Putting Medway on the literary map 

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Medway River Lit is a literary festival for Medway, created by award-winning Medway-based literary organisation Wordsmithery.

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Set up in 2023, our first two years have been a stunning success, with audiences growing by 20% from year 1 to 2, and we are looking for sponsors to join us on an exciting literary journey as we develop the festival for 2025 and beyond.
 

We are unique in that we have a strong programme of local Kent writers and international names; including in our first two years, Sir Ben Okri, Ben Aaronovitch, Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle), Jim Bob (Carter USM), Caroline Bird, Theresa Lola, Lalah-Simone Springer, Attila the Stockbroker, Megan Hunter, Helen Ivory, Barbara Havelocke, Sacha Coward and more!

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Environmental Commitment

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"Maybe if we all do / Something modest / Then the dead land / Can yield roses again...”
Ben Okri, 'Tiger Work'

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The global climate emergency is a reality. We are a small festival, but we must do what we can. Each year Medway River Lit engages with the climate emergency – provoking action and change through art. We believe that through discussion of environmental issues with authors of fiction and fact, we can inspire people to make the small changes that will have a big effect on the planet.

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As a small literary organisation, the financial support of our partners and sponsors allows us to develop, operate and deliver our festival each year. We are immensely grateful for the support given to us by the local council and local businesses, especially during financially challenging times. In return, our partners and sponsors enjoy a selection of benefits and perks, ranging from online, print and in-person advertising to complimentary tickets to preview events.

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Find out more about the benefits that come with becoming an event partner, a festival sponsor or advertising with Medway River Lit and discover our packages below.

 

For more information or to discuss a bespoke package, please contact us.

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Medway River Lit 2024 in figures

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• 1,100 in person attendances

• Over 42,000 online engagements

• 68 performers and writers

• 46 talks and events

• 50 hours of volunteer work experience

• 9 podcasts

• 12 additional events as part of the Rippling Out project (Jan-May 2025) – our follow-on engagement project with 750 attendances

Benefits of Sponsorship and Partnership

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As a sponsor or partner of our festival we’ll put your business in front of our large, engaged audience. It is an effective way to market your business, increase brand reputation and recognition and reach new audiences via our in-person events, social media platforms and mailing list.

 

The festival delivers a boost to the local economy, too. It brings in visitors that eat, drink, stay and shop locally whilst taking in festival events. Partnership or sponsorship of the festival gives your business a head-start by marketing direct to this audience. 

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Becoming a partner or sponsor of Medway River Lit can offer your business real cut-through whilst also helping achieve charitable and social responsibility targets.  

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Event Partnership Packages (£300 – £500)

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Exclusive event partnerships are a brilliant way to get your brand in front of our festival audiences, as well as your favourite authors. They are great for hospitality, rewarding employees or running customer competitions.  We host a wide range of events which means you can find an author or topic that aligns with your business values and interests.  

Partnership with a Medway River Lit event includes the following benefits: 
 

• Your logo on the event’s specific webpage – at point of online ticket purchase. 

• Your logo alongside the event listing in the printed and digital brochure. 

• Your logo in the front of the brochure, accredited as an ‘Event Partner’. 

• Acknowledgement of partnership on MRL website with link to your website. 

• Partnership promotion via MRL social media platforms. 

• Name check and thanks by the interviewer at the start of the event. 

• Opportunity to put branded materials / signage up in event venue. 

• Opportunity to purchase reduced rate advertising in the festival official programme. 

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Festival Sponsorship Packages

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BRONZE - £500

• Logo on marketing materials including posters, bookmark fliers and website.

• Link on website, plus paragraph on supporters/sponsor page.

• Logo on programmes, printed and downloadable.

• Opportunity to feature on our podcast, plus ‘Thanks to our sponsor’ credit on show.

• Social media: We will also share regular updates on the festival’s sponsors via social media, our festival reach on social media last year via posts, blogs and reposts was 42,000.

• Guest blog on our website blog section which received 20.3K reach last year.

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SILVER - £1,000

• Logo on marketing materials including posters, bookmark fliers and website.

• Link on website, plus paragraph on supporters/sponsor page.

• Logo on programmes, printed and downloadable.

• Opportunity to feature on our podcast, plus ‘Thanks to our sponsor’ credit on show.

• Social media: We will also share regular updates on the festival’s sponsors via social media, our festival reach on social media last year via posts, blogs and reposts was 42,000.

• Guest blog on our website blog section which received 20.3K reach last year.

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GOLD (LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR, 1 AVAILABLE) - £2,000

• Opportunity for a stall/display with sponsor’s marketing materials in key festival venues.

• Logo on marketing materials including posters, bookmark fliers and website.

• Link on website, plus paragraph on supporters/sponsor page.

• Logo on programmes, printed and downloadable.

• Opportunity to feature on our podcast, plus ‘Thanks to our sponsor’ credit on show.

• Social media: We will also share regular updates on the festival’s sponsors via social media, our festival reach on social media last year via posts, blogs and reposts was 42,000.

• Guest blog on our website blog section which received 20.3K reach last year.

Advertising Packages

We have printed and digital advertising options that can be added to any partnership or sponsorship package or purchased stand-alone.  
 

The Brochure Package

We have limited space available for local businesses to advertise in our 2025 Festival programme. Released in October, over 1,500 copies will be distributed around Medway. The programme is in circulation in advance and during the festival and your ad will also feature in the digital version, available on our website. 

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Quarter page - £50

Half page - £100

Full page - £150

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Please email us for any Sponsorship or Advertising Enquiries. 

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