"Arts Council England’s investment marks a welcome milestone for Hay Festival as we continue to rebuild from a year of transformation. We are incredibly grateful for this vote of confidence in our efforts to sustain our community of writers, partners and festival goers who make Hay what it is: a space to inspire, examine and entertain people of all ages.
"For 34 years, Hay Festival has brought writers and readers together live and online to imagine the world as it is and as it might be. We celebrate the uniquely transformative power of writers and their work here and around the world, reaching some 2 million people globally over the past 12 months. In this moment of renewal, this exchange of ideas has never felt more urgent.
"Whilst there is more work to do as we fundraise in an uncertain climate, this Cultural Recovery Fund support from Arts Council England allows us to look forward to Hay Festival Wales online this spring with confidence and continue to develop our vision for innovative hybrid festivals and projects of the future."
Tania Hudson, Hay Festival interim chief executive, 2 April 2021.