Programs / Burlington Literary Festival
The Burlington Literary Festival extends its thanks to all of the authors, educators, and presenters, whose efforts combined to make the first festival a success. Equal thanks to those who attended the readings, panels, presentations, and workshops; to those who performed on soapboxes on the street and on the College Street Shuttle; and to the outstanding volunteers who helped in so many ways.
Thousands of people attended the festival. Galway Kinnell, Katherine Paterson and Grace Paley, and Russell Banks filled the downstairs seating in Contois. Our own Vermont writers, who were present in many forms during the three days of the festival, attracted impressively large audiences. Events on Saturday at the Firehouse were so popular that additional chairs had to be rounded up.
Those who filled out evaluation forms had mostly favorable comments and some suggestions for improving the festival in the future. We have been heartened by all of the enthusiastic reactions expressed by those who attended. At the same time, we are listening carefully to input related to scheduling and publicity, among other things, and to ideas for programming for next year.
Above all else, the festival established that the greater Burlington area is home to a community of readers and writers who are not only receptive to such an explosion of literature and word art, but are making known a desire to make the Burlington Literary Festival an annual event.
For more information, contact Burlington City Arts at 802-865-7166.