In its 15th anniversary year, Wimbledon BookFest announces programme for Sunrise Festival – the first of two multi-day events on Wimbledon Common this summer
Wimbledon BookFest is marking 15 years as London’s leading literary festival, and as a significant arts provider in the locality. It was also one of the few literary festivals to continue to safely deliver in-person events throughout the pandemic.
In 2022, Wimbledon BookFest will stage two multi-day festivals: Sunrise Festival (9 – 15 June 2022) and Sunset Festival (22 – 25 September). Each will feature BookFest’s characteristic mix of high-profile speakers alongside diverse rising stars and local talent.
With a lifting of Covid restrictions, Wimbledon BookFest’s offer is fast returning to 2019 levels, and the marquee village on Wimbledon Common takes an exciting new format to offer an enhanced experience for audiences. In addition to its two main event spaces, the site will include a bookshops tent for author signings, and outdoors spaces where visitors can enjoy a coffee, light refreshments or a glass of wine. On-site partners this year includes Festival bookseller Waterstones and official bar and cafe partner Catered by Justin alongside exhibitors Côte Brasserie, Prospect Magazine and Freddie’s Flowers.
Sunrise Festival comprises more than 50 events over 7 days, with award-winning fiction, climate change, and the war in Ukraine being dominant themes. June also sees the return of Wimbledon BookFest’s programme of events for schools – 5000 students from south London and Surrey are expected to visit over 5 days for events with a stellar-line up of children’s writers including Lenny Henry, Lemn Sissay, Elle McNicoll, Jean Menzies and Simon Farnaby.
Fiona Razvi, Wimbledon BookFest’s Director said: “Wimbledon BookFest is delighted to be marking its 15th anniversary as London’s leading literary festival. We aim to create the space to reflect and discuss the big issues of the day, as well giving time out to enjoy and learn new things, and this is reflected in our programme for Sunrise. We’re also pleased to see the return of our full schools’ programme in June, for which we expect 5000 students over 5 days. 100 schools in London and Surrey now take part in our creative projects every year, an activity very much at the heart of the Festival.”
Wimbledon BookFest returns in 2022 thanks to support from Principal Partner University of Roehampton; Lead Sponsor Baillie Gifford; and the support of community sponsors and benefactors.
Liam Hurley, Director of Strategy and External Relations at the University of Roehampton, Principal Partner, said: “Wimbledon BookFest provides a wide range of opportunities through both the festival, and its outreach work with local schools, on which we collaborate, to enhance educational opportunities for young people from all backgrounds. We look forward to supporting the festival for another summer, and are grateful for the opportunities our partnership provides to Roehampton students through valuable work placement opportunities.”
Sunrise Festivalgoes on sale to BookFest Friends on Friday 22 April at 10am, and on general sale on Friday 29 April, 10am. For further information visit wimbledonbookfest.org
Download the Sunrise Festival programme (pdf) >
About Wimbledon BookFest
Wimbledon BookFest is a leading London literary festival founded in 2006 by Fiona Razvi and Tony Kane. BookFest’s aim is to develop the role of arts and culture in the area, working with community and arts partners, schools, libraries and businesses.
Wimbledon BookFest was one of the few festivals to continue to deliver live, in-person festivals throughout the pandemic – thanks to its adapted marquee village on Wimbledon Common, and the huge adaptability shown by BookFest’s team, speakers and audiences. In 2021, Wimbledon BookFest reached audiences of 37,000 across its live events for the public and schools, combined with online viewers of its live streams and recordings.
Wimbledon BookFest is committed to challenging underrepresentation in publishing, and giving a platform for emerging voices to share their stories and ideas. Wimbledon BookFest’s year-round education programme, aims to harness the power and joy of reading and writing to improve educational opportunities for young Londoners – from early primary-aged children through to sixth formers, and across all socio-economic groups. Over 100 schools from the state, independent and SEN sectors in London and Surrey have taken part in BookFest activities to date.
wimbledonbookfest.org | Twitter @wimbookfest | Instagram @wimbookfest | Facebook wimbledonbookfest
About Principal Partner The University of Roehampton
The University of Roehampton, London is an established international higher-education institution providing a high-quality learning and research experience with the aim of developing personal growth and driving social change. The University has a proud and distinguished history dating back to the 1840s and it was one of the first institutions in the UK to admit women to its colleges of higher education. This tradition of commitment to equality continues to be part of the ethos of the University, which has one of the most diverse and thriving communities of students in the UK; its 9,000 student body includes international students from over 146 countries. Today the University is renowned for its broad range of expertise across teacher training, business, social sciences, the arts and humanities, as well as human and life sciences, with world leading and internationally recognised research in these fields.
Now in their fifth year as Principal Partner of Wimbledon BookFest, University of Roehampton offers a partnership sharing knowledge and bridging links between young people and higher education. University of Roehampton supports live events each year at the public festivals on Wimbledon Common as well as the annual Robert Graves Prize.
About Lead Sponsor Baillie Gifford
Baillie Gifford is Wimbledon BookFest’s Lead Sponsor and supports the large event space, the Baillie Gifford Marquee.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Wimbledon BookFest: Sunrise Festival
Thu 9 – Wed 15 June 2022
Download the Sunrise Festival programme (pdf)
On sale to BookFest Friends: Fri 22 April, 10am
On general sale: Fri 29 April, 10am
Book online at: wimbledonbookfest.org
Thursday 9 June 2022
6.00pm Martin Bell & Christina Lamb
6.30pm Louise Kennedy & Lucy Caldwell
8.00pm Justin Webb
Friday 10 June 2022
10.30am Meditation Workshop with Jo Bowlby
5.00pm The Commoners with Nick Manning
5.45pm Jane Austen – Merton Music Foundation
7.00pm Iain Dale
8.30pm Film Screening
Saturday 11 June 2022
10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm 52 Ways to Walk
10.30am Tom Percival
11.00am Creative Writing Workshop
11.00am Michelle Paver
12.00pm Tutankhamun with Toby Wilkinson
1.30pm Melissa Hemsley & Anthony Warner
1.45pm Susie Alegre & Sam Fowles
3.00pm Heather Morris
3.30pm Climate Challenge
5.00pm Phil Wang
5.30pm Jhalak Prize Writers with Mona Arshi & Nikesh Shukla
8.00pm Andy Hamilton
Sunday 12 June 2022
10.30am Charlie P. Brooks & Beanstalk Pony
10.45am Ben Okri
11.00am Wimbledon & Slavery Walk
12.00pm Melvyn Bragg
12.30pm Mark Lowcock
1.30pm Karen Armstrong
2.00pm Afghan Women: My Pen is the Wing of a Bird
3.00pm Ronnie Archer-Morgan
3.30pm William & Jane Morris
4.30pm Susanna Clarke
5.00pm Jason Cowley
6.30pm Julian Barnes
Monday 13 June 2022
10.30am Life Drawing Workshop with Jake Spicer
5.00pm Rupal Patel & Jack Meaning
6.30pm Russia & Ukraine with Prospect Magazine
6.45pm Switchcraft: Mental Agility
8.00pm Tina Brown
Tuesday 14 June 2022
10.30am Photography Masterclass
5.00pm Mary Lawson
6.30pm Jim Al-Khalili & James Poskett
6.30pm Tim Marshall
8.00pm Wimbledon Crime & Thrillers
8.00pm Oliver Bullough
Wednesday 15 June 2022
10.30am Botanical Workshop & Walk – Leif Bersweden
6.00pm Julia Samuel
6.30pm Jennifer Saint & Elodie Harper
7.45pm Abdulrazak Gurnah
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