Literature Festival Management
Sarah founded Ryedale Book Festival in 2012. She leads a team of committed volunteers who have developed the organisation into a thriving hub for all things book related for their rural community. Now supported by Arts Council England the festival organises literary events throughout the year across the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire using various venues and by working in partnership with schools, other organisations and charities.
She knows how difficult it can be to locate the person who is managing the diary for the artist you wish to invite to your festival, especially during those early years. Books Up North can save you valuable planning time by reaching out to the right publicists or agents on your behalf. She may even be able to secure for you the headline writer of your dreams!
Sarah has experience of commissioning new work to be showcased in your Festival’s programme. She produced a collaborative cross-arts performance for Ryedale Book Festival inspired by the migrating geese that flew over the District each Autumn.
Sarah is willing to support your festival in an advisory capacity so you can quiz her about all aspects of literature festival management and she can offer a book sales service at your events by setting up a pop-up Festival bookshop, ordering the stock and managing the guest author signings. She can chair or host an event with a guest author, train your volunteer team, help you to develop your festival’s brand identity and engage better with your audience.
Please contact Books Up North to find out if she is able to support your festival to achieve its vision.
Send an enquiry
Recommendations:
Sarah was extremely helpful in with advice and suggestions for The Big Malarkey Festival; she has a wealth of contacts and detailed knowledge of everything that goes into making a successful literature event. Her years of experience in publishing and festival management will be invaluable to anyone working with writers or planning events around literature across all age groups. Festival Director, The Big Malarkey
Sarah took on the management and delivery of our 2019 in-school author visits programme at short-notice, picking up work that had been started but needed driving through to completion – not an easy task. Sarah worked with existing partner schools and made new connections, resulting in a programme of primary and secondary schools. We received very positive feedback from publishers on the way in which Sarah looked after the authors during their visits, and great feedback from the schools involved too. At the end of the work Sarah produced a clear and comprehensive report which was invaluable in feeding into our wider evaluation work. Erica Morris, Ilkley Literature Festival
Sarah has an empathic approach with volunteers and makes them feel valued and appreciated. Working with Sarah over the last few years has been so enjoyable for me. Ana Richards, Ryedale Book Festival volunteer.
I’ve known Sarah a number of years and worked in close partnership. She is organised, diligent and professional. Her pop-up bookshops and author signings at my various festival venues are always very well managed. With Sarah you know you’re in safe hands Heather French, Books by the Beach Festival Director