The BVI Literary Festival, affectionately known as the BVI Lit Fest, was founded in November 2021 as a key feature of the Department of Culture’s Culture and Tourism Month activities. In collaboration with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the BVI Lit Fest has quickly become an annual highlight, bringing together writers, poets, publishers, booksellers, and book lovers to celebrate the literary arts and the creative process. 

At the heart of the BVI Lit Fest is a diverse and enriching programme that includes workshops, panel discussions, readings, signings, and book launches. Our festival proudly features a mixture of local, regional, and internationally acclaimed writers and poets, creating a vibrant space for literary enthusiasts to engage in deeper, more focused discussions on cultural identity through literature. 

History 

The inaugural BVI Lit Fest, held from 2-13 November 2021, set the standard for excellence with a robust lineup of events. Highlights included the “Writing with Writers’ Workshop” series, the “Let’s Talk Lit” panel discussions, a book fair, and an “Evening of Music and Poetry.” Our workshops, conducted virtually, covered poetry, publishing, and non-fiction, facilitated by distinguished writers such as Virgin Islands Poet Laureate Dr. Richard Georges, Anthony Anaxagorou, and Andre Bagoo. Our panel discussions, also held virtually, delved into essay writing, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, with esteemed guest panellists like Andre Bagoo, Amanda Choo Quan, and Amilcar Sanatan sharing their insights and expertise. The guest panellists for the fiction panel discussion were Cadwell Turnbull and Tiphanie Yanique. The guest panellist for the non-fiction panel discussion was Tami Navarro. The guest panellists for the poetry panel discussion were Raymond Antrobus, Canisa Lubrin, and Desiree Seebaran. 

Our Mission 

Our mission is to foster the development, promotion, and marketing of the works of Caribbean Literature authors – specifically those from the Virgin Islands. The BVI Lit Fest aims to create a dynamic environment where lovers of the Literary Arts can explore and celebrate their passion, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Virgin Isla