Festival books up for a three-day event for new town anniversary
SCOTLAND’S biggest book festival is to hold a new three-day event in Cumbernauld.
Entitled ReimagiNation: Cumbernauld is part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s strategy of staging events outside its traditional home in the capital.
The event in North Lanarkshire is also part of the festival’s focus on New Towns, marking 70 years since the passing of the Scottish New Towns Act.
It will take place from May 19–21, with further details to be announced.
Janet Smyth, programme director for the festival, said “We are delighted to be working with Culture NL [North Lanarkshire] and various local partners to present ReimagiNation: Cumbernauld, a special community project and festival celebrating the stories of this fascinating New Town.
“2017 marks several anniversaries for Cumbernauld and the four other New Towns.
“At a time of increased attention on the town’s unique architecture, urban design and history, we are working to gather and celebrate the human stories amid the bricks and mortar, looking forward to the future that led to its establishment.”
Further events will take place in East Kilbride and Irvine in August, where authors from the Edinburgh International Book Festival will travel to meet readers.
In 2018 the festival will stage events in other new towns, Glenrothes and Livingston.
The festival began in 1983 as a biennial event but is now a yearly celebration, with most events held in Charlotte Square Gardens.
It hosts about 700 Meet The Author events each year and this year’s festival in the capital will run from August 12-28.