09.04.2025
| We will be offering you a broad range of events and activities, including our Takeover Day at Derby College, Writing Workshops, FREE CivicLab events and an expanded children and families’ programme. We have a few more venues this year, including Little Darley cafe/bar in Darley Abbey.
This year’s Festival Programme cover design is by Abi Scragg, who is in her final year of the BA Illustration degree course at the University of Derby. Abi was a runner-up in last year’s Flash Fiction Illustration competition. You can pick up a copy of the programme from Festival venues and local libraries this week – we will be out distributing them from 7/4/25. |
What you can look forward to
| This year’s programme will include our usual eclectic mix of genres with some highlights being former MP and author Alan Johnson, political commentators and journalists Gabriel Gatehouse, Lucy Mangan, Sam Freedman and James Naughtie, Horrible Histories author Terry Deary, poets Simon Armitage and Hollie McNish, historians Alison Weir, Christian Wolmar and Anne Somerset, Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 shortlistee Chloe Dalton, novelists Sarah Moss, Clare Chambers and Andrew McMillan plus debut novelists and nature writer Simon Barnes. Topics range from conspiracy to cricket and railways to running – we hope you find plenty to interest you. |
| An extra event |
| We have one special event that isn’t included in the printed Festival programme. It was only confirmed after we had gone to print but we are very excited to announce that QUAD have secured a special preview screening of the new film of The Salt Path. This will be held in QUAD on Saturday 24 May at 7.30pm. The film’s premiere will be held the following week, on 30 May, so we feel this is a real coup!
Raynor Winn (and Moth) have joined us at two previous Festivals: first in 2019 to talk about The Salt Path at a sell-out event, and again at our Autumn Edition in 2022. We expect it to sell out quickly! |
How to book
| We hope you enjoy choosing from the events on offer this year. You can book tickets from 10am today (Monday 7 April).
You can book tickets in a number of ways:
To buy tickets online, you will need to log into your account. If you don’t have one, you need to complete a simple form: On this page you will need to enter: If you have forgotten your account password, it is very easy to reset it. As with previous years, to purchase tickets for events taking place at QUAD you will need to log into your QUAD account once you have clicked the booking link on our website. For events held at QUAD you will be able to print off an e-ticket or collect tickets in person. For events booked through the Festival’s website, print your email confirmation which you can use as your ticket at all other venues. We will also have a guest list at these events (not at QUAD and Derby Theatre) of all ticket holders. If you have any problems booking tickets, email: |
|
Just a reminder that there are several ways to enjoy the Festival events. You can buy:
You can buy the Digital Pass and individual recordings online only from the Festival website not from QUAD or Derby Theatre.
| Takeover Day Pass, Sunday 25 May |
|
| Derby Children’s Picture Book Award |
| This year’s winning book, voted for by Derby school children, is Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang. Over 6,500 children in Years 2 and 3 in 61 Derby schools participated in the Award and read the three shortlisted books (pictured here) in March with their class teachers. The Award celebrates books which inspire and reflect modern Britain and that enable children to identify with the book’s characters and stories. We are planning to hold online sessions with the author and illustrator so they can meet the children in the summer term. |
| Flash Fiction Writing Competition winners |
| We were delighted to meet three of the winners of this year’s Flash Fiction Writing competition at our Derby Reads event on Friday night and to present them with their framed bookmarks and book token prizes.
The winner of the Illustration competition (to illustrate all five stories) for students at the University of Derby is Ailija Davidaviciute (pictured here being presented with her framed bookmarks by Festival Patron Liz Fothergill CBE). You can pick up copies of the bookmarks from libraries and venues.
|
| We look forward to seeing you at our Summer Festival
23 May – 1 June Autumn Edition: 14 – 16 November |
Submit your news items to editor@artsderbyshire.org.uk or fill out this news submission form.
You can also register as a member to list your arts business and events in our directory.
Find out what’s on with the Arts Derbyshire newsletter.
Artists, creatives, cultural providers, arts and health specialists – Sign up for one of our professional mailing lists.