LISTEN:
EIBF Announce Hybrid Events

The Edinburgh International Book Festival reveals hybridised programme for August 2021

Organisers of the Edinburgh Intentional Book Festival have today, Tuesday 6^th July, announced a blend of live and online events due to commence in August.

The EIBF, first launched in 1983, will host events in front of live audiences at the Edinburgh College of Art, beginning on the 14^th August and ending on the 31^st August 2021.

These events will take place at a purpose-built Festival Village, featuring in-person events, readings and discussions.

In a press release, Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We are incredibly excited to produce our first ‘hybrid’ festival with authors and audiences joining us both in person and online.”

The Festival’s programme has been organised thematically, ranging from ‘Body Matters’ to ‘Dazzling Debuts’ to ‘Pride and Prejudice: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Voices’.

The first events shall take place from 10am on Saturday 14^th August with bestselling author M.G. Leonard reading a book from her new series Twitch.

Events continue daily and will conclude at 2pm on Tuesday 31^st August with a reading from David MacPhail, with a reading from his book series Velda the Awesomest Viking.

In total, the festival will feature over two-hundred and fifty live online events involving over three hundred international writers, poets, thinkers and artists.

Almost half the booked speakers are hoping to appear in person.

These include Douglas Stuart, author of the novel Shuggie Bain which was awarded the Booker Prize in 2020.

Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain (2020) will appear in conversation with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Source: EIBF.

Mr Stuart will appear in conversation with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The two will discuss Mr Stuart’s novel and its impact on Scottish literature.

In a Tweet, Mr Stuart said: “It’ll be an absolute dream with Scotland’s first minister.” Mr Stuart expressed his excitement for the event, stating: “It’ll be braw.”.

The Q and A will take place on Monday 30th August, the last day of the festival, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

Mr Barley lauded the new home for the Book Festival at the Edinburgh College of Art, which includes three broadcast studios.

On the recommencing of events in Edinburgh, Mr Barley added: “The Book Festival is at the forefront of the re-emergence of public events, and we have a duty of care to our authors, audiences and staff.  It is important that we help rebuild confidence and we have therefore chosen to retain 1metre social distancing for audiences in the studios.”

This means that all venues will be operating at a reduced capacity. Organisers are hopeful that the blend of online and live events will mean literature fans will not miss out.

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “The Book Festival team deserve a huge amount of credit for their hard work, ensuring authors and their readerships meet, either in person or in the digital sphere, to enjoy some of the most vital and valuable literary work the world has to offer.”

Readers can watch all online events through a Pay What You Can basis, wherein customers will be suggested a price to pay when booking online. The scheme is designed to help those who are struggling financially, but still want to be involved in the festival.

The Festival’s Bookshop will also reopen in August after having been closed for the festival last year, at the Old Fire Station building within the Edinburgh College of Art.

Bookings for in-person events open at 12pm on Thursday 22^nd July.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates about the Book Festival, and much more.