1 week Ago
Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, who was the director of the Beaminster Festival for Music and the Arts before going on to help launch the Bridport Literary Festival, was described as ‘one of a kind’ and a ‘Dorset treasure’. Ms Bruce-Lockhart moved to the area from London following a successful career in television and journalism which included being a producer of chat shows and arts documentaries. She was able to use her contacts to expand the content of the Beaminster festival and went on to help develop the event in Bridport which is now regarded as one of the major literary festivals in the country.
Bridport Literary Festival organisers said: “We, very sadly, have to announce that our Founder and Artistic Director for the last 20 years, Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, passed away on Saturday evening. We wish to pass on our deepest condolences to her family and friends.” Chris Huxley, the former director at Bridport Arts Centre who was a fellow founder of the Bridport Literary Festival, said: “Tanya was one of a kind.
Her energy, drive, and enthusiasm made BridLit into one of the most respected literary festivals in the UK. “Tanya’s sharp wit and dedication to west Dorset will be much missed.” Spawned from the internationally celebrated Bridport Prize, the festival, known affectionately as BridLit, was conceived by Ms Bruce-Lockhart, Mr Huxley, and Mark Culme-Seymour, who was director of Eype Church Centre for the Arts.
The concept was to bring authors together in Bridport at a particularly fallow time of year for the town, to talk about books and share their ideas with diverse audiences with eclectic interests. The 21st Bridport Literary Festival, scheduled for November 2-8, was due to be Ms Bruce-Lockhart’s last as director. The festival kicks off with a special event in June when bestselling author Tracy Chevalier takes to the Electric Palace stage.
Last year Ms Bruce-Lockhart and her beloved dog Lily - who had died a few months before - were immortalised in a portrait at the Electric Palace. She said at the time she was ‘utterly thrilled and delighted’. Lily, whom she had offered to initially foster to save her from being put down, went on to be her ‘adored and abiding’ companion for 13 years.
The person who organised the painting said a number of local supporters banded together to commission the portrait of Tanya and Lily. They wanted to do it because Tanya had become a ‘Dorset treasure’..
