Achi news desk-
It will operate on a much smaller scale than usual, with a number of independent events taking place throughout the year, rather than over a period of ten days as it did last year when around 175 authors appeared in more than 120 events.
The funding has also secured this year’s Wee Write, the book festival for children and young people.
READ MORE: Aye Write book festival canceled after funding request rejected
Events include appearances by Hollywood star Alan Cumming, award-winning novelist Lionel Shriver and a chat event with Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid.
Last month, Glasgow Life, organizers of the festival said they had been forced to cancel after a bid to secure £77,500 from Creative Scotland was rejected.
At the time, the arm’s-length organization run by the council said the delivery of the festival was entirely “dependent on securing external funding.”
Without the money from the funding body they had no choice but to cancel this year’s events.
The news was greeted with disappointment by writers and book lovers.
Douglas Stuart, the award-winning author of Shuggie Bain, said it was “unacceptable” that there might not be a literary festival in his home city of Glasgow.
Taking X for the first time in a year, the author said Aye Write “isn’t just about one city or one festival, it’s about a nation’s pride in its art.”
“It’s about working class access to literature – and don’t be proud here: working class people are vital to Scottish literature. Get fed up with yersels. And let Glasgow be great,” he said.
Aye Write is not just one city or one festival, it is about a nation’s pride in its art. It’s about working-class access to literature – and don’t be coy here: working-class people are vital to Scottish literature.
Get fed up with yersels. And let Glasgow be great.
— Douglas Stuart (@Doug_D_Stuart) March 30, 2024
The first confirmed event in the new program is an event with writer Damian Barr and playwright James Ley.
They have collaborated on adapting Mr Barr’s biography, Maggie & Me, for the stage.
The two men will be chatting with Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of the National Theater of Scotland on 30 April.
GT Karber, whose “Murdle” books have been popular with puzzle fans, will be at Waterstones on 16 May.
LBC broadcaster and author of How They Broke Britain, James O’Brien, will be in conversation with Catherine Salmond, Editor of the Herald on 17 May at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The event with Ms McDermid and the former prime minister will be held at The Old Fruitmarket on 21 May.
David Nicholls, whose books include One Day, recently adapted by Netflix, will be at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on 14 June.
Mr Cumming will reunite with his former double act partner Forbes Masson for an event at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on 8 August.
Tickets are expected to go on sale at 10am today.
Organizers say more events are expected.
Wee Write will go ahead in the fall of this year “on a smaller scale” with more details “available in the coming months.”
READ MORE: The Aye Write book festival must be saved – and quickly
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Aye Write is a very popular festival, which is evident from the support received over the past few weeks. The generous donation from the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation means it can continue to have a positive impact on Glaswegians and people across Scotland.”
A spokesperson for the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation said: “We are delighted to be able to support Aye Write to host a program of fantastic events in 2024.
“It was unthinkable that Aye Write should be silenced until next year. Fortunately, the donation means that will not be the case.”
Glasgow Life has said it is continuing to develop a multi-year funding application to Creative Scotland for future festivals.
They say that if this application is successful then Aye Write should return in full in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
But the body that funds the arts has warned that money is scarce with only around 30% of applications to their open fund likely to be successful.
Last week, Susan Aitken, the SNP leader of Glasgow City Council, hit out at Creative Scotland, saying the city is getting no significant support from the national agencies based in Edinburgh.
Writing in a column for our sister paper, The Glasgow Times, the councilor said: “Aye Write is a perfect example of this: an event of national cultural significance, rooted in our city and its settings and relying on our expertise for its success.
“But it’s also an example of how Glasgow does so much of the heavy lifting ourselves, with relatively little support from governments and national agencies. Glasgow punches well above our weight within Scottish culture and it’s about time it got the recognition it deserves.”
Mr Weir and his then wife, Christine, won £161m on the EuroMillions in July 2011.
He died following kidney complications in December 2019, aged 72.
Shortly before his death, he helped save Partick Thistle, brokering a secret deal worth £2 million, which saw him take over the reins at the Glasgow club, with his majority stake of 55% a gift to his supporters.
