The Edinburgh International Book Festival has revealed details of its full industry programme for 2024.
Unfolding for the first time at the Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute, the three-day strand will be packed with panels, showcases and networking events aimed at writers, publishing professionals, programmers, and anyone curious to learn more about the book industry.
The strand kicks off on Wednesday 14 August with Global Ink, the Festival’s dedicated international industry day. Bringing together trade professionals from Scotland, the UK, and beyond, the day will begin with Trends in Global Literature: What’s Next? Run in partnership with the Global Association of Literary Festivals, literary experts and Festival Directors from across the globe will discuss the emerging trends shaping the world of literature today.
There will be insightful contributionsfrom a panel of leading global experts including Literary Curator and Agent Zoe Xie from China, Newcastle Writers Festival Director Rosemarie Milson from Australia, Macodno Literary Festival Director Anja Bengelstdorff from Kenya, and Douglas Resende, Institutional Relations Coordinator from Brazil.
Later in the day audiences can enjoy From Page to Global Stage, offering fascinating insights into the world of literature in translation chaired by writer and translator Daniel Hahn. Korean writer and Booker International shortlisted translator Anton Hur will be joined by Andrea Joyce, Rights Director for Jenny Brown Associates, and Sam McDowell, an Edinburgh-based publisher specialising in translating Latin American fiction into English. Together, they will uncover the journey of translated works and share their insights on enhancing this sector, addressing current challenges, and exploring barriers to the wider proliferation of translated literature.
Audiences can also browse the Translation Pavilion – run in partnership with Waterstones and Publishing Scotland, this dedicated display will showcase the best of literature in translation. Attendees can discover Scottish authors and current UK titles published in a variety of languages alongside English translations of both established and debut international writers.
Global Ink will round off with its Connecting Cultures event, a showcase discussion on the power of international partnerships, chaired by the Book Festival’s Director, Jenny Niven. The event will feature contributions from Moniack Mhor Director Rachel Humphries, leading author Kirsty Logan, British Council’s Literature Programme Manager Matt Beavers, and Sharmilla Beezmohun, Co-founder of Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions.
Following this, the day will culminate with the Global Ink Social, a relaxed gathering to reflect on the day’s insights and network with fellow attendees and international partners over drinks.
On Monday 19 August the Festival hosts Book Talk: Industry Insights for Writers, a day of industry events dedicated to offering insight for early-career writers, from getting published to building a sustainable career as a writer. Anatomy of an Industry will see leading names offer an introduction to the key roles and responsibilities in publishing, including Anna Frame, Communications Director at Canongate, and Emma Paterson, Literary Agent at Aitken Alexander Associates.
You Heard it Here First:Writing for Anthologies will open the book on Scotland’s thriving indie publishing scene, with discussion chaired by Heather Parry, author and co-founder of literary magazine Extra Teeth, and featuring voices from three leading anthologies and magazines: Charlie Brinkurst-Cuff (Black Joy), Malachy Tallack (Gutter Magazine), and Andrew Wilson (Nova Scotia 2: New Speculative Fiction from Scotland).
The day will also feature Literary Lifelines, an event about making the most of funding opportunities and building a sustainable living as a writer, chaired by Laura Waddell, with contributions from Culture Ireland’s Sharon Barry, Creative Scotland’s Alan Bett, and Oriana Leckert, Director of Publishing & Comics Outreach at Kickstarter.
The industry strand concludes on Wednesday 21 August with Book Talk: Perspectives in Publishing, a day of talks and panels aimed at publishing professionals, delving into some of the talking points dominating the industry, from rethinking accessibility to the unstoppable rise of AI.
Creativity in an Inflexible World offers insight into the questions of accessible publishing, with contributors including Vidisha Biswas of Footnote Press and Caro Clarke of Portobello Literary.
This event will also be available to livestream for remote audiences on a pay-what-you-can basis. Another session sees a panel of experts discussing the potential earthquakes that emerging technologies and AI might set off in the publishing world, and how best to champion human agency in a changing world.
The panel will feature contributions from Deputy CEO of the Publishers Association, Catriona Stevenson, who has been involved in steering an industry-wide AI Taskforce, and Dr Pip Thornton of the University of Edinburgh, who has been devising radical AI interventions as part of the Writing the Wrongs of AI Project.
And Shifting the Dial: Prizes with Purpose delves into the world of literary prizes, with discussions on how to deepen their impact and secure their future with speakers from the Women’s Prize Trust and New Writing North.
