesday 30 September to Sunday 4 October, promoting literature for all ages, and including presentations, talks, adult literacy initiatives and events for schools and libraries.

The organisers want the event to be an annual one that helps to attract people to Jersey and enriches cultural life in the Island.

And they say that it will include talks on digital technology, graphic novels and literature in Jersey Norman-French.

There are already 300 literary festivals around Britain, including events in Guernsey and Alderney.

The festival committee is chaired by teacher, writer and former politician Jennifer Bridge.

She said: “We aim to bring something new and exciting to the Jersey arts scene while also contributing to the development of event-led tourism and the creative industries.

“Our ethos is inclusivity, with something for everyone and a focus on the continuing importance of books, reading and creative writing, even though we are now in the digital era.”

And the event has the backing of the politician in charge of culture – Assistant Economic Development Minister Murray Norton.

He said: “I’ve been highly impressed with the proposed Festival of Words, which has all the hallmarks of becoming one of the premier festivals in the Jersey events calendar. It is an event that I’m delighted to support and certainly one of great potential benefit to Jersey.”

Festival backers include the Jersey Library, the Jersey Arts Trust, the Jersey Evening Post, Digital Jersey, Marbral Advisory and the Jersey Opera House. Other venues will include the Jersey Heritage museum sites, CCA Galleries International and the Harbour Gallery.