The Stonyhurst Literature & Film Festival Stonyhurst College is steeped in literary history and is delighted to announce the launch of the Stonyhurst Literature & Film Festival in August 2019. ___ Stonyhurst is one of Britain’s leading Catholic boarding schools, with over 400 years of history, set in a magnificent grade 1 listed building. The College has a fascinating heritage, fine reputation and excellent facilities. Home to the oldest museum in the English speaking-world, the College’s fascinating collections boast an impressive array of artefacts. Amongst these collections is a rare first edition of William Shakespeare’s First Folio, often regarded as one of the most important piece of work in the history of English literature. Not only will a visit to the museum exhibit items once belonging to some of the country’s most prolific literary figures, but the College’s alumni demonstrates Stonyhurst’s rich literary heritage. Alumni include Sherlock Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Irish Poet and signatory of the Irish Proclamation of Independence, Joseph Mary Plunkett; and Jesuit priest and poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. The Stonyhurst Literature & Film Festival will take place on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th August 2019, and aims to include a broad range of topics including crime, historical fiction and poetry, and feature literary critics and speakers covering a variety of cultural topics. The festival will culminate with an outdoor cinema performance in the magnificent grounds of the College, overlooking the stunning Ribble Valley. A quintessential English summers evening, sampling some of Lancashire’s finest food & drink, whilst discovering the creative and enriching pleasures of film.
Our Vision Stonyhurst College aims to welcome literature and film lovers from across the country to share in the College’s fine literary heritage. With a broad variety of authors, speakers and performances, the festival has something to offer to anyone interested in art & culture. The Oxford and Blenheim Palace Literary Festivals have proven success, attracting thousands of visitors to their events for over 10 years. Stonyhurst is the ideal venue to replicate this model and launch the only Literature & Film Festival of its kind in the North of England.
A Brief History of the College
Stonyhurst is one of Britain’s leading Catholic boarding schools, with over 400 years of history, set in a magnificent grade 1 listed building.
The College was founded in St Omers in France in 1593 to educate the sons of English Catholic families, at a time when Catholic education in England was prohibited. Since its relocation to the North West of England in 1794, Stonyhurst has become the thriving coeducational establishment it is today. The College has a long history of nurturing men and women of individuality, generosity and service. Catholic martyrs, war heroes, politicians, rebels,
writers, scientists, and actors number among the former pupils, a testimony to the capacity of a Jesuit education to foster individual gifts and talents. We take particular pride in those former pupils who died for their Catholic faith, and in the seven former pupils awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery. Our motto ‘Quant Je Puis’ (as much as I can) remains for us an overarching principle.
About the Ribble Valley Lancashire is the geographical centre of the UK and the Queen’s castle in the North. Not only is the area acknowledged to be one of the most popular places in the country to live, work and visit, the Ribble Valley is recognised area of outstanding natural beauty.
We are delighted to welcome the Stonyhurst Literature and Film Festival into the Ribble Valley event calendar. The area has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of local tourism facilities able to support such a prestigious event. Tom Pridmore Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Tourism and Event Officer
Surrounded by glorious, unspoilt landscapes, there are opportunities for everyone to enjoy. From shopping and entertainment, to history filled family days out, to walks in the countryside and quiet, idyllic villages just waiting to be explored. Ribble Valley boasts an abundance of award-winning eateries with friendly and professional staff just waiting to welcome you. From cosy cafĂŠs and tearooms to gastro pubs, contemporary mill conversions
and a Michelin-starred manor house restaurant, there is somewhere to suit all tastes here in the Ribble Valley. An area of unrivalled splendour, well-known for its scenic countryside and famous landmarks, Ribble Valley is a place infused with history, holding a wonderfully rich heritage.
Authors, Speakers & Workshops The Stonyhurst Literature & Film Festival aims to feature a variety of distinguished authors and speakers, encompassing a range of cultural topics. Stonyhurst College has been a centre of academic excellence for over 400 years. Across the decades, numerous men and women educated here have become leading figures in many fields, including sport, literature and photography.