Lilidh Kendrick, Programme Manager, and Kate Seiler, External Affairs Manager: “The Book Festival will welcome over 500 authors to its stages in 2024, and our industry strand – scaled up to comprise ten events over three days – is an exciting opportunity to turn the spotlight on the people behind the books. This is a space to forge creative connections; and to pause, reflect, and act on the talking points shaping the industry, both at home and internationally.
“In a nod to our Festival theme Future Tense, we are proud to be welcoming a host of talented industry professionals to share their perspectives on what the future holds for the book world. We’re delighted to be supporting the professional development of writers at different stages in their careers, and want to give thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for making this possible.”
Justified Sinner 200 celebrates 200 years since the publication of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by influential Scottish novelist James Hogg.
A series of six innovative, multidisciplinary events will unfold throughout the festival; Perambulations of a Justified Sinner; New Myths; Extraordinary Trash: A Theatre Essay; Justified Sinner Book Club; Cut Up the Justified Sinner; and a special Close Read.
The series features an original score by Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, a bespoke tour of the city narrated by Louise Welsh, a state-of-the-art app, and much more.
Justified Sinner 200 is supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund, and by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown.
From an original score composed by Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite and narration by iconic author Louise Welsh, to a pop-up choir and state of the art app that transforms the streets of Edinburgh into an interactive story, Justified Sinner 200 is a groundbreaking series of multidisciplinary events taking place as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024.
More than a little meta, the series is the brainchild of new Festival Director Jenny Niven and celebrates 200 years since the publication of James Hogg’s seminal work The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. Comprising six events it explores this established and influential text through new lenses thanks to the very best from the worlds of AI, theatre, technology, music, philosophy and literature.
Jenny Niven, Director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“The Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is a Scottish classic, a brilliant and deeply unsettling gothic novel that reads as vividly as if it was just written.
“There are so many things to reinvestigate from a 21st century perspective. It’s about moral absolutism, and the dangers of a fundamentalist ideology; it also describes these incredible tensions between a supposedly rational Enlightenment Scotland and one steeped in a supernatural past, and it’s full of outrage and paranoia.
“As a piece of fiction it is hugely progressive, playful and experimental and so of course I wanted to work with writers and theatre makers whose own approach reflects exactly those things.
“I think we’ve really done this book justice on its 200th anniversary and it’s a great example of one of the many ways I’d like to take the Book Festival forward, creating a new story of Scottish creativity while celebrating our incredible heritage.”
Part of the Festival’s 2024 Future Tense themed programme, and made possible thanks to Scottish Government EXPO funding, and support from Sir Ewan and Lady Brown, Justified Sinner 200 puts the theme of acting with impunity centre stage, and into sharp relief in relation to current global events and discourse.
Comprising Perambulations of a Justified Sinner (from 12 August); Extraordinary Trash: A Theatre Essay (18 August); Justified Sinner Book Club (19 August); New Myths (20 August); Cut Up the Justified Sinner (21 August); and a special Close Read event (23 August) it is not to be missed this summer.
Perambulations of a Justified Sinner is an innovative digital piece that unfolds through the streets and closes of the capital’s Old Town and into the palms of audiences’ hands via their smartphone (for those who need it, these can be provided by the Festival).
Featuring eight filmed scenes with a screenplay and directed by renowned playwright and director Ben Harrison, this immersive audio video journey is narrated by award winning author Louise Welsh.
Bringing pivotal moments from the original novel alive in her very own words, Louise’s dulcet tones will be accompanied by an original score composed by none other than Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai.
The walking app will be launched by a special event on 12 August during which audiences can witness the reenactment of the novel’s famous tennis scene at the EFI, as well as contributions from Ben Harrison and narrator Louise Welsh.
New Myths: The Public Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner uses leading lights in the folk music and storytelling scene to reimagine the novel in contemporary times.
When Gillian Tod leaves the cult she’s grown up in, she finds that it’s not so easy – because they own her digital image, and can use AI to make it say and do anything they want. Drawing on everything from Scottish folk history, modern feminist identity and Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger, this event features storyteller Kirsty Logan, folksinger Kirsty Law and harpist Esther Swift in an unexpected and bewitching performance.
Produced in association with the National Theatre of Scotland, Extraordinary Trash: A Theatre Essay is a funny and provocative meditation on adaptation, authenticity, and Scottishness.
Playwright Pamela Carter and director Stewart Laing have returned to archival material from their 2013 theatre production of Hogg’s novel, Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner, in the hope of making history. Featuring actor and film director Adura Onashile as ‘The Archivist’, audiences can expect a suitably meta-interpretation that is part-lecture, part-documentary, part-theatre. Warning: May contain truths!
