Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the organisers of the Jersey Festival of Words?

Jersey Festival of Words is run by the Jersey Literary Festival Association, a registered charity. The JLFA is chaired by Lucy Cotter and the organising committee is made up of Lucy Layton (Vice-chair), Marnie Baudains (Honorary Secretary), Pippa Le Quesne (Festival Director), Lauren Hallam (Data Officer), Chris Bright, Jo Olszewski, Alanna Rice, Paul Bisson and Richard Pedley.

How do I purchase tickets in advance?

All events on this website have a click-through link to their respective online booking page included on the event description page.

Many events can also be booked in person from Jersey Arts Centre ticket office.

For any queries prior to this please email [email protected]

Can I just turn up to any event and buy tickets at the door?

Yes, you can just turn up and pay on the day of the event, though of course your choice of seating will be determined by whichever seats we have left. It’s unusual for us to sell out an event entirely, so chances are you WILL get a seat.

What age do you have to be to attend an event on your own?

Children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. Attendance for young people aged 12–16 is at the discretion of their parent or carer. Please note that supervision remains the responsibility of the parent or carer, and the Festival is unable to take responsibility for them.

Is there a Festival bookshop?

Fox Lane Books is the independent festival bookshop that will sell books for the duration of the Festival and will be located in the Freedom Centre and Jersey Arts Centre during opening hours. Authors will be signing books after their events and the bookshop will stock a wide selection of titles.

Will I be able to meet the authors?

While we cannot arrange personal meetings, every author will do a book signing after the event and it will be possible to say hello and purchase a personalised copy. Most events also feature a Q+A session, allowing you to ask a question directly.

How do I become a Festival Volunteer?

Volunteers are at the heart of Jersey Festival of Words, from welcoming audiences and supporting events, to driving authors to and from the airport. Volunteering is central to how our festival works and a great way to be part of Jersey’s cultural celebration of words and stories. We would love for you to join our team, whether you might have a few hours or are available for the whole festival.

We can offer a friendly welcome, a good induction and opportunities to meet new
people. You will have a chance to glimpse behind the scenes of the festival and help to make each and every event an enjoyable and inclusive experience for festival goers of all ages.

Please contact [email protected] for further details.

What is Jersey Festival of Word’s policy about holding pilot events, organised by others, but under the JFOW umbrella?

Due to unprecedented interest and requests from individuals and organisations regarding events that we include under the Jersey Festival of Words’ banner, we have implemented a blanket policy in order to be consistent and fair in our decision-making.

There are just two remunerated persons working for the Jersey Literary Festival Association and otherwise the smooth-running, governance and facilitation depends entirely on volunteers. The quality of our events is of the utmost importance to us, therefore, in all decisions regarding the programme, we consider whether we will be able to properly staff an event to create the best environment for all attendees.

For events that are not curated by the JLFA, we will only include in the festival programme ‘pilot events’ hosted by Government of Jersey arms’ length organisations (as one of our key funders) or established venue partners of Jersey Festival of Words. All such events will be discussed and considered by the JLFA committee in accordance with our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy.