Book in and read all about it at Paisley’s newest festival
Avid readers are being urged to put a bookmark in their diary for the Paisley Book Festival.
The town is due to host its first ever book festival from February 20 to 29 next year.
And on Thursday, November 28, organisers will reveal the main programme of the event, which is called Paisley Book Festival: Radical Voices and Rebel Stories.
The festival will honour the political thinkers and creatives who have long been associated with Paisley with a focus on grassroots rebellion, revolution and activism.
In 1820, The Paisley Radicals were agitating for better wages and conditions for workers and their form of activism led to the brave defiance of an oppressive government.
As part of a movement in weaving and industrial centres across the UK, they forced political reform and paved the way to the wider democracy we now enjoy 200 years later.
Councillor LisaMarie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “Paisley has a rich literary history stretching back to the weaver poets and political radicals of the 19th century
– so what better time to celebrate that than on the 200th anniversary of the 1820 Uprising?
“We are delighted to be helping support this great event and are looking forward to seeing the programme when announced next month.
“Renfrewshire is already home to a thriving yearround programme of cultural events which is helping put us on the map as a destination – and Paisley Book Festival is shaping up to be a great addition to that.”
The festival will boast an ambitious programme of local t a l e nt and internationally- renowned big names, bringing the town centre alive as it takes place at multiple venues across ten days.
It is being funded by Renfrewshire Leisure and Renfrewshire Council through the local authority’s Future Paisley programme.
Rikki Payne, arts manager at Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “Radicalism flourished in Pa i s l e y ’ s weaving communities because men and women read books and were inspired by new ideas.
“The Book Festival will both give audiences the opportunity to enjoy today’s most inspiring writers and commentators and inspire an enjoyment and passion for reading, writing and ideas amongst Paisley’s residents.
“This fresh new festival is the first of an annual event dedicated to ideas, books, reading, writing and performing.
“It will reach across audiences from infants and school children to the wider public and industry professionals.”
Keira Brown, co-producer of Paisley Book Festival, said: “In these more difficult times reading keeps our heads above water, and there seems no better a time to be introducing a vibrant and fresh new book festival.
“Working with a team from Renfrewshire’s Arts and Libraries, alongside Jess Orr, we plan to produce an inclusive and diverse book festival programme that will enliven Renfrewshire’s reading community, both adults and children.
“It’s an exciting time for books.”
Jess Orr, also coproducerof the event, added: “We are so thrilled to be coming together for a week long celebration of reading, writing and radical ideas in the heart of Renfrewshire, joined by some of Scotland’s best literary talent and showcasing the wealth of creativity that Paisley has to offer.”