Wigtown Book Festival to be held online

This year's Wigtown Book Festival will now be held online owing to the pandemic, its organisers have confirmed.

The annual Scottish book festival will maintain its pre-announced dates, running from 25th September to 4th October.

The festival will feature virtual speaker events, music, performances and films, in addition to art exhibitions. Adrian Turpin, the festival's creative director, said: “A key aim this year will be to raise the profile of Scotland’s National Book Town in Wigtown, its businesses and the cultural attractions of Dumfries & Galloway. The Wigtown Book Festival has a powerful role to play as we all look forward to eventual recovery, when the region will be able to welcome visitors again.

“Nobody wanted this situation but a digital festival gives us opportunities to reach new audiences locally, nationally and internationally."

A crowdfunding campaign will be launched later this summer to help support the festival.

The programme includes events celebrating Southern Scotland's literary "heartland", a lecture delivered by historian Rosemary Goring, a local author talent competition, and the Wigtown Poetry Prize.

Turpin added: “We have already put a lot of effort into creating original digital content, because we felt it was vital to engage our existing audiences and attract new ones throughout the crisis. This experience will stand us in good stead as we deliver a fully digital festival this year, with the hope that in 2021 we can all gather together again in one place."