New Book Festival Director
New leadership at the Edinburgh Book Festival
Nick Barley has been appointed the new director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF), replacing Catherine Lockerbie who stepped down in July after nine years in the role. Richard Holloway guest-directed the festival in 2009. His most recent role was as executive director at The Lighthouse in Glasgow, Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design.
Susan Rice, chairman of the EIBF said "The Book Festival is pre-eminent among literary festivals around the world. The size and quality of the events, the number of visitors and authors and the extent of public praise all expanded remarkably under Catherine Lockerbie's leadership.
"She leaves a strong legacy. Nick Barley is now just the person to move us forward to the next level altogether."
Barley said: "It is a great honour to be asked to lead the Book Festival into a new era and I am very much looking forward to working with the Festival team to shape the 2010 programme and inviting the authors whose ideas are shaping the way we look at the world to discuss these concepts with our Edinburgh audiences. "
Barley previously ran his own publishing company, August Publications, before becoming editor of The List in 2003, where he introduced and developed the List Edinburgh Festival Guide and Map, the quarterly contemporary art magazine. He also set up The List Festival Writing Awards in association with the Writer's Guild.
The EIBF 2010 will take place 14th August-30th August 2010. The full programme will be released in June 2010.
For more information on the Edinburgh International Book Festival, please CLICK HERE.
(photo credit: Guillem Lopez)
