LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE

Edinburgh International Book Festival Introduces Access Improvements for 2019

Edinburgh International Book Festival today confirmed a range of innovative plans to make it easier for people with a variety of access needs to enjoy visiting the Festival this summer.

Edinburgh International Book Festival Introduces Access Improvements for 2019

Article Source: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Last Updated: 10 July 2019 16:17

Edinburgh International Book Festival today confirmed a range of innovative plans to make it easier for people with a variety of access needs to enjoy visiting the Festival this summer. With the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery and House of Hearing, the Book Festival is building on the award-winning improvements made over previous years, doubling the number of captioned and BSL interpreted events, improving wheelchair accessibility around the Book Festival village, creating special events for children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities and designating a number of events as Pay What You Can.

Sophie Moxon, Executive Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival said “Making the Book Festival welcoming and accessible for all our visitors, whatever their needs or means, is extremely important to us. Whether you’re coming to an event, to browse our bookshops, or just to enjoy the sunshine in the Gardens the Book Festival is a friendly space to visit with welcoming staff and events and activities to suit everyone. We are immensely proud to have won the Euan’s Guide Accessible Tourism Award for Best Pop Up Venue for the last three years and strive to keep improving every year.”

New innovations for 2019 include a wheelchair ramp from street level to provide easy access to Charlotte Square Gardens, and two new members of the Book Festival team based at the Information Desk in the Entrance Tent who will liaise directly with any visitors with additional needs and provide any assistance required. A Changing Places accessible toilet will be available in Charlotte Square Gardens alongside disabled toilets in both the Gardens and on George Street. Additional baby changing facilities have also been provided in close proximity to the new interactive children’s area and bi-lingual events for younger readers in Gaelic/English and Polish/English have also been added to the programme for the first time.

In previous years the Book Festival has included Captioned and British Sign Language interpreted events and in 2019 there will be twice as many with twelve BSL Interpreted events scheduled in the Adult programme and three in the Baillie Gifford Children’s programme. These currently include Ian Rankin, Ruth Davidson and Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon however BSL interpretation can be requested (before 26 July) for any event in the programme. In addition, fourteen events across the Adult programme including those featuring Sofie Hagen, Benjamin Zephaniah and Victoria Hislop, and four in the Children’s programme including Clare Balding and Elmer’s Big Birthday with David McKee, will be captioned and three will be both BSL interpreted and captioned – Julian Clary & David Roberts, Mark Haddon and Sue Perkins. There are infrared hearing systems in almost all theatres and visitors can borrow headsets free of charge.

The 2019 programme will also see several events tailored specifically for children and adults with learning disabilities including a free and drop-in Sensory Storytelling day at the Festival’s Story Box, and an interactive session with Mel Darbon whose wonderful book Rosie Loves Jack is told from the perspective of a girl with Downs Syndrome. An additional event, organised in collaboration with PAMIS (Promoting a more inclusive society), ARC Scotland (Association for Real Change) and NIN (National Involvement Network) will feature author Philip Ardagh and a host of sensory elements as Philip brings his characters Stick and Fetch, two unusual detectives, to life. Philip will be recreating this event in the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme for pupils of all ages with additional needs.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We are incredibly proud that as a result of funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery that even more people will be able to easily access the Book Festival space in Charlotte Square Gardens and George Street enabling them to join the almost 260,000 visitors who enjoy the tented village each year.”

Twenty events across the 2019 Book Festival programme have been designated as Pay What You Can, a pricing structure designed to help make the Book Festival accessible for those with limited means. While most tickets are priced at £12, for Pay What You Can events audience members can choose to pay an amount anywhere between £0 and £25. Those who elect to pay more for their tickets are generously supporting the Festival’s efforts to provide financial flexibility for those who most need it.

Other innovations for 2019 include a new online film giving guidance on how to visit the Book Festival for those who may be nervous about coming to the Festival for the first time, an Easy Read Guide, noise-reducing ear defenders and Additional Needs badges for those with additional or hidden needs.

