Hay launches children’s festival in Denmark

Hay is launching a European children’s literature festival to take place in Aarhus, Denmark, from 25th to 29th October.

"European Children’s Literature Hay Festival – Aarhus 39", launched to mark Aarhus being the capital of culture in 2017, will welcome 39 children’s and YA authors under the age of 40 from across Europe.

The authors will spend five days in Aarhus visiting schools and taking part in a festival of book events and creative workshops. They will also be invited to write something on the theme of ‘journey’, which will then be published in an anthology of new writing.

Authors writing for three age groups – 5-8 year-olds, 9-12 year-olds and 12+ - can apply to take part by emailing aarhus39@hayfestival.com.

Writer and translator Daniel Hahn will put together a longlist of 200 writers before three children’s writers – Matt Haig from the UK, Kim Fupz Aakeson (Denmark) and Ana Cristina Herreros (Spain) – chose the final 39.

The children’s festival is one of many events around the world Hay has created to celebrate writers under 40. It also runs Bogota 39, Beirut 39 and African 39.