Justified Sinner Book Club does what it says on the tin, courtesy of a panel luminaries including Ian Rankin, Ever Dundas, and David Greig, chaired by Jenny Niven, who will unpack this historic text and explore why it still has relevance today.
And Cut Up the Justified Sinner, hosted by queer disabled author Ever Dundas, will see this 200-year-old text rearranged to create something entirely new via interactive, experimental workshops. Audiences can also enjoy a specially-commissioned piece on the novel from writer Helen McClory in the August edition of Gutter, Scotland’s leading literary journal.
And finally, an Edinburgh International Book Festival tradition, Close Read events delve deep into individual texts. For Justified Sinner 200, poet and novelist James Robertson will take this intriguing and unforgettable book apart live for audiences.
Future Tense is the first Edinburgh International Book Festival programme from Director Jenny Niven and will unfold for the first time at the Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
2024 programme FUTURE TENSE as it enters new era at Edinburgh Futures Institute
Edinburgh International Book Festival announces programme of over 500 events, featuring authors from over 40 countries
The theme Future Tense explores how future-oriented and long-term thinking can bring imagination and perspective to urgent and complex issues including Data, AI and Complex Systems; Future Politics and Economics; and The Imaginative Realm
Additional programme strands include How to Live a Meaningful Life;Brilliant Fiction; and Voterama
It is the first year under new Director Jenny Niven and at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI)
EFI is located in the extensively refurbished old Royal Infirmary building on Lauriston Place
2024 sees the welcome return of outdoor spaces hosting children’s events, food vendors, a buzzing bar and late-night events in the Spiegeltent
Digital events and workshops return for audiences worldwide
Edinburgh International Book Festival announces its 2024 programme with the theme Future Tense as it moves into a new era and home at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI).
Taking place from 10-25 August the Festival is the first to unfold under the innovative Directorship of Jenny Niven in the state of the art surrounds of what was Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.
Along with a change of location, the Festival has been refocused to put fresh perspectives, relevance and active learning in the spotlight, with over 500 events that will empower audiences by bringing new and often opposing points of view together.
In a present full of tensions and seemingly intractable issues, the Festival will create conversations aimed at finding new pathways to change.
In ‘Future Tense’, across six elements, we explore how future-oriented thinking, learning across generations and disciplines, and approaching change with curiosity, compassion and imagination, could help us untangle the huge systematic challenges we currently face, both as individuals and as a society.
And in an age when transparency is key, the programme will tackle topics that directly impact the Festival, from ethical funding to sustainability, as well as topics that impact those living locally and those living in crisis, both at home and across the world.
And at a time when so much information is gathered online and shared within the echo chambers of social media, this year’s programme offers audiences increased opportunity to engage and swap ideas and knowledge, in person, and interactively.
Jenny Niven, Director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“I am enormously proud of the programme we have created for this year, our first Festival in our new home at the Edinburgh Future’s Institute.
“Our programme Future Tense speaks to the complexity of the moment we’re in, but hopefully also brings some optimism – the world is full of brilliant, insightful people working in so many imaginative ways. We’re excited to showcase some of that incredible thinking and writing – and the ways people are working together to solve problems and keep learning.
“It’s been an honour to engage with authors, publicists, poets, performers, artists and audience members since I took on this role, and all of these conversations have informed what you will find on site this summer.”
FUTURE TENSE comprises six sub-themes, each exploring and aspect of how we can, or should, change our individual and collective futures:
A TOAST TO THE FUTURE will bring a kaleidoscope of perspectives and expertise, from the hopeful to the momentous, at a special Gala event of readings from writers including Martin MacInnes, Naomi Alderman, Joelle Taylor, Richard Holloway, to EFI’s Chair in the Ethics of Data and AI, Shannon Vallor, who each explore their vision of the future in just 7 minutes.
FUTURE LIBRARY puts The Future Libraryproject centre stage in its 10th anniversary year. Not only does Margaret Atwood, who was the first contributor to this unique library in Norway which comprises work by authors that will remain unread for 100 years, explore her concept of ’Practical Utopia’, there will be a hands-on workshop alongside the announcement of the 2025 Future Library contributor.
