Article Source: Paisley Book Festival
Last Updated: 22 November 2023 10:03
The festival, which is delivered by OneRen, is set to run over four days from 25 – 28 April 2024 and will be the first time events are hosted in the newly renovated Paisley Town Hall overlooking Paisley Abbey, and the incredible new Paisley Central Library, creating a literary hub in the town’s High Street. The event will bring some of Scotland’s best writers to Paisley for discussions and events.
Jess Orr has been named programmer for next year’s event. She said:,i> “It’s exciting to be back programming for Paisley Book Festival in 2024, especially now that we have the Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Central Library to stage our events. These re-imagined spaces are a perfect setting to celebrate the power of stories and narrative to transport us beyond reality to imagine different worlds, different perspectives, and most importantly, different possibilities.”
Jess is no newcomer to Paisley, having programmed the festival’s first three editions, and elsewhere she has built a strong reputation working with literary organisations including the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Glasgow Women’s Library. She holds a PhD in Scottish literature from the University of St Andrews, and in addition to working with festivals she is also Operations Manager for the literature charity Open Book.
Now entering its 5th year, the festival still has Paisley Radicals at heart, with its trademark thread of edge and progressiveness continuing to run through the programme. The theme for Paisley Book Festival 2024 is Imagine Something Different and will incorporate two ‘new’ cultural venues which have been opened in recent months. The iconic Paisley Town Hall re-opened in September 2023, creating a new big stage for the town and one of Scotland’s premier performance spaces. The new Paisley Central Library is opening this month, creating a incredible library facility across four floors of what was a vacant retail space on the High Street.
Christine Martin, Arts Team Co-ordinator at OneRen, welcomed Jess to the team. She added: “Paisley Book Festival is fast becoming a mainstay of the festival circuit, attracting the most exciting writers and literary voices to Paisley. It’s great to have Jess on board and we’re looking forward to revealing the programme in the months ahead.
“We’re excited to welcome authors and audiences to our re-imagined spaces.”
Paisley Book Festival is seeking creative and inclusive contributions and ideas for events to be part of the programme for the 2024 Festival, with an Open Call for event proposals. The Festival seeks to showcase local writers, groups, and other contributors, and provide opportunities to develop local talent.
Here are some ways you could get involved:
BE A GROUP HOST / CONTRIBUTOR - are you a Renfrewshire based community and /or cultural organisation, project, or initiative that has an idea for an event to be part of the Paisley Book Festival programme?
BE A PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTOR - are you a Scottish writer / artist / creative / organisation with an idea or current strand of activity that fits the remit of the Paisley Book Festival? We welcome submissions from creatives working in a variety of
disciplines.
Proposals can be made until 8 December 2023. More details can be found at www.paisleybookfest.com
To celebrate the Home Release of Paddington in Peru, Marston's has created a limited-edition marmalade-inspired children's menu, which will be available in over 250 Marston's pubs nationwide!
READ MORECommunities across Scotland are being invited to make a visible show of support for LGBTQ+ young people this Purple Friday.
READ MOREThe Gaelic language is set to be celebrated around the world in less than two weeks' time as Seachdain na Gàidhlig, World Gaelic Week, gets set to return from 24th February - 2nd March.
READ MORETHE organisation behind one of Scotland's most historic travel traditions is calling for young people to join its board as it seeks to capitalise on a surge in interest amongst Gen Z travellers.
READ MOREHere's everything you need to know about the biggest show of its kind in Scotland!
READ MOREAward winning authors, a former SAS soldier, along with HR leaders from Scotland’s top employers are among the speakers for the CIPD Scotland Annual Conference, 2025.
READ MOREBraehead Shopping Centre has announced a year of exceptional success reflected in its 2024 performance – showing significant YoY growth in footfall.
READ MOREThis March, Dobbies Garden Centres is offering a new hands-on Mother's Day experience, combining a luxury Afternoon Tea with a seasonal planting workshop.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is offering great value entertainment for families this February half term.
READ MOREThe 2025 Paisley 10k and Fun Run will see thousands taking to the streets when the event returns to the town on Sunday 17th August.
READ MOREitison Us have thousands of free respite experiences available for small Scottish charities.
READ MOREPavilion Festival has today announced the huge lineup for its third year on Ayr Beach with James, Annie Mac, Happy Mondays, Ewan McVicar, Ben Hemsley and more playing live!
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland has launched an appeal to support emergency work needed to deal with the devastating destruction caused by Storm Éowyn.
READ MOREScotland’s favourite out-of-this-world event, Galactic Carnival, is preparing to launch in Glasgow this spring, promising an intergalactic adventure packed with thrills!
READ MORENew artificial sports pitches will be built in Renfrewshire as part of further £800,000 investment by Renfrewshire Council in outdoor sports facilities.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland has partnered with Andy The Highlander to create an Enchanted Map of Scotland's most enchanted locations.
READ MOREScottish hospitality group, Signature, has launched an innovative new digital loyalty scheme to help cost-conscious customers save money dining out.
READ MORERenfrewshire’s annual memorial event for those who have lost their lives to suicide was held last week.
READ MORETop amateurs and handicap golfers can now sign up for one or more of Scottish Golf's 33 championships in a packed 2025 schedule.
READ MORELive Music Now Scotland is delighted to announce a funding award of £150,000 from Elizabeth Lornie's Charitable Trust.
READ MOREPavilion Festival Presents: Ewan McVicar B2B Ben Hemsley, special guest Annie Mac, along with DJ Seinfeld, Sally C, Robert Hood (Floorplan) and more on Saturday 3rd May!
READ MOREBBC Scotland's topical TV programme Debate Night returns this month and they are searching for people to be part of the big studio audience.
READ MORESpearheaded by independent Glasgow-based design studio, Graven, the renovation will see a complete transformation and expansion of one of Scotland’s most established heritage hotels.
READ MOREVue venues across Scotland will be showcasing a mixture of the latest big screen blockbusters from China as well as an anniversary screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres’ popular Little Seedlings Club and Grow How workshops return for February, inviting gardeners and families to get hands-on at these free sessions.
READ MOREDog owners making an environmental New Year Resolution have boosted the ranks of the “PAWS ON PLASTIC’ charity to 27,000.
READ MOREIRN-BRU and YO! are reimagining Burns Suppers, teaming up to fuse sushi with haggis to help Glaswegians celebrate Scotland's National Day with a 2025 twist.
READ MOREWorks are set to get underway to create a new activity and community space within Ferguslie Park.
READ MOREThe Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show is delighted to announce Border Caravans as the new headline sponsor for this year's event.
READ MOREKibble Adoption, the newly launched service from the children's care charity, is inviting people to join them for an event that highlights the benefits of adoption for both parents and children.
READ MORE