‘Free Schools Program Announced for Hay-on-Wye Event on May 23-24, 2024’

Hay Festival Global has revealed its free schools programme to kick off the spring edition in Hay-on-Wye from May 23 to June 2, 2024. The programme aims to bring writers and young readers together for engaging interactive activities and conversations both in person and online. Supported by the Welsh Government and the Rothschild Foundation, the schools programme offers a lineup of inspiring events for students of all ages.

Parents and teachers can now explore the programme and secure their spots by visiting hayfestival.org/schools. The lineup for KS2 events on May 23 includes renowned writers such as Maz Evans, Katie & Kevin Tsang, and Children’s Laureate Wales Alex Wharton. On May 24, KS3/4 events will feature writers like Anthony Horowitz, Sarah Crossan, and Frances Hardinge, along with a live recording of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.

For those unable to attend in person, sessions will be live-streamed for free with closed captioning in Welsh and English available on hayfestival.org/schools. Additionally, the events will be available to watch for free on Hay Festival Anytime after they have taken place.

The CEO of Hay Festival, Julie Finch, expressed her excitement for the upcoming schools programme, emphasizing the charity’s dedication to promoting cultural accessibility and reading for pleasure. Last year’s schools programme attracted over 7,500 pupils from across England and Wales, with digital events reaching over 146,400 pupils in the past three years.

Welsh Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, commended the programme for inspiring children and young people through creative writing and reading. As one of the world’s leading cultural charities, Hay Festival continues to provide platforms for diverse voices and ideas to spark conversations that can drive positive change.

Tickets for thirty earlybird events at the spring edition in Hay-on-Wye are already on sale, featuring a lineup of novelists, environmentalists, comedians, musicians, and actors. Meanwhile, Hay Festival events are also taking place internationally in countries like Colombia, Panama, and Spain, along with the Scribblers Tour bringing free events to schoolchildren across Wales.