GENERATIONS explores our responsibilities to those who come next and acknowledges that we can only plan effectively for the future by understanding what came before. Roman Krznaric and Ella Saltmarshe explore being ‘good ancestors’ and Wales’ first Commissioner for Future Generations shares how policy can support this. And, we’ve created a series of conversations which span generations, including poets Roger McGough with Hollie McNish, and foreign correspondents Allan Little and Jen Stout to hear fascinating insights and anecdotes from writers who share common ground.
AI, DATA AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS includes events like Writing the Wrongs of AI , featuring Pip Thornton, Sam Riviere and Heather Parry, which discusses the findings of a pioneering series of workshops EIBF and the Braid Fellowship have supported bringing together authors, publishers, legal and technical experts to confront the industry challenges and opportunities of the AI revolution; and Page Against the Machine, a fun interactive challenge where AI is put to the test live in the Spiegeltent, by both authors and audience members . Durham University also return with the ReaderBank: the world’s most ambitious study of reading, imagination, and health.
FUTURE ECONOMICS AND POLITICS will ask some of the hardest questions, including; How is capitalism changing? How are we going to finance the green tech revolution we need? With a more unequal world than ever before, how much wealth is too much? Featuring Nobel Prize winner Joseph E Stiglitz, BBC’s chief economics editor Dharshini David, Ken Costa, Ingrid Robeyns, and more, audiences can expect robust debate that allows for all perspectives to be heard.
THE IMAGINATIVE REALM speaks to the fact that sci-fi writers and authors of speculative fiction have been imagining the future for decades and are well placed to advise on where we may be heading. As engineers imagine the workings of new machines, authors, writers and poets imagine how these machines will and do impact the world around them, and audiences can expect the insights and wisdom of first-class writers from across these genres, including R F Kuang, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Irenosen Okojie.
Along with our hard-hitting programming, and in contrast to the seemingly never ending negative news cycle, How to Live a Meaningful Life invites authors and audiences to come together to explore what makes it all worth it, with a series of events delving into philosophy, joy and the utmost of pleasures – food.
We’ll reflect On Creativity with Rachael Sermanni, to On Paying Attention with Olesya Khromeychuk, and On Making It Count with Oliver Burkeman, among many more.
Part of How to Live a Meaningful Life, is Table Talks, a strand featuring the delicious combination of food demos, conversation and specially created menus in an intimate setting, delivered by some of the world’s best chefs and food writers.
Taking place at Elliott’s Studio just across The Meadows from EFI, audiences can expect experiences with the likes of Palestinian chef and author Sami Tamimi; Pam Brunton, head chef of Michelin Green Starred restaurant, Inver; first generation farmer and internet sensation Julius Roberts; Rachel Roddy – who writes delicious dispatches from her kitchen in Rome; owner of London’s Darjeeling Express restaurant (and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People for 2024), Asma Khan; the person who transformed the mid-week meal with her one pan revolution, Rukmini Iyer; and eternally curious travel writer and critic Caroline Eden.
Of course, the Festival will continue to deliver once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to; see some of the world’s greatest novelists (Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Lauren Groff and Karl Ove Knausgård); hear from debut authors (Lorraine Kelly); glimpse the lives of famous faces from varying walks of life (including Front List appearances from James O’Brien, Alice Osman and Dolly Alderton); and not least the chance to have cherished copies of favourite books signed in person by many attending authors.
Poetry is in fantastic shape in this year’s line up too with Natalie Diaz, Michael Ondaatje, Ray Antrobus, Jenni Fagan, Sean Hewitt, Gerald Murnane, Andrew McMillan and Kathleen Jamie, and many more all on the bill.
With more people voting in 2024 than in a single year ever before in history. Voterama: Elections, Democracy and Geopolitics explores both UK and international politics and the changing face of democracy itself. Leading voices Jess Phillips, Caroline Lucas, Alistair Campbell will help unpack the UK election, and David van Reybrouck,
Ingrid Robeyns and Ed Wong broaden our horizons internationally. Marianna Spring illuminates misinformation and Mona Chalabi makes complex information visually stunning. In the 25th year of devolution Mark Drakeford and First Minister John Swinney swap perspectives; and Andy Burnham gives his view from the North.
Long standing friend of the Festival Raja Shehadeh, Nathan Thrall and Avi Shlaim share first hand perspectives on Israel, and Palestine, in what will undoubtedly be powerful conversations.
And in partnership with Beyond Borders Scotland, we look directly at peacebuilding and conflict resolution with those working first hand and at the highest level – exploring everything from the Islamic principles of peace-making, to UN diplomacy, and the impact on the climate.
