Wigtown Book Festival, Scotland’s largest book festival outside of the central belt, is run by Wigtown Festival Company, a nationally and internationally recognised leader in the Scottish rural arts sector operating from Scotland’s National Book Town. The annual festival, now one of the UK’s best-established literary gatherings, features more than 200 sessions each year for all ages, encompassing visual arts, music, theatre and food as well as literary events. The festival draws writers and members of its audience from far and wide, while continuing to celebrate the rich history and culture of southwest Scotland. Wigtown Festival Company was established as a charity in 2007 and since then both the festival and its year-round engagement and educational activity has grown significantly: developing new audiences, helping writers fulfil their potential, cultivating a love of reading for pleasure in children, and providing much-needed creative opportunities for young people.