NYT bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt to keynote inaugural literary arts festival in Vicksburg
Kimm Mayer, planning committee lead, said establishing the festival is important because “it makes reading and literacy accessible to everybody by introducing people to authors and activities in a fun and relaxed environment.” She added that the festival complements the arts community in Southwest Michigan and could impact literacy in the region while promoting tourism.
New York Times bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt will serve as the keynote speaker for the inaugural Pulp & Press Lit Arts Fest, a two-day literary arts festival taking place April 24-25, in the Village of Vicksburg in southern Kalamazoo County.
Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center.
The festival is intended to promote literacy in its many forms, including illustration, written and spoken word.
Collaborating on the event are Vicksburg Arts, The Prairie Ronde Artist Gallery/Residency, Gilbert and Ivy Booksellers, the Vicksburg District Library, the Vicksburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Vicksburg. The village is serving as financial sponsor and host during the festival’s inaugural year. Organizers plan for the event to become annual.
The Pulp & Press Lit Arts Fest follows the Tournament of Writers Celebration, a regional writers event sponsored by Vicksburg Arts.
Other festival programming includes an art gallery exhibition and workshops in illustration, poetry and bookbinding. Surrounding these events is the Book Trail, which invites visitors to meet and talk with more than 30 regional authors while exploring shops and businesses in the Village of Vicksburg.
Kimm Mayer, planning committee lead, said establishing the festival is important because “it makes reading and literacy accessible to everybody by introducing people to authors and activities in a fun and relaxed environment.” She added that the festival complements the arts community in Southwest Michigan and could impact literacy in the region while promoting tourism.
Many programs during the Pulp & Press Lit Arts Fest are free to attend. Some speaking events and workshops require tickets to cover a portion of the cost.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite by searching “Pulp & Press.”
The festival can be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/PulpPressLitArtsFest.
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