Asking the hard question ‘how does conflict ever actually become resolved?’ audiences will hear from a range of experts including Mark Muller Stuart KC, Andrew Gilmour, and Ebrahim Rasool.
Marking the 200th anniversary of James Hogg’s seminal work The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, Justified Sinner 200 willre-examine this iconic story of the Calvinist Robert Wringham who believes that his place in Heaven is predestined.
At once a bold exploration of the darkest parts of the human soul, and a wildly creative novel, we have commissioned a series of equally bold reimaginings to explore its relevance and resonance today.
Kirsty Logan, Esther Swift, and folksinger Kirsty Law reset the text in a contemporary Scottish cult, acclaimed theatre company Grid Iron and Ray Interactive create an immersive walking tour through Edinburgh’s old town (featuring voiceovers from none other than Louise Welsh), Stewart Laing and Pamela Carter bring us Extraordinary Trash: A Theatre Essay revisiting their own iconic reworking of Hogg via Paul Bright, and there are a range of interactive, immersive experiences inspired by this title in August, none of which are to be missed.
And finally, making the most of our new location in the midst of the Festival City, the Spiegeltent returns by popular demand with Back to Ours – a strand of evening and late night events ranging from performance to poetry, comedy to podcasting, and everything in between.
Whether it’s belly laughs courtesy of BAFTA Best Comedy Writer awardee Jack Rooke (of Channel 4’s uproarious series Big Boys), being a book Weirdo with Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd, rocking out to Festival favourites the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, or dancing the night away with a rollicking ceilidh to round the festival off, there is something for everyone to come back for.
For those engaging with the world of literary festivals for the first time and taking their first step in their writing career, the Festival continues to provide unrivalled resources and workshops aimed at demystifying the industry.
From discussions on AI, sustainability, audiobooks and pitching sessions, aimed at editors, publishers, festival organisers, translators, and other experts, this year’s programme features a dedicated three-day lineup of panels, showcases and receptions. Aimed at those working within the publishing industry this years’ Industry Days & Global Ink events also tackle one of the trickiest things for an author to do – take their work outwith the confines of their own country.
Finally, at a time when the amount and wide-ranging nature of the news can be overwhelming, the Festival introduces First Edition, a daily discussion of the morning headlines and issues of the day with a local member of the media, hosted in the Spiegeltent and free for all.
And the new (Lunch) Box Fresh sessions will take place at lunchtime and feature readings from new and vibrant talent in partnership with Scottish Book Trust, Glasgow Women’s Library, Scottish Poetry Library, and Jenny Brown Associates.
Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland said: “This year marks Edinburgh International Book Festival’s first year in their new home and the inaugural year under Director Jenny Niven.
“Welcoming in this new era, the festival has curated a bold and ambitious programme engaging many of the critical issues facing the world today. To do that, they are bringing together international authors with both Scotland’s own world-renowned talent and our exciting emerging literary voices.
“The Futures Institute events will nurture a love of books and reading for all ages. Additionally, there are valuable programme strands highlighting the significance of community work, extending the festival’s influence beyond its new location.”
Our new site at EFI
Opened in 1729 Edinburgh’s old Royal Infirmary is one of the city’s most beloved buildings and with huge care, has been brought into the 21st century as Edinburgh’s Futures Institute, a futures-focused space for learning, research, and innovation at the University of Edinburgh, and new home of Edinburgh International Book Festival.
In addition to enjoying events in brand new, state-of-the-art theatres, audiences and visitors can find a plethora of places to read, relax, meet and converse throughout this grand and iconic building, as well as across the specially designed, grassy courtyard that unfolds at the south of the venue, making the Festival site a destination worthy of lingering this summer.
Located just off The Meadows in the leafy heart of the city, the Festival’s new home is a stone’s throw from key Fringe venues at George Square and the home of the Edinburgh International Festival at the Hub.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival and Baillie Gifford have ended their 20-year partnership.
The board and management of Edinburgh International Book Festival believe their ability to deliver an event this August that is safe and successful for audiences, authors and staff has been severely compromised, following the withdrawal of several authors and threats of disruption from activists.
Jenny Niven, chief executive of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “It is with great regret that our board of trustees and Baillie Gifford have collectively agreed to end our partnership.
“We are hugely grateful to the firm for its considerable support over two decades, including through some challenging times for the festival, and we are proud of what we’ve achieved together during that time.
“The pressure on our team has simply become intolerable. We have a major global festival starting in 10 weeks’ time and we need to focus all of our efforts and energy on delivering a safe and successful event for our audiences.
