Are you an entrepreneur, culture vulture, or community group? Join a Spot-lit workshop in January to discover how to create new products for the untapped literary tourism market and bring more visitors to your region.

Literary tourism is an emerging niche sector within the wider cultural tourism sector, where places with literary heritage offer author and fiction-related opportunities, along with opportunities arising from literary festivals, trails and bookshops.

Workshop details:

Spot-lit workshops will be held in Dumfries at The Stove on January 16th 2020, in Wigtown at the County Buildings on January 17th, and at Kirkcudbright Galleries on January 21st. Attendance at the workshops is free of charge, though registration is essential.

Spot-lit workshops are open to small businesses (including sole traders), social enterprises, community groups and literary associations with a unique idea for the development of literary tourism in their area.

Workshop topics:

Spot-lit partner Wigtown Festival Company will deliver a series of workshops for businesses in Dumfries & Galloway that are interested in literary tourism product development. The workshops will cover the following topics:

• Building successful literary tourism experiences for visitors
• Designing and developing your literary tourism product or service
• Knowing and growing your market.

Following on from the workshops, businesses will be invited to participate in a Literary Business Support Programme. The programme will be open to SMEs, social enterprises, community groups and literary associations with a unique idea for the development of literary tourism in their area. This bespoke programme will involve a series of monthly engagement workshops, learning journeys, business advice clinics and individual mentoring supports. The programme will engage with and support a minimum of 5 businesses in the region and will include up to €10,000 of business development support for each business.

Attendance at one of these workshops is essential in order to be eligible to apply for the Business Support Programme.

Visit Spot-lit.eu to find out more about the project.

FAQs

What should I bring to the workshops?
Please bring a pen and notebook with you.

Can I update my registration information?
Please feel free to edit your information after you have registered.

Will there be a break for lunch?
Yes, there will be a lunch break, as well as morning and afternoon refreshment breaks. We will provide teas/coffees and water, but lunch will be available to buy in the Kirkcudbright Galleries cafe.

Where is the nearest car park?
Free on-street parking is available.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
If you have any questions at all about the workshops, please contact Isla Rosser-Owen at Wigtown Festival Company on 01988 402036 or isla@wigtownbookfestival.com.