Launching a new Festival and a new Poet Laureate!
Thursday 6th October
6pm – 8.30pm/ Free (Quiz £2)
Yumm Cafe, The Custard Factory,
Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA
Join the Festival and partners Birmingham Libraries and Poetry On Loan to launch the city’s literature festival.
Back for our 13th year, the Birmingham Book Festival is sharing an opening night with National Poetry Day 2011. What better excuse to invite one of our most exciting poets, Matt Harvey, to help us launch the Festival and test your literary knowledge with the return of the (now infamous) Festival Quiz – back by popular demand. We will also be announcing the city’s 16th Poet Laureate -live!
The Birmingham Poet Laureate scheme is founded and managed by Birmingham Libraries, it supports both an adult laureate and a young laureate for a year, connecting them with the writing community in Birmingham and helping them to generate opportunities for themselves and for others. The outgoing Laureate, Roy McFarlane, will perform alongside the winner, handing over the honorary title with a few words about his 2010-11 tenure.
There will be words from the Festival team, too, about what you can expect from the next ten days. We hope you can join us to welcome in this year’s season of writing, reading and thinking in Birmingham.
All of this takes place within the cosy den that is Yumm Café. Beer, wine, nibbles and soft drinks will be available.
Tickets: Free but please book to avoid
disappointment through our Box Office.
Book Online or call our Box Office (via the MAC)
on 0121 446 3232
If you wish to enter a quiz team or join one, please email joanne[at]birminghambookfestival.org. There is a £2 charge to enter. You can join on the night too.
The Fringe Festival
If you are around the city during the day on Thursday 6th October, look out for us as we head to various venues across the city centre with the Birmingham Poet Laureate finalists who will be performing some of their poetry from 2pm – 4pm.
The schedule of venues includes (timings are subject to alteration):
2pm: Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HS
2.30pm: Festival Bookshop, Library Foyer, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3HQ
3pm: St Martin’s Church, Bullring
3.30pm: Cafe Blend, Orion Building, 90 Navigation Street, Birmingham, B5 4AA
The Fringe Festival is presented in Partnership with Birmingham Libraries.
For more information about Birmingham Libraries, please visit their website http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/libraries
