York Literature Festival is having a moment. The 2014 festival, which features Germaine Greer, John Humphrys, Roger McGough and many more, has sold or allocated over 2,600 tickets in ten weeks – its best ever performance.
Gross ticket sales are set to reach £20,000 for the first time, and eight events in the festival programme are now sold out.
“It’s been a fantastic response,” said festival director Miles Salter. “I think it proves the quality of the 2014 programme.
“We tried to create a diverse programme with something for everybody. It’s also due to improved marketing.
“We have been working with a wide variety of local organisations such as York St John University, York Theatre Royal, Visit York, St Peter’s School, York Press, BBC Radio York and YorkMix which has helped us reach a wider audience this time.
“Interest in the festival is developing, which is exciting.
“We also had a great response to our poetry competition, run in conjunction with YorkMix, with 800 entries coming in.”
Miles said hits on the York Literature Festival website were also up on previous years.
The Lit Fest began in 2007 and is in its seventh year of production. The 2014 event is being sponsored by York St John University and additional funding comes from the Arts Council, Clore Duffield Trust and Community York Fund.
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