Aye Write festival to hold pop-up events after cash gift
- Published
Glasgow's Aye Write book festival has announced a series of "pop-up events" after receiving a £65,000 cash gift.
Organisers said the "unexpected donation" had come from the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation - set up by the late Euromillions lottery winner.
Last month Aye Write said the 2024 festival could not go ahead after a £75,000 funding application to Creative Scotland was rejected.
Previously the festival ran for up to two weeks in spring. There are nine individual talks confirmed for 2024 to be held between April and August.
Janey Godley and Nicola Sturgeon have appeared at Aye Write in the past
Guests include radio host James O'Brien, actor Alan Cumming, crime author Val McDermid and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
A spin-off event for children, Wee Write, will also go-ahead in a limited capacity.
A spokesperson for the Colin Weir foundation said it was "unthinkable that Aye Write should be silenced until next year".
The festival's cancellation was branded a damaging loss by authors.
Council leisure body Glasgow Life has provided financial backing since it began in 2005.
When a funding bid was rejected by arts body Creative Scotland in March, Glasgow Life proposed pop-up events instead.
Those plans have now expanded following the additional investment.
Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said there had been an "outpouring of support" in recent weeks.
She added: "The generous donation from the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation means it can continue to have a positive impact on Glaswegians and people throughout Scotland."
Alan Cumming will appear at an Aye Write pop up event
The first talk in the pop up programme will see the authors Damian Barr and James Ley in conversation with Jackie Wylie on 30 April at Glasgow's Michell Library.
Damian Barr said: "I am delighted that some of the events in the Aye Write and Wee Write festivals have been saved.
"Funding for arts festivals is being cut across the board in Scotland. Glasgow needs and deserves better."
Other names set to appear include American writer Lionel Shriver and One Day author David Nicholls.
Alan Cumming will reunite with Forbes Masson, his collaborator on sitcom The High Life, for a show at the Royal Concert Hall on 8 August.
Glasgow Life said it was developing a multi-year funding application to Creative Scotland to secure the festival's return with a full line-up in 2025.