Word – University of Aberdeen writers festival facts for kids
The Word – University of Aberdeen Writers Festival was a fun book festival held every year or two in Aberdeen, Scotland. It took place at the University of Aberdeen during a weekend in May, from 1999 to 2011.
Writers, thinkers, and experts from all over the world visited Aberdeen. They came for three days to celebrate books and stories. The festival included readings, talks, movies, and art shows. There was even a special festival just for schools and children!
The Festival's Story
The Word Festival started in May 1999. It received a small grant from the Scottish Arts Council to help it begin. People said it was "the largest, and most impressive literary event ever held in Aberdeen."
The festival happened again in 2001, and it grew bigger each time. By 2009, over 10,000 people visited the Word Festival. In 2010, more than 11,000 people attended! That year, they sold a record number of tickets.
The 2010 festival had many events. There were readings, debates, music, art, workshops, and film screenings. More than 100 authors, poets, musicians, and artists took part.
The 2010 festival was also very international. It featured poetry from Guatemala and a leading novelist from Poland. There were also stories from Sierra Leone and a special event on Spanish writing.
At the same time, the festival celebrated Scottish culture. It honored Stanley Robertson, a storyteller from the north-east of Scotland. There were also events about Scottish crime novels, and a discussion about Scotland's future. Kids could enjoy storytelling sessions in Gaelic and Doric.
What Was On?
Many famous writers came to the festival. These included Alasdair Gray, who won a Nobel Prize, and popular authors like Alexander McCall Smith and Ian Rankin. Poets like Seamus Heaney and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy also attended. Other well-known names were Louis de Bernières, Lionel Shriver, and Irvine Welsh.
The festival also had many events just for young readers. In 2010, the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary. As part of this, Scottish Opera presented Five:15. This show featured five new short operas by Scottish composers. It was performed for the first time in Aberdeen at the festival.
Where It Happened
The University of Aberdeen Writers Festival was mainly held at the King's College Conference Centre. This is part of the University of Aberdeen campus in Old Aberdeen. They also used large tents and other university buildings. Some events even took place in different venues across Aberdeen City and the surrounding area.
Official Website
Word - University of Aberdeen Writers Festival website
