Accolade for book festival

[John Dean]

I am delighted that Wigtown Book Festival in Dumfries and Galloway has been named as Scotland’s top cultural event of the year just as preparations get under way for the 20th annual event in September.

The award was given as part of the Scottish Cultural Awards, described as the country’s Oscars, with the winners being announced at a major event in Glasgow.The awards are organised by the Sunday Herald in association with Edinburgh Napier University.

Adrian Turpin, artistic director of the Wigtown Book Festival, was quoted as saying: "It’s great to have this recognition just as we get ready for September’s 20th festival. “The years have seen it grow into a much loved part of Scotland’s cultural calendar which audiences love to return to time and time again because it offers such a brilliant chance to hear superb national and international writers in a welcoming atmosphere, all set in one of the country’s most beautiful regions.”

The festival has welcomed audiences of more than 220,000 and last year it generated an estimated £3 million for the regional economy.

The festival programme will be unveiled at the beginning of August and you can subscribe to receive the programme at

wigtownbookfestival.com  

For more about the results see http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/cultureawards-2/