Bankfest 2024 — Joe Cornish, Evie Wyld, Ben Willbond & more bring the writing world to Dorset

Nine professional writers. Three secondary schools. 60–80 young people in the room every morning. One three-day festival built so pupils in rural Dorset can meet the people who make their living with words. Bankfest 2024 ran from 9–11 October at The Electric Palace and The Bridport Arts Centre. The festival was programmed by freelance curator Rebecca de Pelet and attended by pupils from Sir John Colfox School, Beaminster School and Budmouth Academy — with transport laid on and every event free of charge. Each morning: three main-stage interviews with professional writers, co-hosted by pupils themselves and followed by audience Q&A. Each afternoon: up to five writing workshops, each led by one of the morning's writers, plus an opportunity to record a podcast with the London charity Podium.me. LINE-UP 2024 🎬 Joe Cornish — film (Attack the Block) 📺 Chesca Forristal — television 📰 Isabel Brooks — journalism (The Guardian) 📖 Evie Wyld — fiction 📝 Chimene Suleyman — memoir 😂 Ben Willbond — comedy (Horrible Histories, Ghosts) 🎤 Isaiah Dreads — lyrics 🎭 Aaron Kilercioglu — drama 📢 Paul Trueman — communications "I was surprised at how varied, engaging and genuinely passionate all the speakers were." — Pupil, Bankfest 2024 "It was a brilliant experience, and I wish something like that had been going on where I grew up!" — Isabel Brooks, journalist, The Guardian "This was an inspirational experience for our students. We are incredibly lucky to have the Bank of Dreams and Nightmares, huge thanks to them and to festival curator Rebecca de Pelet for creating such an amazing experience for so many of our students." — Adam Shelley, Headteacher, Sir John Colfox Academy The film idea that one Year 10 pupil came up with in the TV workshop has since developed into a play. That is Bankfest's quiet promise: the festival ends, but the writing starts. 🏛️ Venues: The Electric Palace, Bridport Arts Centre 📅 Dates: 9–11 October 2024 🎓 Schools: Sir John Colfox, Beaminster School, Budmouth Academy 🙏 Sponsored by: Arts Council England, St James's Place, and private supporters 📒 Workshop materials provided by Pukka Pads 🎙️ Podcasting partner: Podium.me 🔗 Find out more about Bankfest: https://www.thebankofdreamsandnightmares.o... 🎥 Watch the Bankfest 2025 film: https://www.thebankofdreamsandnightmares.o... 📬 Bring your school to the next Bankfest: https://www.thebankofdreamsandnightmares.org 💛 Fund a young person's place at Bankfest: https://www.thebankofdreamsandnightmares.o... The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares is a creative writing charity for children and young people aged 7–19 across West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, South Somerset and East Devon. Registered charity 1194307. #Bankfest #Bankfest2024 #JoeCornish #EvieWyld #BenWillbond #IsaiahDreads #ChimeneSuleyman #IsabelBrooks #WritingFestival #CreativeWriting #YouthWriting #Bridport #Dorset #ElectricPalace #BridportArtsCentre #SirJohnColfox #BeaminsterSchool #BudmouthAcademy #ArtsCouncilEngland #StJamesPlace #PukkaPads #PodiumMe #RuralDisadvantage #Charity