Birmingham Literature Festival 3-13 October

With details of events at the Birmingham Literature Festival:

Special event An Evening with Gina Martin: Be the Change Birmingham Literature Festival is delighted to present a one-off event in advance of the October festival, which returns 3-13 October 2019: To celebrate publication of her new book,Be The Change: A Toolkit for the Activist In You, join Gina Martin as she meets with campaigners and activists who are doing incredible things locally, nationally, or even globally. With no prior political experience or legal training, Gina successfully campaigned to make upskirting a criminal offence. The legislation passed its final stage in the House of Lords on 15th January and came into effect on 12th April 2019: taking non-consensual photographs under anyone’s clothes is now illegal in England and Wales. Tuesday 18 June, 6.45pm - 7.45pm The DOOR, Birmingham REP Tickets: £8 / £7 (concs) Book Now Full programme announced early August. As a valued newsletter subscriber, you will be the first to know who is appearing at this year's festival, which will be 3-13 October. Visit our website Birmingham Literature Festival | a project of Writing West Midlands Writing West Midlands is an Arts Council England NPO. ‌ ‌ ‌

2019 programme announced: all events now on sale We're delighted to present this year's Birmingham Literature Festival programme, which, with 56 events over 11 days, is our busiest yet. Packed with lively discussions, distinctive experiences, entertaining performances and dynamic workshops, we'll be hosting writers, artists and speakers in venues across Birmingham this October.  Tickets are on sale from 9am on Thursday 1 August through our Box Office TicketSource online and on 0333 666 3366. You can also download a PDF of the full programme from our website. See you in October! The Birmingham Literature Festival team Full Programme Welcome from our Festival Director We are living in a time of change and uncertainty, and it puts into question the purpose of events such as the Birmingham Literature Festival. When conversations about Brexit, LGBTQ+ rights, refugees, the NHS and climate change are front and centre, we can't help but reflect on how creative writing and reading can give us strength and put words to our thoughts in challenging times. Literature and the arts are important in all our lives, and we work hard to create a festival that is relevant and reflective of the conversations people are having today. A festival - bringing writers, artists, commentators, readers and thinkers together - reminds us of the importance and power of writing, reading and communicating and how these things can helps us connect with the world and spark positive change. Join the discussion and let us know what you think. We're on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as @bhamlitfest. See you in October. Antonia Beck, Festival Director Introducing our 2019 Guest Curator: Stuart Maconie We are delighted that this year our Guest Curator will be writer, broadcaster and journalist Stuart Maconie. Stuart says: "Though a Northerner by origin, Brum and the Black Country have become my adopted home for decades now, and I'm proud to have been associated with Writing West Midlands and the Birmingham Literature Festival for many of those years. "I love the region’s mix of people and culture, its unique world view and energy. "I hope that the writers I have chosen for my events at this year's festival will reflect Birmingham and the West Midlands character as a great and dynamic working city." Simon Armitage: In Conversation Tuesday 8 October Common People Thursday 10 October Understanding the Past, Building Our Future with Billy Bragg, Paul Mason and Selina Todd Sunday 13 October A few highlights... An Evening With Carol Ann Duffy with Ella Duffy, Keith Hutson and Mark Pajak Truth to Power with Jess Phillips MP Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World with Konnie Huq Adam Kay: This is Going to Hurt Don't Forget the Driver with Toby Jones and Tim Crouch New Kings of the World - Dispatches from Bollywood, Dizi, and K-Pop with Fatima Bhutto Beowulf with Seth Kriebel Workshop: Writing Historical Fiction At the Birmingham Back to Backs Read On EU Day: Jonathan Stroud Queer Intentions with Amelia Abraham, Amrou Al-Kadhi and Michael Amherst Writing in Exile With Pierre Jarawan, Azadeh Moaveni and Faïza Guène How to Fail Elizabeth Day Full Programme Birmingham Literature Festival | a project of Writing West Midlands Writing West Midlands is an Arts Council England NPO. You are receiving this email because you joined our mailing list or requested more information through our Box Office. You can unsubscribe below at any time. ‌ ‌ ‌ Writing West Midlands | Studio 130, Zellig, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AT United Kingdom Sent by olivia@writingwestmidlands.org in collaboration with