Article Source: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Last Updated: 31 August 2021 11:39
“A YEAR OF TRANSITION AND EXPERIMENTATION”
2021 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL DRAWS TO A CLOSE
As the 2021 Edinburgh International Book Festival came to a close last night, organisers expressed their gratitude to authors, audiences and staff for having the courage to travel with them into unknown territory. The Book Festival’s new home at the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art was deemed to be a success, with a footfall of over 25,000 over the 17 days, including those who watched events streamed live onto the Big Screen in the Festival Courtyard. The Festival, which opened with an online performance from children’s author Julia Donaldson, concluded last night with Douglas Stuart in conversation with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon live, in person and in front of an audience in the New York Times Sculpture Court for his first appearance in Scotland since Shuggie Bain won the 2020 Booker Prize.
The Book Festival staged over 250 events with 300 authors this year in three studio theatre spaces. Events included exclusive book launches from Denise Mina, Pat Barker, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin all of whom appeared in person on stage in Edinburgh College of Art in front of a live, sell out socially distanced audience. Other In Real Life appearances included Devi Sridhar, Gordon Brown, Maggie O’Farrell and Joan Bakewell while Ali Smith, Salman Rushdie, Richard Flanagan, Marilynne Robinson and Cressida Cowell joined via zoom. All events were broadcast live through the Book Festival website and have already been viewed across 83 countries. Over 56,000 online and in person tickets were sold, a number which is increasing daily as audiences catch up by watching ‘on demand’.
Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “This year was a year of transition and experimentation. I am extraordinarily proud of the team that has conceived, programmed and delivered a festival under the restrictions and uncertainty that we experienced right up until the beginning of August. We were at the very forefront of live events coming back, and there was understandably a nervousness amongst many of our regular audience in coming together in the same space. As the Festival went on we saw visitors, and confidence, growing. The world is a very different place from when we all came together in 2019, however our new home in the Edinburgh College of Art, the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership with the University of Edinburgh, has allowed us to ease gently back into our Festival, and we are now in a good place to grow and build upon what we have learned. It is a time to look forward, not backwards, to consolidate and to celebrate not only what we have all achieved in this of all years, but also to take what we have learned and apply it to future Festivals.
“2021 was about bringing people back together in a safe space, building confidence amongst authors and audiences and reaching a new audience through broadcasting our events online. Feedback from visitors both here in Edinburgh and those watching from home has been positive and generous. We are already seeing our events garnering new audiences who are watching ‘on demand’ and we expect those numbers to grow significantly over the coming weeks.
“We are reimagining the Book Festival in this new climate. It will take time – the world has changed, and we need to adapt and learn from our experience this year, however we are already making plans for 2022 and from the public response to the digital programme we will definitely include an online offering as well as the live, in person experience here in Edinburgh.”
The 2021 Book Festival included the Baillie Gifford Children’s and Schools Programme – from daily Draw-Alongs on Facebook with children’s illustrators to books on sharks, pirates, building dens and climate change. There were lively conversations with authors including Cressida Cowell, Juno Dawson, Neil Gaiman, Michael Morpurgo and Malorie Blackman, poetry with Michael Rosen and Joshua Segal and Outdoor interactive Dance-Along sessions with Oti Mabuse and Sprog Rock. The Baillie Gifford Schools Programme has streamed events to Schools across Scotland and concludes with a virtual Gala Day today (31 August) with eight live events for primary school pupils.
Participants in the Book Festival’s Citizen project, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Postcode Culture Trust and through the PLACE Programme, enjoyed a community meal provided by Scran Academy which was followed by a showcase of readings, stories and short films. Irvine Welsh, Sara Sheridan and Ian Rankin were amongst the contributors reading from the new edition of One City and the Festival launched a new, self-guided walking tour, encouraging visitors to explore the history of Tollcross with members of the community living near the Festival’s new home in Edinburgh College of Art. Authors have delivered readings and workshops to Prison groups in HMP Edinburgh, HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Perth.
Almost all the events in the 2021 Edinburgh International Book Festival programme can be viewed online ‘on demand’ through the Book Festival website – edbookfest.co.uk.
Image: Val McDermid, Doug Johnstone, Marisa Haetzman & Chris Brookmyre (aka Ambrose Parry) and Mary Paulson Ellis in conversation with Peggy Hughes at the 2021 Edinburgh International Book Festival
Sheila Fleet is thrilled to announce the opening of her contemporary two-storey jewellery shop at 4 Hanover Street, just off Princes Street.
READ MORELeith Makers is excited to invite you to be a part of their upcoming collaborative exhibition: Leith Connections, running from 6th - 31st August.
READ MOREChildren attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MOREScottish trad supergroup Mànran will headline a one-off live show on the Mound this month, as part of the return of Innis & Gunn's popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe takeover.
READ MORESUSHISAMBA Edinburgh launches its famed Champagne Afternoon Tea, with a refreshing summer spin, whilst guests enjoy unparalleled views from the restaurant’s home on the 10th floor of W Edinburgh!
READ MOREHot on the heels of a thrilling TravFest25 programme, the Traverse Theatre has announced the first details of the exciting work audiences can look forward to seeing in the venue from September.
READ MOREEdinburgh's West End has welcomed an exciting new destination as Don't Tell Mama, the beloved local coffee shop, officially opens The West End Garden.
READ MOREVirgin Hotels Edinburgh is excited to announce the creation of a brand new role, adding the first-ever 'Director of Mischief' position to its team.
READ MOREEdinburgh Zoo has welcomed Scotland’s only sloth bear, Cipísek, from Zlin Zoo in the Czech Republic.
READ MOREPubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MOREThis summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MOREThe inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MOREToday, Collective is delighted to announce and open a new programme, Panorama: New Views of a City, running from Wednesday 9 July to Sunday 21 December 2025.
READ MOREThis summer, The LEGO Group is excited to bring its new Summer Fun with Music Creativity Workshop directly to families in Edinburgh!
READ MOREScotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MOREFamilies will have the chance to meet some of this year’s biggest blockbuster-inspired characters for free at Fort Kinnaird this summer, as part of a series of exciting meet and greet sessions.
READ MOREThis week, the globally acclaimed venue, The Famous Spiegeltent makes her grand return to St Andrew Square after almost a decade away from her spiritual home.
READ MORENewtongrange Community Council is now pleased to reveal the names of the green-fingered locals that stood out in this historic garden contest.
READ MOREDynamic Earth launches its Toddler Tidal and Deep-Sea Discovery Zones in a bid provide accessible enrichment for little ones across the Capital.
READ MOREHis Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed Gold DofE Award holders to The Palace of Holyroodhouse this morning at a very special event to mark their achievements.
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORECapital Theatres has today launched The People’s Archive, a digital exhibition that celebrates the rich history and cultural legacy of the King’s Theatre.
READ MOREA Disney-loving mum and her one-year-old daughter have been crowned Edinburgh’s biggest Stitch fans after winning a competition hosted by Fort Kinnaird.
READ MORELivingston Designer Outlet goes Jurassic crazy this July with lifelike dinosaurs, ranger training and endless photo opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.
READ MOREDeparting on Saturday 29th November 2025 at from Edinburgh Waverley, this enchanting lunchtime journey will be led by the iconic 60532 Blue Peter.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has today announced its programme of screenings and events for its 2025 edition.
READ MOREParty at the Palace will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music.
READ MOREGilded Balloon has unveiled a huge line-up of comedy stars to take part in a special ‘40 Years of Fringe’ in conversation series, to celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE