From 13 – 18 June 2023, we invite you in to meet, watch and listen to storytellers; to write your own stories; to get crafty; to build, borrow or buy your summer reading list. At the very least let us introduce you to the colony of swifts that The Crescent is a home to: spot them in the skies around us from late April to August!
This year’s programme gathers together speakers on a range of themes: the climate emergency; explorations of girlhood; and the power of translation to create new worlds. Festival highlights include;
- Deirdre Maddern in conversation with Wendy Erskine: a special meeting between two celebrated Northern Irish writers.
- The first Belfast Book Festival FunFair: a social afternoon with and for folks active and interested in books and writing. Resource organisations, funders and journals will be set up in spaces across The Crescent, ready to meet you!
- Sarah Gilmartin discussing her new novel
- Debut Belfast novelist Michael Magee and significant American talent Richard Ford in conversation with Tara McEvoy as part of Translink’s Novel Journeys Book Club.
- A rare live recording of RTÉ Sunday Miscellany in the Cube with special guests Wendy Erksine, Neil Hegarty and John Toal. More guests to be announced soon.
- Kerri Ní Dochartaigh and Doreen Cunningham discussing motherhood with Alice Kinsella
- Alongside events there are games to be played, films to be watched and faces to get painted. If you’re coming to an event, consider leaving some time to explore the building (which celebrates its 150th birthday this year and it’s looking well on it!).
- At the very least let us introduce you to the colony of swifts that The Crescent is a home to: spot them in the skies around us from late April to August.
We are operating a Pay What You Decide Scheme for the second year – you will find multiple options at the point of booking. You told us last year that you liked a guide: our recommended price per event is £10. Workshops are priced differently.
The Belfast Book Festival is a Platform. Northern Ireland is bursting with storytelling talent that we bring to you via a series of conversations, workshops, residencies and Awards that seek to connect, amplify and showcase our creative communities. It is also a collaborative endeavour, as the festival continues its focus on innovation and collaboration, with a team of cultural associates including Natasha Cuddington, Sasha de Buyl, Neil Hegarty and Mícheál McCann.
We also run the annual Mairtín Crawford Awards for Short Story and Poetry, named after the beloved writer and poet who was a significant figure in Northern Ireland’s literary community.
Our thanks go to all our supporters, including you! A particular nod to The Crescent’s Principal Funder The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and investment support from Belfast City Council. It is a pleasure to work with Johns Elliot Solicitors and Translink, supporters of the Festival over a number of years, and we welcome a new collaboration with The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation.
For more information about the Festival visit BelfastBookFestival.com