“Undermining the long-term future of charitable organisations such as book festivals is not the right way to bring about change.
“It diminishes the voices of those who feel strongly about these complex issues, and it will be infinitely harder to build and sustain well-funded cultural institutions in the future than it is to put them out of business today.
“We speak to all our supporters about these complex issues and continue to believe that Baillie Gifford is part of the solution in transitioning towards a more sustainable world and that the firm operates in line with our Ethical Fundraising policy.”
Allan Little, chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “Our team cannot be expected to deliver a safe and sustainable festival this August under the constant threat of disruption from activists. This was a pragmatic response to that reality.
“Funding for the arts is now in a perilous position and we should all be clear that without the support of our partners and donors, the future of festivals like ours – and all of the benefits these events bring to authors and readers alike – is in jeopardy.
“We are a charity that provides an important platform for authors and readers of all views and political opinions to agree, disagree, challenge, and provoke. Book festivals around the world are forums in which rigorous, intelligent debate can take place. Our festival should be a place where progressive and nuanced discussion can happen in a safe and respectful space.
“Indeed, our programme this year is designed to give a voice to those directly affected by conflict and those engaged at the most senior levels in its resolution. We will explore the real challenges involved in transition, green tech and climate finance, misinformation and the need for new economic models.
“We are determined to have those debates and to have them out in the open, but we need everyone to come to the table. We have made several invitations to Fossil Free Books, and other groups, to attend this year’s festival and regret that they have not responded to those offers.”
Nick Thomas, partner, Baillie Gifford, said: “Our collaboration with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, spanning decades, was rooted in our shared interest in making Edinburgh a thriving and culturally vibrant place to live and work.
“In recent years we have been proud to support the Schools’ and Children’s programmes, providing free books and creating opportunities for young readers to meet authors.
“The activists’ anonymous campaign of coercion and misinformation has put intolerable pressure on authors and the festival community. We step back with the hope that the festival will thrive this year and into the future. We hold the activists squarely responsible for the inhibiting effect their action will have on funding for the arts in this country.
“Baillie Gifford is a long-term investor with high ethical standards and a complete focus on doing what is right by our clients. The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, NVIDIA, and Meta.
“Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.
“Nor is Baillie Gifford a significant fossil fuel investor. Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.
“We remain committed to contributing positively to our community through philanthropic support.”
This year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival will take place from 10 – 25 August, with the full programme due to be launched next week (Tuesday 4th June).
Baillie Gifford has supported the Edinburgh International Book Festival since 2004. The firm’s funding for this year’s book festival has already been provided and deployed.
I was delighted to join my friends from Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen Writers group at North Edinburgh Community Festival at West Pilton Park on Saturday, and the sun split the skies once again – that’s the third year on the trot!
Congratulations to the organisers and the entertainers who made it such a special day, and also a big thanks to the young festivalgoers who took part in our Citizen Big Board Game!
Looking forward to next year already!
There are lots more pictures on the North Edinburgh News Facebook page
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced its first author events for 2024, with a brand-new series called The Front List, taking place at the city’s iconic McEwan Hall throughout August, in a new partnership with Edinburgh Fringe producer, Underbelly.
The Front List will showcase an exciting programme of writers with nine events in the beloved Edinburgh venue, just a short walk from the wider Book Festival site at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
The Front List programme will open on 10 August with modern legends of stage and screen, Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, sharing some hilarious tales about their classic comedy characters from Victor and Barry’s Kelvinside Compendium.
On 12 August James O’Brien will appear fresh from his popular LBC radio show to discuss the current state of the UK and his book How They Broke Britian, while cult favourite author of Heartstopper – now a smash-hit Netflix series – Alice Oseman takes the stage on 13 August.
On 14 August, every millennial’s parasocial best friend, Dolly Alderton, will discuss her work, including her achingly funny second novel Good Material, and on 17 August the iconic, Booker Prize-winning Salman Rushdie appears live from his home in New York to offer a searing insight into his unforgettable new memoir Knife.
YA favourite Sarah Crossan will appear at a special event for secondary school students as part of the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme on 21 August, while on 22 August prolific historical novelist Philippa Gregory explores her epic new take on feminist history in her enlightening new non-fiction title, Normal Women.
The programme will close with two exclusive pre-release events with authors talking about their new titles in public for the first time: Richard Osman – whose Thursday Murder Club series claimed a staggering 3 slots on The Sunday Times’ top 10 bestselling books of 2023 – discusses We Solve Murders, the first in his brand-new mystery series, on 24 August; and on 25 August the conversation-changing author and mental health activist Matt Haig, whose most recent book The Midnight Library has sold 9 million copies and counting, returns to the Festival to discuss his upcoming novel The Life Impossible.
