Hay Sells Out?

[Discordant Resonance]

An interesting perspective on the Hay Festival by a Welsh author, claiming that what began as a genuinely organic, community-driven event has become utterly divorced from its origins, being overly commercialised, too focused on the interests of the London publishing and media sectors, and lacking any genuinely Welsh content, be that in relation to either the language or local writers.

The topic is of personal interest, as while the local Listowel Writers Week festival has on occasion been regarded as somewhat middle-class, it remains rooted in its local origins 50 years on, promoting prominent Kerry and Irish writers, and even though a much bigger event now than when initiated, much of the sponsorship for its activities continues to be provided by local companies, so there hasn't been the same disconnect that appears evident in Monmouthshire.

[imp]

No nil threads on One Touch Books... I've never been to the Hay festival, nor any other literary festival come to think of it. But I can easily imagine the London publishing sector turning something good into a money-grubbing shindig.

[Patrick Thistle]

Last time I went to Hay, as a place, it seemed to have gone very shabby. The tourist information centre had been closed down although one of the more general shops was doubling up as a TIC - the woman in there said ti was ridiculous that the only thriving industry in Hay was tourism and Powys Council closed the TIC. A number of the bookshops had gone and lots of the proper local shops like the greengrocers and stuff were empty. It wouldn't surprise me if the popularity of the festival meant people didn't go at other times.