Newark Book Festival, the annual literature festival that attracts more than 5,000 visitors each year to Newark, is set to return for a fourth year in a row with a virtual programme of events. Taking place 10th – 12th July 2020, headline authors including Sophie Hannah and Kate Mosse will take part in a series of events which celebrate creativity and anniversaries over the past 100 years.
“We are delighted to be able to offer a programme of events this July which supports artists, authors and the local community during this time,” said Sara Bullimore, Artistic Director of Newark Book Festival. “We have re-created our original 2020 festival programme to offer online events so we can bring as much of the festival as we can to the comfort of your own homes! This July we will offer a variety of author events, workshops and panel discussions which explore history, crime fiction and storytelling for everyone in the family. People can expect to see authors such as Jess Kidd, Julie Summers and Giles Kristian to name a few.”
Each year, Newark Book Festival celebrates the beautiful and historic town of Newark. This year is no exception, the history is being bought to people’s homes in a programme of events which supports local history and anniversaries.
Historian, Emily Brand from Nottinghamshire will share her new book, The Fall of the House of Byron. To mark the birth of Anne Brontë 200 years ago, the Brontë 200 expert panel on Saturday 11th July will celebrate the life and works of the Brontës over the years. The panel will also feature YouTuber and Young Adult fiction author of The Paper Hearts Society – Lucy Powrie.
For crime fiction lovers, the ‘Crime Through the Ages’ panel will host four crime authors including Mick Finlay, Frances Brody, Rod Reynolds and Nick Quantrill, the event chair. The whole family are also invited to get involved as children’s author, Claire Baker shares her series of Picklewitch & Jack books.
“Our series of events in July will form Chapter 1 of the festival with more planned events to come in Chapters 2-5 taking place from September 2020 to February 2021 including a dedicated children’s festival day in early 2021” added Sara. “Whilst this year’s plans are different from our original ideas, we are proud to have been able to recreate a programme for all members of the family which supports artists, authors and our communities. Thank you to all our Festival Friends, supporters, sponsors and funders for their continued support!”
In the last few months, Newark Book Festival has hosted a number of online book clubs to bring the community together and has invited authors such as Elly Griffiths, Kerry Drewery and Nottinghamshire based author, Cathy Bramley.
Newark Book Festival Manager, Clair Robshaw mentioned: “Recreating the festival this year has been both challenging and rewarding to unpick our programme of events that we had lovingly put together. With so much support from our authors, publishers, venues, volunteers, Festival Friends, and the wider community we are able to make sure we continue for a fourth year! This follows our most successful festival in 2019 which attracted more people than ever before! In this time of uncertainty for everyone, our reimagined festival was a little bit of hope and normality needed by us all.”
Sara concluded, “We hope everyone will save the date with us and look forward to welcoming Newark Book Festival into their homes this July and are able to support Chapter One of the Festival, ensuring we return in 2021”
To launch the festival this year, people are invited to send videos of them singing and dancing to We Are the Champions to commemorate Live Aid on 13 July 1985, 35 years ago. The festival launch will take place on Friday 10th July at 12pm on the Newark Book Festival Facebook page. Please email hello@newarkbookfestival.org.uk to receive the videos of the choreography, with thanks to AJs Dance.
Tickets are on sale now!
To view the full programme and buy tickets for the events please visit the Festival website www.newarkbookfestival.org.uk, where you can browse or download a digital brochure.
Festival Friends receive exclusive free access to our author virtual events in July. To sign up to be a Festival Friend starting from £15, please visit the Newark Book Festival website: www.newarkbookfestival.org.uk/friends
All of the featured festival books are available to order online from The Bookcase in Lowdham with some books signed by the authors.
Newark Book Festival 2020 sponsors include Newark College, Tallents Solicitors, Aura Business Centre, Creative Apostrophe, Duncan & Toplis, Karrot Animation and Ambitions Personnel.
With thanks to all funders including Arts Council England, Newark & Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Newark Youth Trust and BNA Charity as well as our Festival Friends and crowdfunders.
Published July 2020