Founded in 1983, Edinburgh International Book Festival is an
annual festival of words and ideas. We celebrate the power
of books, culture and creativity to challenge, transform and
inspire. We are a powerful forum for public discourse and
the imagination: we create spaces for critical thinking and
nuanced debate across cultural, ethical and political issues,
and shape creative, interactive experiences with the world’s
finest writers and thinkers. We want everyone who joins us
to feel safe to express themselves and take ambitious leaps
of thought in a climate of mutual respect. We are outward
looking and internationalist in our approach. We introduce
audiences to first class work from around the world,
promoting empathy and understanding, and celebrating
Scotland’s writers within the global context. We are
committed to reaching those who face barriers to being part
of the Festival. We integrate creative learning and
community engagement, giving agency to those not always
heard in cultural spaces. We programme high quality events
for schools and children: our schools programme is valued
by teachers for its alignment with the curriculum and impact
on students. After a period of significant instability, we are
regaining organisational and financial equilibrium.
In 2024 we moved to a new long-term home at the
Edinburgh Futures Institute, a foundation for organisational
growth and development. Growing and diversifying
audiences is among our top strategic priorities and is vital to
our success, both to rebuild earned income streams and
widen the conversations we create. We will increase our
emphasis on equality of access, reaching those who cannot
attend through national digital outreach in partnership with
libraries. We continue to aim for best practice and excellence
across our delivery, from sustainability to staff development
and support and will invest in our team and culture to
support this ambition.