26/02/2009
Author John Banville, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and special guests celebrated the launch of the first Belfast Book Festival, Tuesday (24 February) at the Linen Hall Library. Held over 6 days, the Belfast Book Festival takes place from 24 February to 1 March 2009.
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The launch marked the start of more than 30 events at 11 venues across Belfast, including talks, master classes, conversations, readings, tours, discussions, films, visual art, music and a schools programme, from leading experts, authors, poets, and broadcasters, among others.
Speaking at the launch, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, as a long term supporter and funder of the Linen Hall Library and its Festival Partners, the Verbal Arts Centre and Culture Northern Ireland, is pleased to support this inaugural Belfast Book Festival. Bringing together the cream of local and visiting literary talent, with many award wining writers from a wide spectrum of genres, this festival has the potential to become a new highlight of Belfast’s cultural calendar. It has the potential to attract visitors from across Northern Ireland, and beyond, and is an excellent example of the major contribution that the arts make to our social, creative and economic life.”
David Lewis, Festival Director, said “With so many high profile organisations working together, including the Linen Hall Library, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Culture Northern Ireland, the Verbal Arts Centre, Belfast Education and Library Board and Books NI, we hope to have a major impact in 2009 and in years to come. The Belfast Book Festival will reflect Belfast’s growing international reputation in the field of literature and our exuberant contemporary writing scene.
My Festival highlights include award-winning fiction writers Claire Kilroy and Toby Litt, the Irish Pages Debate on the merits of historical fiction, a talk from leading creativity guru Charles Leadbeater, and Barbara Best McNarry reflecting on her legendary footballing brother George Best."”
Booking Information: tickets are now on sale at the Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Sq North, open Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 9:30am – 12:30pm. Tickets are also available on line at www.linenhall.com or by telephoning (028) 9032 1707. For further information Tel: (028) 9032 1707, or email: info@belfastbookfestival.com, website: www.belfastbookfestival.com
