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Investment manager Baillie Gifford - sponsor of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction - is to become the title sponsor of The Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. It will also sponsor a new non-fiction strand within the festival’s programme.
Baillie Gifford takes over as title sponsor from Brewin Dolphin after seven years of festival growth, in which audiences increased to a "record" number of 25,300 visitors in 2016.
The festival will become the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival, and will incorporate a new Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust non-fiction series featuring what are described as high profile events on a variety of topical and stimulating subjects.
Alistair Moffat, director of the Borders Book Festival, said of the new association: “It is a joy and a delight to be working with our new partners, Baillie Gifford. Their enthusiasm is enormously refreshing and their commitment to the Borders Book Festival and literature in general is most welcome. We look forward to working together to create even better festivals.”
James Budden, director marketing and distribution at Baillie Gifford, said: “We have been trying to sponsor the Borders Book Festival for some time. It should prove a great fit with the other festivals Baillie Gifford is associated with in the UK. So it is fantastic to be supporting such a successful literary experience. Being somewhat bookish ourselves we look forward to be involved in the occasion over the next few years at least.”
The 2017 Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival will be held from 15th to 18th June at Harmony Garden in Melrose, with over 100 events across the main festival and Family Book Festival, incorporating outreach activities, community events and a programme for young people and schools events.
The programme will be announced on 26th April, after which tickets will go on sale.