Sturminster Newton Literary Festival- February 2025
The programme is falling into place.
Planning for the 2025 Sturminster Newton Literary Festival is in full flow. This year, we’re looking forward to a range of talks from writers with a Dorset and Wessex connection. The festival is from 6th-15th June. Look out for talks by crime writers and Hardy authors and several non-fiction events. We also have writing workshops, walks, and a cultural event in a packed programme.
Our 2025 programme will be launched in March- all will be revealed! Friends of Sturlitfest will have a priority and 20% discounted booking period, followed by subscribers (we will also give our mailing list subscribers a 10% discount). Tickets will then go on sale to the general public.
If you would like printed programmes sent to your business or reading groups, email us at info@sturlitfest.com.
Friends of Sturlitfest
Our new Friends of Sturlitfest was recently launched to support the festival programme. Although we’re still working on benefits, already anyone signing up as a friend gets:
Advance delivery of the festival programme to your door
Advance priority booking of tickets
(including for those sell-out walks and workshops)Discount on ticket purchases (20%)
Opportunity to become involved with the festival.
Vote on a sponsored Friends event.
As the friend's scheme develops, we will add more benefits. Membership costs £10 a year (subscriptions run from January to December). For further details, email info@sturlitfest.com.
Writing Competition 2025
On World Book Day, we’ll launch a writing competition for Dorset residents and schools on a theme of Home. Look out for details in the next newletter- if you would like details emailed to you, let us know.
Tea with Barnes
Whilst up and down the country, suppers take place each year to mark the birthday of Robert Burns, since 2017 Artsreach and The Ridgeway Singers & Band have instead celebrated the works of Dorset’s own dialect poet, William Barnes, through music, song and poetry in ‘Tea with William Barnes’. Now a popular annual fixture in the Artsreach calendar, the 2025 event takes place at Sturminster Newton Exchange at 3pm on Sunday 23 February – and tickets are selling quickly!
Dorset Artsreach are also partnering with Pageant Productions to live stream the event, enabling those who are unable to attend in person to join in from the comfort of their own home. In previous years, people have joined us online not only from Dorset, but from right across the UK, and even from overseas! If the in person programme is sold out- do join by live stream.
Blandford Literary Festival
Saturday 8th March 2025 from 9am-6.30pm at the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion in Blandford Forum. Key speakers: *Kate Adie* (journalist and war correspondent) and *Juliet Campbell*, one of the UK's first female ambassadors.
Also talks and workshops by Finola Brennan, May Ellis, Nicki Greenham, Felice Hardy, Paula Harmon, Alice May, Melanie Ann Vance.
Free tea, coffee etc will be provided during the breaks. Complementary light refreshments will be available at lunchtime, or bring your own lunch and stay to network, chat and buy books.
The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is Accelerate Action, so we will also have information stands about how to support women and girls to realise their potential and feel safe and secure.
There will be a chance for attendees to celebrate who has inspired and supported them and take part if they wish. If you just wish to sit back and listen – that’s fine too. This is not just for women – everyone is welcome.
Tickets are available for the morning, the afternoon or all day. EARLY BIRD TICKETS (£12 for half a day or £20 for a whole day) are available until 15th February 2025 when prices will go up to £15 for a half day or £25 for a whole day). The prices will not come down. More info and tickets
https://blandfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/international-womens-day-2025-a-celebration/