As the exclusive Higher Education Partner at one of the fastest growing literature festivals in the UK

The partnership is one of a number of initiatives taken by the University’s Department of English and Creative Writing to bolster their work in the local community. The department is a centre of excellence in creative writing and includes many celebrated authors and poets such as Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Professors David Harsent and Fiona Sampson, and Adam Foulds among their number. Under the agreement, members of the Department will speak at the festival as well as getting involved in Bookfest’s school engagement programme.

Wimbledon Bookfest plays an active role in the community, engaging local schools in literary events and running a young writers’ competition as part of their school engagement programme. Last year’s festival brought together a number of well-known authors and figures from the arts world, including Sir Andrew Motion, Roddy Doyle, Michael Palin, Cerys Matthews and Margaret Drabble. The University of Roehampton’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul O’Prey, also spoke at the event in 2013, discussing the work of the poet Robert Graves.

Fiona Razvi, Wimbledon BookFest Director said:
“The partnership with the University of Roehampton represents an incredibly exciting development for Wimbledon BookFest. There is no doubt that the opportunity to work with such a strong and creative academic institution will bring great benefits for the Festival and its attendees. The English Department at Roehampton has a huge wealth of talent and we are looking forward to having their input on our education offering to schools, as well as events and workshops during the public festival this October.”

Professor Laura Peters, Head of the Department of English and Creative Writing added:
“We’re delighted to be supporting this year’s Wimbledon Bookfest. The festival plays an important role in raising cultural awareness in the community through the actual Bookfest festival, which offers a wonderful range of readings, talks and debates, and through the associated schools programmes which runs throughout the year. Members of the Department are all keen and excited to be able to get involved with this fantastic event.”

The festival, which is now in 8th year, will take place from 2-12 October on Wimbledon Common. Wimbledon Bookfest’s 2014 education programme with schools launches on World Book Day, 6 March 2014.

February 18, 2014