York Literature Festival
The Festival began in 2007 under the auspices of York City Council. After the cuts that followed the crash of 2008, it was adopted by a voluntary group and has steadily grown to become one of the foremost literature festivals in the North of England. It forms an important part of the cultural life of the city and in 2016 succeeded in obtaining charitable status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (registered charity number 1165936). The current Board consists of eight Trustees and is aided at festival time by a team of volunteers. Its mission is to bring literature and literary events to the city of York.
The Festival prides itself on having a diverse range of events including talks, lectures, panels, debates, performances, storytelling pieces and workshops. It features both fiction (literary, contemporary and genre-based), non-fiction and poetry while focusing on a number of themes including history, current affairs and a small programme of events for children.
Over the years the Festival has been privileged to host a wonderful range of authors, artists and celebrities including Raymond Antrobus, Simon Armitage, Tony Benn, Jeffrey Boakye, Tracy Chevalier, Rev Richard Coles, Carol Ann Duffy, Lindsey Fitzharris, Mark Gatiss, Germaine Greer, Matt Haig, Sophie Hannah, Joanne Harris, Natalie Haynes, Simon Jenkins, Alan Johnson, Suzannah Lipscomb, Val McDermid, Roger McGough, Andrew McMillan, Ian McMillan, Kate Mosse, Claire North, Amanda Owen, Michael Palin, Michael Portillo, Janina Ramirez, Lemn Sissay, Joanna Trollope, Baroness Warsi, Kate Williams, Lord Robert Winston and Lucy Worsley.
Thank you to our sponsors for making all of this possible!