Swindon Festival of Literature 3-9 May 2021
Here we are with a Swindon festival update. The spring festival of the last two years has had to revert to being the Swindon Festival of Literature. Swindon celebrated that most marvellous annual event for over twenty-five years.
Of course, this switch is due to restrictions imposed to stop the spread of Covid19. The resultant curtailment of live arts activities, plus related funding cuts has rendered the new style spring festival impossible this year.
So, in 2021, we’ve scheduled the literature festival to take place from 3rd to 9th May. It will start with the customary dawn chorus at 5.30am in Lawn Woods on Bank Holiday Monday the 3rd May.
Sunday the 2nd May is International Dawn Chorus Day – who knew? And how fitting.
Festival Director Matt Holland said, ‘It’s an ill wind that has blown some good. Covid19 has made us think hard. It’s forced decisive action to ensure an annual spring festival in Swindon celebrating literature and the arts survives.’
I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
Jimmy Dean
He added, ‘As a written and spoken word-based activity, Literature lends itself to successful presentation in a variety ways. For example:
* author interviews and
* discussions and workshops
All work well live, in theatres and libraries, but can also be tailor-made to work online. This means that, whatever restrictions continue into spring a Swindon festival of literature can happen in a three-tier blended fashion.’
He further explains that the best case scenario would be live events in the Arts Centre, Library, Town Hall, Bowl, Lydiard Park, and at Lower Shaw Farm.
Contingency plans
But if, because of the continued need for social distancing, live indoor and outdoor events are not possible, then most festival events will transfer online with ease. Festival organisers can then present them either in real time or as recordings. In other words, one way or another, there will be a Festival of Literature in Swindon in May.’
Already lined up is an exciting array of authors and performers keen to appear at the Festival.
Find out more
For further information , to go on the Festival mailing list, or to suggest authors and performers, contact swindonlitfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk or telephone 01793 771080.
See last year’s festival launch here:
And 2019’s festival launch here: https://youtu.be/IqoT06NHd4I
©Calyx Picture Agency Swindon Festival of Literature Dawn Chorus 