Join Us We are inspired by our strong Stonyhurst connections to establish an event which celebrates the College’s heritage and offers a varied programme of speakers and events, catering for younger and older tastes alike. With this in mind, we are seeking revered authors to join us in celebrating the College’s fascinating literary connections. Our aim is to establish an event which shares and promotes this outstanding venue, attracting visitors to Lancashire’s jewel in the crown, the stunning Ribble Valley.
If you are interested in being involved in the Stonyhurst Literature and Film Festival to support our vision, please contact Stonyhurst Enterprises and we would be happy to discuss availability, fees and expenses. There will also be the opportunity to sign and sell works after the talks. 01254 827014
enterprises@stonyhurst.ac.uk
Stonyhurst is one of Lancashire’s internationally renowned and architecturally magnificent buildings, nestled in one of the county’s most beautiful rural locations. A historic school with great literary associations, it is the perfect place to host a unique Literature and Film festival. Visit Lancashire www.visitlancashire.com
Festival Support John Browne, Headmaster
“Stonyhurst’s rich literary heritage and fascinating history make it the perfect setting for what we hope will be the finest Literature & Film Festival in the North of England. At Stonyhurst we achieve high academic results and offer an extensive range of co-curricular activities. This supportive and diverse community helps to develop qualities of character and academic achievements that will distinguish pupils in later life, creating leading figures in many fields. To that end, we want to share our literary history and inspire visitors to discover the creative pleasures of literature and film.”
Jan Graffius, Curator “Over the last 400 years Stonyhurst has been home to, and the inspiration for, some of the literary greats. The Stonyhurst Literature and Film Festival provides the perfect platform to share with visitors the College’s strong literary connections. Our unique venue enhances the impact of the wonderful authors and speakers. The Stonyhurst Collections will be open throughout the festival, and features some of the great works in literary history, which we are proud to share with a knowledgeable and curious audience.”
Anthony Attard OBE DL, High Sheriff of Lancashire “Culture is a measure of a how societies advance. If culture were to be removed from history there would be little record of our humanity. Culture is also a major catalyst for change. As High Sheriff of Lancashire I am delighted to support Stonyhurst’s first Literature & Film Festival. I cannot think of a more appropriate setting for a festival of this kind. The aim of which is to attract visitors from across the country to be inspired by the College’s great literary and artistic heritage and experience a variety of speakers, all of whom are specialists in their field.”
Literature & Film Sponsors We believe that all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, should have the opportunity to enjoy literature and the arts. From a one-off donation to long-term partnership collaborations, support from sponsorship will play a pivotal role in launching the festival and establishing it for the future. The Festival sponsors and partners will be at the heart of what makes this Festival of Literature and Film distinctive and set apart from other festivals across the country.
Your Support Your support enables us to; • Inspire audiences of all ages • Nurture and encourage the next generation of art lovers • Encourage young people to discover the best work in literature, film and culture • Host high quality authors, speakers and performances • Attract tourists to experience one of the finest areas in the country, the Ribble Valley
• Build lasting partnerships with Stonyhurst, on a national and international platform • Develop a network of support and establish a festival with true longevity, renowned amongst its peers • Establish Stonyhurst, with its unique history, character and setting, as one of the most impressive venues in the North of England
Benefits Your generous support will be acknowledged with a number of benefits • Business details and logo to be displayed on the Festival Programme
• Opportunity to promote your business to visitors at the Festival
• Complimentary tickets to attend the talks of your choice, meet the author and received signed copy of their work
• Private tour of the College’s fascinating collections and champagne reception for sponsors
01254 827014
enterprises@stonyhurst.ac.uk
Opportunities Sponsorship opportunities are bespoke and tailor made to cater for individual’s specific requirements. If you are interested in working with the College to support our vision please contact Stonyhurst Enterprises and we would be happy to discuss the benefit packages available to sponsors and partners.
01254 827014 enterprises@stonyhurst.ac.uk Clitheroe • Lancashire • BB7 9PZ