A NEW artistic director has been announced for the Ennis Book Club Festival. Dani Gill’s appointment follows on from Paul Perry who was the artistic director with the festival for the last four years. Dani and the committee will now begin work on programming for the 15th Ennis Book Club Festival which will take place on the first weekend of March in 2021.
Dani has a wealth of experience in delivering festivals and is passionate about making literature accessible to all. She is a curator, producer, writer and educator, based in the west of Ireland. She is also the national Audience Development Officer for Words Ireland and was the Director of Cúirt International Festival of Literature from 2010-2016. She is very keen on developing outreach, access to the arts and community development projects. Dani’s first collection of poems was published by Salmon Poetry in 2017 and she has just completed a novel. Her literary hybrid show ‘Mirrors’, was part of the International Literature Festival Dublin, 2019. She writes reviews and features for The Irish Times. She is currently designing a literary tourism model for the west of Ireland in partnership with the Western Development Commission that will include site specific work and installations in 2021.
Dani says, “I am delighted to take up the Artistic Director role at Ennis, with the hard-working and energetic team who have made this festival a great success. I’m looking forward to connecting with readers and book lovers nationwide as we assemble our programme for next year.”
Cora Gunter, chairperson of the committee of Ennis Book Club festival added, “We are delighted that Dani is joining our team. Dani brings a wealth of experience in programming literary festivals. She is also very interested in exploring events that appeal to all readers but especially with book club groups who are our key audience.
“We know that we are facing into challenging times in programming live events in Ennis for 2021 but we hope to be able to deliver on that hope and that people will be able to access Ennis Book Club Festivals events by that time.”
Dani will begin working on the programme of the next Ennis Book Club Festival in the next few weeks. This annual celebration of book clubs and readers will hope to combine a unique mix of readings, discussion, music and chat all located in the beautiful town of Ennis.