In response to popular demand, and with thanks to our main sponsors Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, we held a digital festival instead of our regular John Hewitt International Summer School.
Nine online events with world-class poets, authors, journalists and leaders from the arts community. These events took place over 3 days, from Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August.
The John Hewitt Society offers opportunities for people from Northern Ireland and beyond to experience literature, art and political debate and to explore issues of difference and identity in partnership with many community, voluntary and non-profit organisations.
The aim of the Digital Festival is to explore political and cultural issues through literature and the arts and to encourage residents of Northern Ireland/the North of Ireland and beyond to think critically about the world around them.
Through lectures, discussions and debate, the festival raises issues of relevance to the divided society in Northern Ireland, providing a platform for audiences to engage with speakers from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view.
The Society encourages the use of the arts as a means to explore sensitive issues, and offers opportunities for engagement with high-profile, high-quality artists and writers; our creative writing classes develop the confidence of individuals and help aid their contributions within their own communities.