Readers And Writers Festival Coming To Denman Island

We're a little more than a week away from the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival.

We're a little more than a week away from the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival.

Co-Chair Stewart Goodings says critical to the Festival is getting authors from far afield to Denman Island.

He says support from BC Ferries’ Community Investment program, which provides grants for travel expenses to invited authors, are essential to the success of the tightly-budgeted event.

Running for 15 years and created to engage and support BC coastal communities and the employees who live in those areas, the program identifies social investments that make a difference in communities, with a focus on aiding and promoting sporting and cultural events.

The Community Investment program supports approximately 500 requests for support annually.

At the Denman festival, the authors arrive on a Thursday evening and stay for almost three days, billeted in someone’s home. Each gives one solo performance and participates in a panel discussion with other writers.

Throughout, authors take bike tours and circulate in the community, enjoying meals, coffee and drinks with locals.

Goodings say the festival gets bigger every year, thanks to word of mouth.

He notes many authors agree to participate because they’ve heard from others who had good experiences on Denman.

The Festival runs from July 15th to 17th, for details go to https://denmanislandwritersfestival.com/