Creating a buzz about festival
BY NEWS REPORTER
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk
Bexley’s first literary festival – Book Buzz – will take place next year
Cabinet member for community safety, environment and leisure Councillor Peter Craske announced the festival on Saturday at an event to celebrate the opening of the new Workary and the end of refurbishment work at Welling Library.
The festival will include visits from authors, illustrators, storytellers, drama and art workshops, creative writing workshops, visits from famous book characters, poetry sessions and much more.
Authors booked during the fortnight include Ben Aaronovitch, Mike Gayle, Alison Weir and Stephen Booth. There will also be a chance to take part in Where’s Wally hunts, a special look into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a visit from the Gruffalo and Peter Rabbit.
There will be sessions on how to self-publish and the chance to try some book illustration skills. Cllr Craske said: “There is something for everyone. We have fiction and non-fiction authors coming to talk about their work alongside visits from some very special book characters and a performance of former Bexley resident Roald Dahl’s The Twits.
“All of it is either free or available for a small fee. This kind of festival is just another reason why our borough deserves to be recognised as London Borough of Culture.
“Winning that accolade would mean even more community events like these for residents and visitors.
“We just need as many people to #backthebexleybid and remember to pick up your festival programme as soon as it is available.”
The programme will be available at www.bexley.gov.uk/libraries and in libraries from January. Some events will be ticket only and spaces can be reserved either online or through a council library once the full programme has been announced.
The council has officially launched its bid to become London’s first borough of culture. If successful, Bexley and another winning borough will be awarded more than £1million from the Mayor of London to shine a spotlight on what makes them special and unique, using creativity and the arts to celebrate their distinctive character.
Visit www.bexleyculture.london to find out how to get involved and #backthebexleybid at @whatsoninbexley. The literary festival will run from February 10 to 24.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