The beauty of 2024 is that it brings a piece of exciting news to all avid readers. One of the most awaited arts-focused events in South Asia, “Galle Literary Festival 2024”, is back on track after a long break during the Covid pandemic. Yes, you read it right! GLF 2024 is all set from 25th-28th January 2024, a vibrant four-day literary feast at Galle Dutch Fort to add more colours to your amazing lives with a lot of exciting artistic creations and delighted to welcome the most admired former participants, attendees as well as the renowned authors from the Globe to the corner of Sri Lanka.
“The World’s No.1 Literary Festival”, said Harper’s Bazaar, witnessing its launch in 2005. The Galle Literary Festival has become the most anticipated Literary Festival, hosting a variety of talks, workshops and exhibitions in an incredibly familiar atmosphere. The participants of the GLF 2024 will be able to experience the Festival Champions, the work of writers and poets, and the Art Trail, which gives a great space to exhibit photography and painting skills.
In addition, Gourmet Galle’s series of events is glad to showcase the inspiring talents of top chefs and the flavoursome Sri Lankan Cuisine. Lively literary lunches and dinners, hosted by fascinating speakers with characterful houses, hotels and restaurants, have been the festival highlight for a long time.
“GLF is a jewel of a festival, small enough to charm and big enough to excite the mind,” saidJackie Kay. GLF 2024 is held largely within the walls of the centuries-old Galle Fort; the Festival has a strong sense of community at its heart. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, the Portuguese first built the Fort, which was later extended by the Dutch and British. Now home to one of the island’s most diverse communities, Galle Fort’s cobbled streets, hotels and terracotta-roofed houses generously invite local and international visitors to gather for a long weekend intended to inspire, educate and entertain.
The success of the Galle Literary Festival is on the strength of the great initiative of Geoffery Peter Dobbs, regarded as the Festival Founder – a resident of Hong Kong thrivingly transformed his aesthetic admiration into Galle Literary Festival 2005 in the aftermath of the plight of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. It is notable that he was honoured by the President of Sri Lanka for his keen interest in upholding tourism and literary Excellence in Sri Lanka and for the work he did following the Tsunami.
A great success comes with an excellent team; Giselle Hardling, the Festival Director, was born to a Trinidadian/ British parentage. Her everlasting passion towards written words inspired her to foster the already established charm of the Galle Literary Festival and ensure its staple on the international events calendar.
The festival had a team bound with grace, leading to its decisive victory. The team encircles with Eliane Sterchi, the Gourmet Galle Manager; Joseph de Alwis, the Creative Director; Azwaan Yaseen, the Galle Fort Coordinator; Chirs Rowlands, the Press and Media Manager/ Social Media Manager; Christina Emmanuel, the Artist Liaison; Devaka Perera, the Website Developer, Gihan Mackay, the Designer, Hen Tatham, the Volunteer Manager, Mishanthi Kotalawela, the Logistics Manager, Oshi Herat, the Volunteer Coordinator, Rozanne Shenali Nanayakkara, the Ticketing and Accreditation, Saluka Kotagama, the Festival Manager – Logistics and Sponsorship, Saskia Walker, the Programme Curator, Stivi Rathnayake, Festival Assistant and Sukhith Mendis, Festival Production Manager.
“The Galle festival is unique. It’s fascinating writers, volunteers, eager, responsive audiences, and wonderfully warm hospitality- all set in such beautiful and historic background.” Said Sri Mark Tully. GLF 2024’s Literary Festival invites all the exciting poets and writers to manifest their diverse voices to the south of Sri Lanka and create a major impact within the walls of Galle.
GLF 2024’s Children’s Festivalcalls the young dynamic book lovers and offers them an ideal opportunity to meet the visiting authors, especially the children’s authors, with a packed calendar of creative workshops and story-telling sessions. Exhilarating the upcoming young generation of avid readers and aspiring writers is the greatest motive of their junior programme.
The Art Trail of GLF 2024is a treasure hunt for art lovers, which immensely provokes artistic admiration among individuals. Discover a genre-spanning exhibition of local and international artists in the avenues of the Galle Fort.
GLF 2024 is excited to present a special event, Gourmet Galle, each weekend between January and March; Gourmet Galle will host an internationally renowned chef in different boutique venues across the South Coast. This programme promises its audience with exquisite and seasonal dishes.
Puzzled how to take part in the ever-charming Galle Literary Festival 2024? The GLF 2024 website will help its audience get their tickets and complete online reservations, which is an effective platform to avoid disappointments.
The super thrilling note is that GLF 2024 is offering Festival Passes for its diverse audience, which includes one-day or four-day Festival Passes, including certain events displayed in the event description and excluding lunch, dinners, cocktails and special entertainment events.
The audience can easily get into their website and seek further information regarding the panel of speakers, moderators, hosts, performers and programme descriptions with reference to the ticket type and the event category. In addition, a brief on travel info and sponsorship can also be acknowledged from their website.
The team GLF 2024 strongly believes in productive volunteering. “Our wonderful team of volunteers help to make sure the best time is had by all!” while “Shape the Galle Literary Festival’s success and celebrate the magic of story-telling”. Volunteering at the largest International Literary Festival is always a prestigious mark to gain a broad knowledge of event management, along with getting a chance to meet and have informative and interesting conversations with wonderful people and contribute significantly to the cultural community. Join their voyage as a ‘Volunteer’ by filling out the ‘Volunteer Sign up Form’, which is available on their website.
Visit https://galleliteraryfestival.com/ to get updates on Galle Literary Festival 2024.
By Zuleikha Marso
Disclaimer: © Zuleikah Marso 2023. The article’s content is solely the writer’s ideas and the information extracted by him/her, not that of The Asian Review.
Image rights: Galle Literay Festival, Offical Web Site
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