An enthusiastic spokesperson expressed pride in the festival’s evolution into one of the UK’s leading literature festivals, highlighting its status as a global cultural destination for both artists and audiences.
“I am incredibly proud of the festival’s growth into one of the top literature festivals in the UK and a truly international destination for both artists and audiences,” she stated. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has reinforced the festival’s mission to foster complex and critical conversations while welcoming diverse voices into the literary sphere.
Record ticket sales and a broad audience response underline the festival’s commitment to diverse and inclusive programming. “I am really proud that the festival has evolved into a significant global cultural event and look forward to the next 10 years of innovation,” she added.
Festival attendees echoed these sentiments. Arif Javid, 57, remarked on the event’s expansion: “It is much bigger now than it was at the beginning. You get people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, congregating together to form an audience. You get a feel of how multicultural it is and how harmonious it is.”
Anelofar Khan, 57, a teacher, described the festival as “enriching” and “incredibly captivating.” David Walker, 32, visiting from Wakefield, noted the festival’s ability to attract big names like Miriam Margolyes, saying, “It’s brought people like Miriam Margolyes in, and it has sold out instantly, so it’s quite good to have big names like that.”