Details of all the above can be found on the Access page of the Book Festival website: www.edbookfest.co.uk/visiting-the-festival/access

The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from 10 to 26 August 2019 in Charlotte Square Gardens and the West End of George Street in the heart of the city. The Festival village, and all venues, bars, bookshops and cafes are all fully accessible. The Book Festival is free to enter, and while most events do require a ticket, there are free events throughout the day from Ten at Ten first thing in the morning to Unbound with Edinburgh Gin at the end of the evening. The full programme is available on the website - www.edbookfest.co.uk – and tickets are on sale online, by phone 0345 373 5888 or in person at The Hub, Castlehill until Friday 5 August, when the Book Festival Box Office opens in George Street.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Elaine C. Smith joins the star cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Edinburgh

Elaine C. Smith joins the star cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Edinburgh

Elaine C. Smith will play the role of The Childcatcher in the new production of the most fantasmagorical musical of all time, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, when it comes to Edinburgh Playhouse!

READ MORE
Historic sites across Scotland get ready to reopen their doors

Historic sites across Scotland get ready to reopen their doors

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that over twenty sites across the country are set to reopen their doors to visitors this weekend.

READ MORE
Diabetes Scotland will host a virtual event for young people 11 to 25 living with type 1 diabetes

Diabetes Scotland will host a virtual event for young people 11 to 25 living with type 1 diabetes

Join Diabetes Scotland for a virtual event about an exciting new programme supporting children and young people 11 - 25 living with type 1 diabetes - Together Type 1.

READ MORE
Dog Friendly Brunch Spot Set to Open its Doors in Edinburgh

Dog Friendly Brunch Spot Set to Open its Doors in Edinburgh

Sip & Bark, a vibrant dog-friendly brunch spot, is delighted to announce its grand opening next month in Raeburn Place, Stockbridge.

READ MORE
Easter Family Activities at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Easter Family Activities at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Come along to the Palace of Holyroodhouse this Easter for a range of family activities! £1 Gallery tickets will also be available to those receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits

READ MORE
Join The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the joy of adventure through Journeys

Join The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the joy of adventure through Journeys

This August, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will welcome guests from around the world to experience its new Show, Journeys.

READ MORE
Easter at St James Quarter Edinburgh

Easter at St James Quarter Edinburgh

Looking for an egg-stravagnza this Easter weekend? St James Quarter is giving guests the chance to win a host of foodie prizes, plus enjoy a basketful of family fun in the Quarter.

READ MORE
Spring at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Spring at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

From Easter Brunch to Kids Easter Egg Hunt, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy this Spring at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh!

READ MORE
Edinburgh Playhouse celebrates Creative Learning initiatives this World Theatre Day

Edinburgh Playhouse celebrates Creative Learning initiatives this World Theatre Day

To marks World Theatre Day, Edinburgh Playhouse is highlighting the wonderful Creative Learning projects and initiatives that they have launched since Katie Mitchell was appointed in September 2023.

READ MORE
Iconic Noughties stars make cheeky comeback to launch limited edition IRN BRU flavours

Iconic Noughties stars make cheeky comeback to launch limited edition IRN BRU flavours

Noughties stars The Cheeky Girls, Gareth Gates and S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh have taken a sip back in time to mark the release of IRN-BRU's new 2000s-inspired flavours!

READ MORE
Edinburgh favourite Kilted Donut bring their US inspired treats to Bonnie & Wild for Easter extravaganza

Edinburgh favourite Kilted Donut bring their US inspired treats to Bonnie & Wild for Easter extravaganza

Visitors to Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild are in for a sweet treat during the Easter holidays as the popular Food Hall hosts an exclusive pop-up with renowned local bakery Kilted Donut.

READ MORE
Enjoy an Eggcellent Easter Break with Macdonald Hotels

Enjoy an Eggcellent Easter Break with Macdonald Hotels

Macdonald Hotels, one of the UK’s most popular independent hotel groups, invites you to join them for an Easter break to remember.

READ MORE
Free activities this Easter at Dobbies

Free activities this Easter at Dobbies

Dobbies is welcoming families along to 68 of its stores this Easter to enjoy an array of free activities, including its Little Seedlings Club workshop and Easter Holiday sessions.

READ MORE
Matt Cardle to Play Shakespeare in & Juliet at the Edinburgh Playhouse

Matt Cardle to Play Shakespeare in & Juliet at the Edinburgh Playhouse

Multi-platinum selling recording artist and award-winning West End actor, Matt Cardle, will play the role of Shakespeare in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of & Juliet.

READ MORE
Deadline looms for 30th Scottish Thistle Awards public nominations

Deadline looms for 30th Scottish Thistle Awards public nominations

The search is on to find the best of the best in Scottish tourism as the Scottish Thistles Awards returns.