Chairs for these events include Jackie Kay, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Wren James, Mishal Husain, and Chitra Ramaswamy, with more to be confirmed.
Most events in this series will be streamed live and made available on-demand for digital audiences, and all events will be BSL interpreted and captioned.
Edinburgh International Book Festival Director, Jenny Niven said:“We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting such a stellar line-up in a venue that will enable us to welcome more people than ever before, in partnership with our friends at Underbelly.
“These are just the first of our 2024 events, with a further incredible 500-plus still to be announced.
“Our Front List line up gives a taste of what’s to come ranging from history to mystery, hope to romance, politics to comedy – and featuring some of the best interviewers in the business, including Mishal Husain and our very own Jackie Kay. This marks the first release of events as we open an exciting new chapter for the Book Festival – we can’t wait to welcome audiences this August.”
Underbelly Co-Director, Charlie Wood said: “This is such a great partnership to be part of, bringing together two of Edinburgh’s summer festivals in a crown jewel of the city, allowing a wider audience to see these amazing writers discuss their work in a venue with a fabulous and long history of speakers.
“We’re delighted that the Book Festival will be part of our wider and soon to be announced McEwan Hall programme.”
The 2024 Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from 10 – 25 August, and takes place for the first time at the new Edinburgh Futures Institute on Lauriston Place.
The full public programme will be announced on Tuesday 4 June.
For more information on Edinburgh International Book Festival visit:
Edinburgh locals and those with a connection to the city are being invited to share stories and memories of the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, now redeveloped as the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Futures Institute, as part of a new mass-participatory writing project at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Celebrating the Book Festival’s move to its new home at EFI, Words from the Wards will see collected stories from both Edinburgh residents and those from further afield, shared as part of a programme of multi-artform events that will take place in the iconic Category A-listed building during the Festival in August.
The Old Royal Infirmary was central to the city’s life, with generations of Edinburgh residents and visitors passing through its doors, corridors and wards. With the 20,000m² space now transformed into a world-leading venue for collaboration, conversation, and creativity, Words from the Wards will allow the memories already created in the building – from new births and mourned passings to the careers of the doctors and nurses who worked there – to be celebrated.
Alongside the public submissions, Words from the Wards will also feature contributions from leading Edinburgh writers and artists, including Dr Gavin Francis, Michael Pederson, Hannah Lavery, Sara Sheridan, Lisa Williams and Kirstin Innes.
Submitted stories from the public will be published at the Book Festival’s ‘On the Road’ blog at www.ontheroad.edbookfest.co.uk, creating a time capsule of memories about the Old infirmary through the eyes of those who worked and visited there throughout the years.
A selection of the submitted stories will be read by their authors, alongside the professional writers, at special events on-site at EFI on one of the former hospital wards during the Festival.
During the Book Festival there will also be a tie-in with Edinburgh Futures Institute Culture and Community team’s ongoing Recycling a Hospital project, which will see a new object created from materials preserved from the building’s original interiors (floorboards and slates), and poetry written by community members, installed within the space. The object, called ‘The Spirit Case’, will become a hub for gathering further stories, with Book Festival visitors invited to engage with the existing stories and contribute their own reflections and memories of the building.
Noëlle Cobden, Communities Programme Director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We’re incredibly excited that the Book Festival’s new home is the Edinburgh Futures Institute – not just because of the visionary ideas and projects at its heart, but because of its building’s rich and meaningful history.
“The Old Royal Infirmary is where many local residents – and those now further afield – took their first breaths, and its walls have witnessed uncountable moments of hope, fear, joy, and grief.
“We want to capture and honour the experiences, relationships and memories that people connect with the building’s previous life, as the Book Festival becomes part of its future. We hope that as many people as possible will share their stories with us, as our fantastic associated writers will also do, and can’t wait to discover the hidden, personal histories which make this place so special.”
Writer Kirstin Innes said: “Like many, many people born in Edinburgh, I began in this building. Of course, I don’t remember that but I do remember being 19 and going back there, visiting my grandfather in the early stages of dementia, after he’d had a stroke.
“Thinking about this commission has already started conjuring scents and sounds – hospital bleach, my footsteps on the stone staircase, the scrape of a chair on aged linoleum. This place means so much to so many of us – it’s an honour to be asked to write something about it.”
