THERE are thousands of stories on the streets of Wigtown. And here is another one. It may just be the biggest of the year.
For today Wigtown kicks off its second Scottish Book Town festival. The royal and ancient burgh was formally granted the book town charter in May 1998. This year's festival confirms the impression that the town is moving confidently towards a new chapter in what it is hoped will be a ringing success story.
The town, which has 18 bookshops and five other books-related businesses, hopes to welcome more than the 3000 visitors who attended last year's inaugural event. Ian Barr, book town development officer, concedes that it is impossible to predict the number of visitors, saying: ''The fuel crisis created a sense of suspended life in that people were reluctant to book up in advance.''
However, he is rightly optimistic that the festival is growing, and can confirm at least one visitor. First Minister Donald Dewar will visit the
town tomorrow.
The festival, sponsored by Historic Newspapers, has two interjoining elements. The adult festival starts today, with the launch of several Galloway books, and continues tomorrow with contributions from Tom Morton, Magi Gibson, Carol Ann Duffy, and Jackie Kay. Other highlights include readings by Bernard MacLaverty, James Kelman. and Sir Ludovic Kennedy.
In tandem, however, there is a vibrant and interesting programme of children's events, which starts today with contributions from Margaret Ryan, Alan Temperley, Ian Cameron, and Andrew Wolfe. Other weekend highlights include Mairi Hedderwick, whose Katie Morag books have captured the imagination of thousands of children; Joan Lingard, whose Natasha's Will is a bold and original venture; and a workshop on illustrated information books for children. Many of the events are free and indeed only six require tickets.
Ian Barr hopes this year will mark the end of one phase of the festival's development. He explains: ''The festival has a definite charm in that it is organised by a group of volunteers, with myself as a salaried employee.'' But success brings growth, and he senses the festival must move on.
''The festival is projected to grow in future years, so this is likely to be the last festival organised by a committed group of volunteers. I will recommend to the Wigtown Book Town Company that a new company is created to manage the growing numbers of events and festivals which are held here each year.''
But Barr is anxious that the event does not move far from its roots. ''In the future we would be looking to become a Scottish equivalent of the Hay-on-Wye or Cheltenham festivals,'' he says. The motivation is not to equal the huge scale of these festivals but to share their international outlook, though Barr emphasises the importance of Scottish writing to the festival. He is also concerned ''not to be a hostage to publishers'' and fall victim to the syndrome where festivals are in danger of being glorified book-signing sessions.
There is, therefore, an artistic motivation but Barr is aware that the growth of the book town is dependent on business. ''We want to make Wigtown a weekend stay for visitors rather than a half-day one,''' he says.
He is investigating new projects for the town, including the setting up of a writers' centre. He says of the festival: ''It gives us a definite profile at the end of the tourist season but we must build on that.'' There is good news in
that #1.9m has been allocated from the Heritage Lottery
Fund to upgrade the imposing County Buildings in the town and supply conservation property grants.
The plot has some way
to run but there is enough
to suggest that both the
book town development and
its festival will have a
happy ending.
n For further information
on the festival, phone
01988 402036. E-mail booktown@wigit.btinternet.com
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