Free tickets for selected events to be made avaliable for those from more deprived areas
Over 300 tickets to events at Glasgow’s book festival are to be given away as part of a ‘community ticketing strategy’ aimed at making the festival more accessible.
The Herald reported that two anonymous charitable trusts have funded the scheme, which will see 350 free tickets available for certain events at Glasgow’s Aye Write! book festival.
The majority of events at the festival normally cost between PS6 and PS9, with some high-profile talks, such as that by former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, are priced at PS15. All profits go towards the free schools events put on ahead of the main festival.
The free tickets will be available for around 20 selected events across various genres. In total the festival features around 120 events.
Councillor Archie Graham, chair of Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s galleries and libraries, said the events “open up whole new worlds to people through books and poetry”.
“By introducing the Community Ticketing Strategy we hope to engage with even more people right across the city and bring them to the festivals,” he said.
“They’ll enjoy sessions featuring some well-known authors which will inspire them to read and write more and to use their local library to access the education and support services on offer there as well as for borrowing books.”
The scheme will operate via a community creative learning group, and people from the following areas will be eligible: Ruchill/Possilpark, Drumchapel, Lambhill/Milton, Parkhead/Dalmarnock, Easterhouse, Springboig/Barlanark, Priesthill/Househillwood, Greater Gorbals, and Govan.
The festival programmer Bob McDevitt said that people interested in these tickets should contact their local community library for more information.
Aye Write! festival , which has run since 2007, is organised and managed by Glasgow Libraries and Glasgow Life, and receives funding from Glasgow City Council and Creative Scotland.
The festival features talks by Scottish politicians on the theme of ‘the books that made me’ – including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Ruth Davidson, Scottish Green party co-convenor Patrick Harvie, and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie.
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Picture courtesy of STV Photos