Working with architecture firm Bennetts Associates, the University of Edinburgh has been transforming the iconic, category-A listed Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh into Edinburgh Futures Institute to develop a space for multidisciplinary collaboration, data-led innovation, education, research, and partnership.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, rooms for co-working with industry partners, incubation areas for businesses, labs for innovation and prototyping, and exhibition and performance spaces.
The revitalised building is transforming the local area, creating a major public piazza, new garden spaces, and several new points of access from Lauriston Place, Middle Meadow Walk and Quartermile – opening this historic site once again to the public and welcoming Edinburgh communities, residents and visitors, as well as University of Edinburgh staff and students.
It was a full house at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Stories and Scran event.
Guests braved plunging temperatures to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea provided by Scran Academy and to hear a rich variety of stories and poems from EIBF’S Citizen programme participants.
Hosted by EIBF’s Ryan Van Winkle, the packed programme also included brilliant contributions from authors Kate Foster and Douglas Johnstone, and there was another welcome opportunity to see the touching documentary produced by North Edinburgh Arts’ Adult Drama Group.
Yes, it may have been freezing outside but there was a warm welcome and a cosy atmosphere in the local community centre. A real winter warmer!
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced Stories and Scran will take place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd December as part of the third season of Citizen Winter Warmer events: a community celebration bringing together local voices and authors and artists.
Audiences are invited to savour a sumptuous 3-course meal provided by the Scran Academy (included in the price of the ticket) and hear new writing from local people who have taken part in the Citizen project.
This year’s first event will take place at Fisherrow Centre in Musselburgh and will showcase the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including illustrations from students at Edinburgh College of Art and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group and The Citizen Collective. Special guests include Chitra Ramaswamy.
This will be followed on Saturday 2nd November with another Stories and Scran Winter Warmer event in North Edinburgh.
Join us at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre for tasty food and brilliant storytelling in a heart warming event at the heart of the community.
Savour a sumptuous afternoon-tea provided by Scran Academy (included with your ticket) and hear new writing from local people alongside special guests including including Kate Foster and Doug Johnstone.
This year’s North Edinburgh event showcases the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including a film from the North Edinburgh Drama Group and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group.
Jenny Brown has worked with many of the biggest names in Scottish literature
A leading figure in Edinburgh’s book scene, and founding Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, has been recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University.
Jenny Brown established the literary agency Jenny Brown Associates in 2002, and previously served as Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council and presented book programmes for STV.
She is now Vice-Chair of Edinburgh International Book Festival, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Jenny was awarded her new title of Doctor of the University, and collected her Honorary Degree, during Edinburgh Napier’s graduation ceremony at the Usher Hall today (Wednesday), in recognition of her major contribution to literature and publishing.
Jenny Brown Founding director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival receiving an Honorary Doctorate At Edinburgh Napier University
Jenny said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be receiving this Doctorate – it’s a real honour.I’ve had a long association with the University. I’ve talked to the publishing students, I’ve had lots of interns at my literary agency from the publishing course, and I’ve been to the creative writing studios quite a number of times. So it’s a lovely honour.
“It’s thrilling to have somebody who has worked in literature all their life recognised this way. I’m not an academic, I’m somebody who believes in the power of reading and power of writing – and somebody who believes very strongly that Scottish writing has got a lot to offer on the international stage.”
Giving her laureation, David Bishop, creative writing lecturer at ENU’s School of Arts and Creative Industries, said: “If anyone who knows the value of a story, it’s Jenny – a woman who revolutionised the way Scotland thinks about reading, writing and publishing.
“A 40-year career in the arts, festivals, publishing and literature has given Jenny a unique perspective on the ability of writers to move and inspire us, and on the power of stories to entertain, to educate and to enthral.
“There is no doubt Jenny’s involvement has been a significant part in the renaissance of Scotland’s writing and publishing industries.”
Jenny was born in Manchester but grew up in Edinburgh. At the age of 24, she was given six months to pull the first Edinburgh book festival together in 1983. It proved so successful it returned two years later and became the annual fixture it is today.
Today she runs an acclaimed literary agency in Edinburgh with a roster of bestselling and multi-award-winning authors. She has worked with William McIlvanney, the godfather of Tartan Noir, and helps keep alive the work of acclaimed writers such as George Mackay Brown and Alasdair Gray.
In addition to her storied career in literature, Jenny has been a consultant for the creation of Edinburgh Napier’s acclaimed BA English programme, taken on students from the Publishing Masters as interns, and been a frequent guest speaker on the University’s Creative Writing programme.
