That’s a wrap, folks – the Paisley Book Festival has come to a close after a rip-roaring weekend of literary shindigs.
Kicking off last Thursday and finishing on Sunday, the festival – now in its fourth year – welcomed more than 1,800 attendees across 38 events over the four days, a record level of attendance say festival organisers.
Nicola Sturgeon in her first public appearance since announcing her resignation as first minister last week chaired a special session with journalist and author, Chitra Ramaswamy, on Friday, to discuss the latter’s book Homelands and the importance of friendship and familiar bonds.
Speaking at the event, Ms Sturgeon said: “I love attending book festivals, I have had the privilege of speaking to a number of authors at book festivals over the years and I should say I am looking forward to attending more book festivals in the future.”
Perhaps part of the attraction and the reason why so many were able to attend this year’s edition of the Paisley Book Festival was the pay-what-you-can approach adopted this year.
The importance of which, amid a cost-of-living crisis was singled out by Renfrewshire provost, Lorraine Cameron, who was speaking at the launch of the festival on the Thursday at the UWS students’ union on Storrie Street. Also speaking at the festival, were the Hebridean Baker, Darren McGarvey, Jackie Kay and Michael Pedersen, and Denise Mina and Tariq Ashkanani among others.
The festival also brought events to more than 1,000 pupils across 33 of Renfrewshire’s primary, secondary and ASN schools. The schools programme finished on Friday, February 24.
PBF programmers, Heather McDaid, an award-winning independent publisher, and Sha Nazir, a multi-skilled artist, writer and producer, brought together more than 50 authors, poets and event hosts to wow audiences in the town.
She said: “We’re delighted with the response to the Paisley Book Festival, with record-breaking ticket sales and, more importantly, such a warm response from our audiences.
“I want to thank all of the authors and contributors who brought our festival to life.”
Louise Oliver, OneRen’s festival producer, added: “This has been the biggest and best Paisley Book Festival we produced and I want to thank everyone involved, not least our incredible group of volunteers and staff who have made it happen.
“There’s nothing quite like a good book and it’s even better when you get the chance to meet and discuss the themes with the authors behind them and at OneRen, we’ve made sure our festival is accessible to all, with our innovative pay what you can approach to ticket sales.”
The festival was based in the University of the West of Scotland’s student union as a main venue, as well as Paisley Central Library.
The Paisley Book Festival was delivered by One Ren, the local charitable trust in Renfrewshire providing culture, leisure and sporting opportunities to help people enjoy active and healthy lives, and is supported by Future Paisley, the wide-ranging programme of events, activity and investment using Paisley’s unique and internationally-significant cultural stories to transform its future.
It is funded by Renfrewshire Council and Creative Scotland.
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