READ MORE
Fayre Play Celebrates First Birthday by giving away Incredible Prizes Across Edinburgh

Fayre Play Celebrates First Birthday by giving away Incredible Prizes Across Edinburgh

Fayre Play Edinburgh is gearing up to celebrate its first birthday in style by giving away £1000 worth of prizes through an exciting city-wide Duck Hunt this Easter!

READ MORE
Judy Murray to get tails wagging at Corgi Derby

Judy Murray to get tails wagging at Corgi Derby

Judy Murray OBE will start the third annual Corgi Derby – the popular “four-legged sprint with a difference” that kicks off The Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday at Musselburgh Racecourse.

READ MORE
Easter Bank Holiday Celebrations at Gusto Italian

Easter Bank Holiday Celebrations at Gusto Italian

Gusto Italian invites guests to celebrate their bank holiday with a bottomless brunch and an Easter egg hunt.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Tastes The Tingle As Unique Shot Launches

Edinburgh Tastes The Tingle As Unique Shot Launches

WATTSHOT, the premium shot company, has landed in Edinburgh with the first ever gin designed to be drunk as a shot!

READ MORE
Eat Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Eat Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

On Saturday 30th March, start your Easter Weekend right by fuelling up on Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh's all-time breakfast favourites, featuring a complementary visit from the Easter Bunny.

READ MORE
Georgian fashions and majestic paintings go on display as The Kings Gallery reopens

Georgian fashions and majestic paintings go on display as The Kings Gallery reopens

A sword made for George IV’s historic visit to Edinburgh and other rare surviving items of Georgian clothing are among almost 100 works from the Royal Collection that go on show from today.

READ MORE
Springfest is back this April... with all things foodie as well as a host of entertainment and things to do!

Springfest is back this April... with all things foodie as well as a host of entertainment and things to do!

This year's FREE Springfest is playing host to two great Scottish chefs – Niall Murray and Rohan Wadke, who will inspire visitors with their FREE cooking demonstrations.

READ MORE
Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter break at Vue

Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter break at Vue

A host of brand-new family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the holidays.

READ MORE
Six by Nico announce New York themed menu

Six by Nico announce New York themed menu

Six by Nico's upcoming menu promises to take guests on a quintessential New York gastronomic excursion.

READ MORE
A taste of what is to come at Paisley Food and Drink Festival

A taste of what is to come at Paisley Food and Drink Festival

Spring is in the air and with it comes the return of one of Scotland's largest outdoor food and drink festivals to Paisley!

READ MORE
Fhior joins forces with Pomelo for a special Scottish Asian influenced pop up

Fhior joins forces with Pomelo for a special Scottish Asian influenced pop up

Two neighbourhood restaurants - Fhior on Broughton Street and Pomelo from Sciennes Road - are teaming up on Sunday 21st April to bring a fusion of their cuisines to Edinburgh city centre.

READ MORE
Award winning performance Pain and I returns to tour Scotland

Award winning performance Pain and I returns to tour Scotland

Award-winning performance Pain and I by Sarah Hopfinger, about living with chronic pain, and moving with care, returns to tour Scotland.

READ MORE
Spring screening for theatre lovers at Vue Edinburgh Omni & Vue Edinburgh Ocean

Spring screening for theatre lovers at Vue Edinburgh Omni & Vue Edinburgh Ocean

Theatre lovers have a lot to celebrate this World Theatre Day (27 March), with Vue screening some of the UK’s best stage productions throughout spring.

READ MORE
Edinburgh International Childrens Festival 2024 programme revealed

Edinburgh International Childrens Festival 2024 programme revealed

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival launched its programme today, with an exciting line up of performances.

READ MORE
Award winning tour operator expands to Scotland

Award winning tour operator expands to Scotland

Taste & Tour have announced their expansion into Scotland, initially offering public tours in Edinburgh and corporate experiences across the central belt.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Hamilton
The multi award-winning cultural phenomenon 'Hamilton' is touring the UK for the very first time and is coming to the Festival Theatre for a 9 week season from 28th February 2024!
Taylor’s Of Edinburgh Present: Dalkeith Mega Value Carnival
Taylor's Of Edinburgh return to Kings Park, Dalkeith with their Mega Value Fun Fair from Friday 22nd March to Monday 1st April!
The Take That Experience
The Take That Experience, the UK's leading Take That tribute act head to Edinburgh's La Belle Angele on 26th July.
A Play, A Pie and A Pint
A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns for 2024.
Cast
Cast bring their 2024 Autumn Tour to La Belle Angele on Thursday 3rd October!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall