NI artists to shine at world famous Jaipur Literature Festival

The past decade has seen the festival transform into a global literary phenomenon having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe.

This year it will be presented entirely online due to the pandemic.

Local artists taking part will include poet Stephen Sexton, writer Paul McVeigh, musician Jason O’Rourke and BBC NI & Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Young Musicians’ Platform Awardee, Jack Warnock.

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “It is great to see the Jaipur Literature Festival thriving in spite of the pandemic and also good to see writers and artists of the calibre of Jason O’Rourke, Paul McVeigh, Jack Warnock and Stephen Sexton engaged in this year’s online edition. We wish everyone a splendid festival over 10 days.”

Acclaimed poet, Stephen Sexton, from Northern Ireland, will join Namita Gokhale, Syima Aslam, Joshua Ferris and Francesca Rhydderch in conversation with Elaine Canning on February 20 at 7:30am GMT.

On February 21 at 11:30am GMT Paul McVeigh, from Belfast, will be in conversation with Glaswegian writer, Douglas Stuart.

On the same day at 2:30pm GMT, Jaipur Literature Festival presents, ‘Belonging’: A Belfast-Kolkata musical collaboration between Jason O’Rourke and Deepmoy Das.

On February 25 at 2:30pm GMT Jack Warnock from Maghera, will perform a range of traditional songs.

The entire Jaipur Literature festival will be held online from 19th-28th February 2021 and is free to view at jaipurliteraturefestival.org.