Glasgow University has announced that it will be providing sponsorship for the Aye Write! Book Festival for the next three years.

The festival, established in 2005 and now an annual event, aims to increase the use of libraries, encourage a love of books, reading and writing, boost awareness of the city's writing heritage and contemporary writing, and engage those people who do not normally attend literary festivals.

University of Glasgow Principal, Sir Muir Russell, said: "I am delighted that Glasgow University will be playing a part in such an important and exciting event for Scottish literature. Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, has a strong literary tradition and it is good that events such as the Aye Write! Festival encourage and celebrate new and existing talent in this field.

"Throughout its history Glasgow University has nurtured a great number of Scottish authors and poets, most recently through our acclaimed Creative Writing Masters course. I am particularly glad to see graduates and staff of this course taking part in the festival.

"I look forward to a continuing and productive relationship between the University and the festival over the coming years."

Karen Cunningham, Head of Glasgow Libraries and Director of the festival added: "This is brilliant support from the University of Glasgow and helps make Aye Write an annual celebration. One of the festival's aims is to support Glasgow and Scottish writers. The university's creative writing course is helping to bring forward writers of the highest calibre, many already involved in the festival. We are delighted to have their involvement. We look forward to a long and productive relationship."

Graduates of the University's Creative Writing course (including Louise Welsh, Rodge Glass, Jennifer McCartney and Rachel Seiffert), tutors (including Alan Bissett, Tom Leonard and Laura Marney), course convener, Professor Michael Schmidt, and the University's Writer in Residence, Liz Lochhead, will all be contributing to the festival, as will University of Glasgow Young Alumnus of the Year 2005 Christopher Brookmyre.

Kate Richardson (K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

The University of Glasgow is one of the United Kingdom?s oldest and most prestigious universities, with an international reputation for its research and teaching and an important role in the cultural and commercial life of the country.

Aye Write! started in 2005. The second festival takes place between 16 - 25 February 2007. Dedicated to promoting and celebrating writers and writing, the festival brings together the best authors from around the world. Aye Write! builds on the strong tradition of writing in Scotland and Glasgow especially. It is also committed to the next generation of writers and readers with a free week-long children?s festival for schools. Most of the festival events take place in the Mitchell Library, the largest public reference library in Europe and one of the architectural gems of the city. Aye Write! Bank of Scotland Book Festival is a Glasgow City Council initiative.

Contacts for media:

Kate Richardson, Media Relations Assistant, University of Glasgow, 0141 330 3683, K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

Karen Cunningham, Director of Aye Write! Bank of Scotland Book Festival 0141 287 5114 karen.cunningham@glasgow.gov.uk.

Programme information is available from Andrew Kelly on 0777 893 2778 or at andrew.kelly@businesswest.co.uk.

Images of many of the authors appearing at the festival are available from Melanie Kelly at blcmail@btopenworld.com.

First published: 16 January 2007