The programme has been announced for Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023, which is making a welcome return after twice being cancelled due to the covid outbreak.
The week, which will take place between Monday February 27 and Saturday March 4, 2023, is designed to celebrate the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and Galloway area and will feature both professional and aspiring authors.
The fifteen events to be staged at venues in Kirkcudbright will include poetry and prose fiction and non-fiction performances by more than twenty writers as well as film, song and music. Some are paid-for events and some are free.
Kirkcudbright Book Week has been organised by Kirkcudbright Book Week Society, which is supported by a number of organisations, sponsors and venues, many of which are featured in the programme.
The inaugural week took place in early 2020 just before covid became an issue but the effect of the virus meant that book weeks in 2021 and 2022 had to be cancelled.
Book Week Society Chair Chris Walker, from the Selkirk Arms, said: “It’s exciting after so many covid postponements to be finally bringing the second book week to Kirkcudbright. The week is a superb line up of local and national talent. There really is something for everyone. It’s an amazing calendar of events. It’s really not to be missed.”
Crime novelistJohn Dean, who lives in the area and is one of the organisers of Kirkcudbright Book Week, said: “After the disappointment of twice having to cancel the event, we are delighted that Book Week is back for 2023. Kirkcudbright and the surrounding area is home to some talented writers, both professional and unpublished, and the book week is designed to celebrate their work and the contribution they make to the life of this part of Scotland. It’s an excellent programme and it should be an exciting week.”
A printed programme will be available in due course but more information is available about events and how to book tickets, by visiting www.kirkcudbrightbookweek.org The website also has details of the organisations and businesses that have sponsored book week. You can also follow the event on Facebook and on Instagram at kbt.bookweek
Kirkcudbright Book Week is being supported by The Galloway Glens Scheme, a suite of projects being undertaken up and down the Ken/Dee Valley, connecting people to their heritage, driving economic activity and supporting sustainable communities. The Scheme is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is supported by a range of partners including Dumfries & Galloway Council, Drax – the owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, and the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
The Galloway Glens Scheme is a five year, £5million pound, programme of work, supporting a range of projects up and down the Ken/Dee valley, from Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas in the South to Carsphairn and the core of the Galloway Hills in the North. Projects vary from refurbishment of buildings and visitor centres, through to education and training activities, all seeking to ‘connect people to their heritage’, while also driving economic activity and supporting sustainable communities. The Galloway Glens Scheme runs from 2018 to 2023 and is overseen by a Partnership Board made up of a variety of local and national stakeholders. Funding is primarily from the National Lottery heritage Fund, with support from a range of partners including Dumfries & Galloway Council and the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. For more information, please see www.gallowayglens.org or contact Galloway Glens Team Leader, McNabb Laurie on 07825 721659 or mcnabb.laurie@dumgal.gov.uk
Kirkcudbright Book Week 