According to psychologists, we humans love to make stuff. This urge to create is an innate human need, associated with self-expression, leaving our mark on the world, the ability to explore and process our emotions and connect with others. Creation may not always be an easy process, but the rewards are many.
Fortunately, we have evolved to create across a whole range of media. At Monty Lit Fest, we celebrate the creation of the written word, talking to authors not just about their books, but about their writing process too. And, as usual, this year we’ll be running two creative writing workshops for aspiring and developing writers, one on short story writing with Cynan Jones; the other on writing about ourselves with Iola Ynyr.
But the Festival also celebrates creation in two other media: music and the visual arts.
Monty Folk and friends will be on hand throughout the weekend with some wonderful street music. And do come along to our free Friday night concert with singer-songwriter, Jeb Loy Nichols, a fitting way to end our traditional Late Lounge.
Once again, our friends at Celf Trefaldwyn deserve our thanks for curating this year’s exhibition of work by local artists. The breadth and quality of the work on display never ceases to amaze and the exhibition – now on show across two venues – has become an important part of the weekend.
We’re also supporting three art workshops, two of which are designed for children and families, the perfect opportunity to make a family weekend of it alongside Sunday’s Monty Mini Fest – where children can be inspired to create themselves while hearing from some wonderful authors.
The two creative worlds of writing and art will also be brought together in our Festival finale, when we’ll welcome two artistic icons to the Monty Lit Fest stage: Zandra Rhodes and Andrew Logan, whose own urge to create has led to some extraordinary work – and continues unabated today.
You can even visit the Andrew Logan Travelling Museum of Sculpture that will also be in town over the weekend.
All in all, it’s the perfect opportunity to listen to, read and see the work of others – and maybe nurture your own urge to create too.
Full details of our art and music events (including booking details for the art workshops) are available here.
Lit Fest and Mini Fest tickets are available online (links below) and in person from The Montgomery Bookshop and Ivy House café in Montgomery.