Wigtown Festival Company (WFC) has won a major award for its contribution to Dumfries and Galloway over the past two decades.
WFC’s volunteers and small professional team organise a year-round programme of events in Scotland’s National Book Town, including the Wigtown Book Festival (founded in 1999), as well as youth literacy projects across the region.
They also run the Open Book, an Airbnb bookshop, which attracts visitors from around the world and raises money for the festival and for outreach work.
This weekend saw WFC named as the winners of the prestigious Dumfries and Galloway Life Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Region in the last 20 Years.
DG Life magazine’s annual awards honour businesses, educators, sports people and many others.
This award, however, was a one-off to mark the magazine’s own 20th birthday and recognises continuous contribution to the cultural life of the region over the two decades since it was established.
Cathy Agnew, WFC chair, said: “What makes this award so special is that it recognises how much the festival company, its staff and volunteers have achieved over a 20-year period that has brought immense challenges.
“Despite continued economic pressures, the cost-of-living-crisis, reductions in funding and the havoc caused by the COVID pandemic, they have worked with determination and enthusiasm to keep building and expanding.
“WFC was created to use the power of literature to drive economic regeneration in Wigtown and across the region. It has done so much more than that by supporting young people and attracting visitors to Wigtown, and Galloway, from across the world.
“We thank the judges for acknowledging the success of WFC – an initiative that has succeeded thanks to the very special character of our community.”
The award was given at a dinner attended by around 400 guests at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on Saturday evening.
Andrea Thompson, DG Life editor, said: “It’s true that there is a story round every corner in Wigtown – but the best – and most extraordinary story is its own. It is an inspirational story of a community rallying together to stimulate a more sustainable and optimistic future.
“Wigtown Book Town flies the flag for the region all over the world and is living proof that a community of books changes lives.”
Derek Crichton of the judging panel added: “Over these last 20-plus years Wigtown has been on a journey. Economic decline, depopulation and empty properties are being tackled head on with Wigtown Festival Company the catalyst for supporting community action and helping local businesses thrive.
“Making Dumfries & Galloway a visitor destination of choice is our shared goal and Wigtown Book Town is flying the flag for our region with visitors from across the UK and globally returning regularly because of that very special culture we all experience when visiting Wigtown.”
Wigtown Book Festival brings in around £4.3 million a year to Dumfries & Galloway, boosting local businesses such as cafes, self-catering and B&B’s, shops and restaurants.
It creates employment and business opportunities through event and hospitality contracts.
Many events in the festival programme are a platform for local voices, regional history and topical subjects for the area, strengthening our sense of place and community.
WFC also uses local suppliers and businesses wherever possible.
Work in the community includes sending authors to schools throughout the region in order to encourage a love of reading – something demonstrated to make a major contribution to young people’s life chances.
This year it has also worked with schools to encourage interest in poetry, and several schools now have their own poetry champions.
On a wider front WFC runs the Wigtown International Poetry Prizes and the Anne Brown Essay Prize, both of which are recognised for their significant contribution to nurturing and promoting Scottish culture at a regional, national and international level.
Isla Rosser-Owen, WFC chief executive, added: “So many visitors to Wigtown say what an extraordinary place it is and are astounded by its community spirit. WFC has become a focus for that spirit, bringing people of all generations and backgrounds together for the benefit of the town and the region.”
- WFC also recently won a Helping it Happen award and a South of Scotland Thistle award (for Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival) and is a finalist in the National Thistle Awards for the same category.
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Notes
- For more about Wigtown Book Festival see www.wigtownbookfestival.com
About the Helping it Happen Awards: The awards honour businesses, community projects and individuals across rural Scotland making an outstanding contribution to the rural economy, communities, wildlife and the environment. For more about the SLE see https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk.
About VisitScotland: VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism and events organisation. Its core purpose is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value in Scotland. As an economic growth agency, VisitScotland’s activity focuses on three key priorities – market development, place development and business and experience development. VisitScotland’s work helps deliver the ambitions of the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st century tourism, and Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024 – 2035. It leverages tourism and events as a force for good for all of Scotland’s people and places and builds Scotland’s international profile as a leading place to visit, live, work, study and do business. For VisitScotland’s press releases, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to visitscotland.org or follow us on @VisitScotland on LinkedIn.
About Creative Scotland: Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow Creative Scotland on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
For media information: Matthew Shelley at Matthew@ScottishfestivalsPR.org or 07786 704299.
Picture by Jenny Woolgar.
Wigtown Festival Company, 26 South Main Street, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK, DG8 9EH. Wigtown Festival Company is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Scottish Charity No. SC037984
