Schedule

Throughout the day we have a packed schedule full of exciting and informative sessions for all attendees. 

Join us on Sunday July 12, thanks to The Oxford Festival of the Arts, and discover your next favourite book in the ‘Big School – the main hall of Magdalen College School: entrance Cowley Place just off the Plain.

But that isn’t all. Off the High Street approaching Magdalen Bridge is an entrance to the Rose Garden Gazebo/Bar where you can listen to poetry organised by The Oxford Poetry Circle.

In the Junior School Hall, to the left of the Gazebo, there will be speaker events. In the case of bad weather some of the poetry will take place there too.

13.30 – Introduction

 Introduction with guest poets and open mic acknowledgements.

13:35 – Axel Nielsen

Acclaimed Italian restorer and poet from Genova, Italy.

13:45 – Oormila Prahlad

Australian – Indian artist and poet. From her book Patchwork Fugue in 2024 she brings melody and rhymes for 2026.

13:55 – Anna Saunders & Zoe Brooks

Directors of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival. They are widely published and award winning poets, their poems draw up on the other worlds of fairy tales, myth, magic, and legends that address urgent contemporary themes.

14:05 – Simon Alderwick

Oxford local poet with a recently published book.

14:15 – Dr. Kate Noakes

Dr. Kate Noakes, brings her latest book, Chalking the Pavement to Oxford.

14:25 – Leatrice

Leatrice has her poems fresh from New York for the Oxford audience.

14:35 – Woodland Anthology inspired by Radley Large Wood

Curated by nature writer and photographer Paul Gamble, author and poet Sylvia Vetta and artist and poet Diana Bell with contributions from the children of St Swithun’s School, Kennington.

15:00 – TBC

15:10 – TBC

15:20-16.00 – Open Mic

Professor Jake Lynch & co-author Annabel McGoldrick 

Jake and Annabel met when both joined regional ITV as reporters over 30 years ago. They won the Luxembourg Peace Prize for their work on Peace Journalism. but will talk about his murder mystery Mind over Murder involving the secret menace of deepfake AI.

Hugh Warwick: Hedgehogs – a hidden history

We all know what a hedgehog is – but they have not always been as they are now – both figuratively and literally. Why was the hedgehog known as the ‘Ugly Ones’? Why are there hedgehogs in the bible? Was there really a sabre-tooth hedgehog? Did Mrs Tiggy-Winkle really change the way we look at the bundles of prickles? Are they really covered in fleas? Hugh Warwick’s latest book (the 4th he has written just about hedgehogs!) is hitting the shelves in the summer, and this gives the perfect opportunity to celebrate the stories behind an animal we think we know.

Ray Foulk: Picasso’s Revenge

Delving into the extraordinary 1907 mystery of how and why Pablo Picasso invented modern art.

Book Launch Slam

Eight 3 minute book launches (different genres) and the opportunity to question the authors on the subject of their books and their writing techniques.