Sheffield’s literary festival is launched

WRITERS, broadcasters and journalists such as Kate Adie, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Roddy Doyle and Dan Snow are set to appear at this year’s Off the Shelf literary festival in Sheffield.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Sep 2013, 17:50 BST
Jackie Kay at the launch eventJackie Kay at the launch event
Jackie Kay at the launch event

The festival was officially launched at the city’s Crucible Theatre today, with appearances from guest curator Jackie Kay, author Gavin Extence and city-based poet Helen Mort, who has recently published a collection titled Divison Street.

Ms Kay said: “I am delighted to be the first woman curator for Off the Shelf.

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“The theme of my curation is ‘outside’, a mixture of art, cinema, politics and poetry.

Jackie Kay at the launch eventJackie Kay at the launch event
Jackie Kay at the launch event

“I like literature to reach out to the world and the concerns of our time, to give people an experience and pleasure.”

The three-week-long festival is set to begin on Saturday, October 12, and will include hundreds of readings, workshops and appearances from well-known authors.

Coun Isobel Bowler said: “We are delighted that so many authors accept our invitations to appear here and we are especially pleased that Jackie Kay agreed to be our guest curator.”

More than 25,000 people attended events at last year’s festival.

Related topics:Sheffield