What We Do

As well as the annual Wigtown Book Festival, we deliver a programme of literature development activities across Dumfries & Galloway.

We develop new audiences, help writers fulfil their potential, support the region’s literature sector and create opportunities for young people to enjoy and learn through writing and storytelling.

This area of the website is being redeveloped and will soon show our projects in more detail. Find a summary of our current projects and partnerships below.

Summary of projects

Wigtown Book Festival

Our flagship 10-day, 250-plus event

Wigtown YA

The largest YA festival of its kind in the UK! 

Education Programme

Bringing more than 2,000 pupils each year to Wigtown Book Festival

Spot Lit

A two-year EU funded project supporting businesses to find new approaches to literary tourism

Big DoG

A new children’s book festival for Dumfries launched in April 2017 

Big Bang

A mini science festival for Wigtown

Regional Mentoring Scheme

One-to-one support for six writers annually in D&G, including adults and young people

Wigtown Poetry Prize

Scotland’s national poetry competition

Galloway Writers’ Room

A central website for writers and readers in D&G www.gallowaywritersroom.co...

Writers’ Gathering D&G

Annual conference for regional writers 

Hooked!

A day-conference for young writers in D&G

Open Book D&G

Project to create sustainable shared reading group for disadvantaged and vulnerable adults 

Southlight Magazine

A writing magazine for D&G www.southlight.ukwriter...

Cultural Tourism Development Project

Two-year EU-funded project piloting new ways to encourage tourism in Scotland’s Book Town

Give Voice

Storytelling in care homes for the elderly

Prison Festival @ HMP Dumfries

10 sessions during Wigtown Book Festival

CPD Storytelling for Librarians

3 sessions delivered annually

Arts Award

Twenty five young people gain recognition each year

The Open Book

A Wigtown bookshop holiday experience