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The Birmingham Literature Festival has seen its largest and most enthusiastic crowds ever this year, with over 4,000 attendees, which is 500 more than last year. The festival’s co-founder, Jonathan Davidson, believes that threats to literacy and libraries have made people more eager to support literary events. With budget cuts and libraries closing, some feared that literary festivals might struggle, but the opposite has happened in Birmingham. Davidson says, 'Because there are perceived threats to creative writing, to literacy and to literature, people are being more active about supporting what they're doing. ' He feels that the audience is not only bigger but also more passionate than ever before.

The festival, which began in 1999, aims to involve writers from the Midlands and showcase their work. This year, well-known Midlands authors like Jonathan Coe and Kit de Waal participated, and visitors browsed books at Voce Books’s pop-up shop. Davidson notes that in the past decade, Birmingham writers have become more confident about their roots, often introducing themselves as Birmingham writers first. He credits much of this change to Benjamin Zephaniah, a poet who grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham. Zephaniah’s success and visibility have inspired other local writers to embrace their Birmingham identity. Davidson says, 'He was blazing a trail, he was making it possible to be a poet from Birmingham. So he has liberated in a way a lot of writing activity in Birmingham. '

While Birmingham may not be the first city people think of when it comes to literary hubs in the UK, Davidson believes this is actually an advantage for new writers. Cities like Oxford and Cambridge have a long literary history, which can make it harder for new writers to stand out. In Birmingham, writing fits naturally alongside other creative activities, like making jewelry. However, Davidson is concerned about the future of libraries in the city, as the council plans to cut costs by reducing library services. He believes libraries are essential for helping children develop a love of reading and writing from a young age. Davidson says, 'If I could have any memorial to writers of Birmingham, I'd simply say keep libraries going. Writers want you to keep on reading and for the bookshops and libraries to flourish. ' He hopes the city will continue to support its literary heritage for future generations.