This new role is made possible through the University of Lincoln’s successful bid to join Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations (NPO), powered by the University’s Centre for Culture and Creativity and the Lincoln Arts Centre, which will provide a festival hub. 

The book festival has run annually in the city for two decades, sponsored each year by generous local businesses, organisations and individuals. Under Amy’s direction, the festival already has ambitious plans to diversify its offering to appeal to a broader demographic by engaging with an even greater variety of genres and literary formats. The Lincoln Book Festival will be returning in the summer of 2024 – so watch this space! 

Amy Magnone, newly appointed Lincoln Book Festival Director said:  

“I’m delighted to be working with the University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Book Festival to create a vibrant and diverse programme for 2024, and I’m so excited for what’s in store!” 

Sukhy Johal ,  Director of the Centre for Culture and Creativity at the University of Lincoln, said:  

“Amy has been promoting literary events since 2017, with particular experience in our city. You may have been lucky enough to attend one of her curated events with Waterstones Lincoln or Nottingham. We are fortunate to have enticed Amy into working with our city as she will bring her experience of working recently with the Cheltenham Literature Festival and Buxton International Festival.” 

Vanessa Sanders, Member of the Lincoln Book Festival Committee said: 

“This is an exciting new chapter for Lincoln Book Festival, and we look forward to developing the 2024 programme with Amy on board. Our ambition is to cater to an even broader range of audiences and interests, working with Amy, the University of Lincoln, and new and existing partners who are so critical to the festival’s success.” 

The University of Lincoln is one of 12 universities to be included in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations. This recognition, from the country’s foremost agency for creativity and culture, means that the University can now be considered one of the premier venues for arts and cultural provision in the UK. As part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations, the University deliver projects and activities through the Lincoln Arts Centre and Barbican Creative Hub.