Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival receives funding from West Suffolk councillors with aim to make event more accessible

A Bury St Edmunds-based literature festival has received the backing of seven councillors with the aim to make the event more accessible.

The Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival, which will run from October 20 to October 22, has been awarded funding from the West Suffolk councillors’ locality budgets.

Councillors Donna Higgins, Diane Hind, Rowena Lindberg, Jo Rayner, Marilyn Sayer, Sarah Stamp and Cliff Waterman have given a combined total of £1,400 which is being used to ensure the festival organisers can keep admission costs down amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Julia Wakelam, and founder of the festival, said: “We also recognise the cost-of-living crisis is biting and we need to keep the entrance costs down so this festival can remain inclusive and accessible for people of all ages and means to come along and enjoy.

“That’s why we are very grateful for the support of all of our sponsors, including my fellow West Suffolk councillors.”

Author and committee member, Kate Sawyer, said: “The festival is about celebrating literature, nurturing a love of reading and encouraging people to take up writing themselves.

“To do that we have had to grow the festival so that there’s even more to interest people, to capture their imaginations and add to that strong sense of culture that is valued in and around the Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk.”

The festival will be held at the Unitarian Meeting House and is free to under 18s. Admission prices vary from £5 to £10 for each event with discounts available to people aged under 26 and people in receipt of benefits.

The festival opens with an open mic poetry night with Elizabeth Cook and the announcement of the winners of this year's short story competition.