Wigtown Book Festival has been named as Scotland’s top cultural event of the year just as preparations get underway for the 20thannual event.
The award was given as part of the Scottish Cultural Awards, described as the country’s Oscars, with the winners being announced at a major event in Glasgow last Thursday night.
The awards are organised by the Sunday Herald in association with Edinburgh Napier University.
Other winners on the night included James McAvoy (Best Film Actor), Bernard MacLaverty (Best Writer), Peter Capaldi (Best TV Actor) and Neve McIntosh (Best Theatre Actor).
Wigtown Book Festival was chosen because it “really went beyond expectations to deliver a life altering experience to its audience”.
Adrian Turpin, artistic director of the Wigtown Book Festival, said:“It’s great to have this recognition just as we get ready for September’s 20thfestival.
“The years have seen it grow into a much loved part of Scotland’s cultural calendar which audiences love to return to time and time again because it offers such a brilliant chance to hear superb national and international writers in a welcoming atmosphere, all set in one of the country’s most beautiful regions.”
The festival has welcomed audiences of more than 220,000 and last year it generated an estimated £3 million for the regional economy.
The Wigtown Festival Company is now expanding its operations to offer a year-round programme of high quality literature related events.
- The festival programme will be unveiled at the beginning of August and you can subscribe to receive the programme atcom
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Notes for editors
- For more about the results see http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/cultureawards-2/
- For festival information see http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com
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For further information and interview requests contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or [email protected]
Wigtown Festival Company Ltd, 11 North Main Street, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK, DG8 9HN © 1999 – 2018. Wigtown Festival Company Ltd is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Scottish Charity No. SCO37984