Wolverhampton Literature Festival: Crowds of fans turn out for event
Waves of people from across the region united as the Wolverhampton Literature Festival rolled into the city.
Venues across the area were bustling with literature fans who were treated to an incredible mix of almost 100 events.
Award-winning writer and journalist Will Self headlined the celebrations, which spilled into the heart of the city over three days.
The festivities were made possible after Wolverhampton council teamed up with the University of Wolverhampton and the Express & Star.
Express & Star deputy editor Diane Davis said: "We've been really impressed with the fantastic range of events which were on offer during the festival and the great crowds which came along to enjoy them all.
"It's wonderful that the city is getting behind such an important event in Wolverhampton's arts calendar and we can't wait to see what next year's event will entail."
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Revellers had the chance to indulge in a range of workshops, theatrical performances and debates, alongside children's events.
Three themes - music and literature, politics and journalism and community voices - ran throughout the celebrations, which began on Friday.
City landmarks including Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Newhampton Arts Centre, The Slade Rooms, Bantock House and The Grand Theatre opened their doors and welcomed in lively crowds.
It was the second time the city's residents were called on to spend their weekend enjoying events as part of the Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
Councillor John Reynolds, the council's cabinet member for city economy, said: "The pilot literature festival in 2017 was made possible by the generous contributions of artists and local businesses and was a great celebration of literature in our city.
"There was a great variety of entertainment lined up for 2018 and the aim is to build the event over the next five years and make it a permanent fixture in the calendar, after receiving Arts Council England funding up to 2022.”
The council's libraries services won £13,250 of funding from the Arts Council's Grants for Arts programme to help grow this year's festival.
The funding boost means the literature festival is secured for the next four years, with organisers now looking to establish it as a permanent fixture in the city's calendar.
