6:52pm Monday 19th May 2008
PLANNING for Swindon Festival of Literature 2009 is already under way - with bigger names and even better performances on the cards.
Organiser Matt Holland, pictured, says he has been overwhelmed by the response to Swindon's 14th Festival of Literature, which came to an end on Sunday night.
"It's been a fabulous two weeks," he said.
"The people of Swindon have proven that they can embrace culture and diversity.
"And these are all things that will be back next year."
This year's two-week festival saw 51 events, involving more than 60 speakers, poets musicians and writers, taking place on stages across Swindon.
The opening event, titled A Dawn Chorus, showed great promise for the rest of the festival as about 200 people descended on Lawn Woods at 5.30am, in the pouring rain, to hear stories, poems and watch performance artists.
"It was fantastic," said Matt.
"We've seen some terrible weather during the course of the festival but it doesn't seem to have had an effect on numbers.
"Saying that, I wonder how many people would have been at the dawn chorus if it had taken place in the blazing sunshine."
Although already booking speakers for next year's event, which will be held between May 4 and 16, Matt is remaining tight-lipped about the potential line-up.
"It's all a bit under wraps at the moment," he said.
"But work on the festival will start in earnest this August.
"Then I'll be in more of a position to divulge who'll be descending on Swindon."
Matt expects that volumes of visitors attending festival events in the town has increased by up to 25 per cent this year.
He said: "I am thrilled by the response we have had.
"Swindon does get a bashing from time to time but I think the festival has shown that we are a cultured town and we respect and embrace the arts here.
"The most touching thing this year was to hear the event referred to as the festival' as if it was the event is Swindon.
"It shows great hope for the 2009 festival."
Matt is now asking budding young writers and Swindon-bred poets to join the growing list of performers expected to take part in next year's event.
Writers, singers, musicians, poets and speakers can sign up for the event by emailing Matt at litfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk or by calling 01793 771080.
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