Literary festivals are in a crisis moment right now. Funding is drying up, readers are tightening their budgets, and with new festivals and book cons popping up, the money that is still available is being spread thinner than ever. On today’s episode of Into the FOLD, Jael and Lin look at what goes on behind the scenes in planning a literary festival, how to organize and program with longevity in mind, and what you need to remember when interacting with other literary festivals in your niche or geographic area.Jael & Lin's Top 3 Tips for Lit Fest Organizers: 1. Make sure you’re programming with purpose, not just “because that’s how we’ve always done it.”2. If you’re starting a new festival, understand what your mission is and be open and honest about it.3. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other festivals and events about possible collaboration and joint learning opportunities.
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