Funding boost for top literary event

The premier literary event in North Yorkshire has secured thousands of pounds in funding to ensure that it will be staged next year.

The Long Weekend – a four day festival organised by the county council’s library service – has been awarded a grant of more than £25,000 from Arts Council England.

Over the past five years the event has drawn thousands of book lovers to Scarborough and the festival is now able to go ahead next April, with its biggest line-up yet.

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The news comes after the Yorkshire Post revealed last week that Hunmanby Library is facing closure after it emerged plans by the county council to hand over the running of it to the community are currently unworkable.

County Coun Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s executive member for library services, said: “We are thrilled that the Arts Council has recognised the great achievement of The Long Weekend which has become a fixture in many people’s calendar and last year attracted record crowds. Such accolades mean it can only go from strength to strength.”

The award means festival organisers can now work with other partners to promote literature to younger audiences.