gritLIT is Hamilton’s annual literary festival, a celebration of Canadian authors. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has built a reputation with readers in the Golden Horseshoe as a place to get “up close and personal” with their favourite authors and to discover new voices.

gritLIT brings together diverse voices – the biggest Canadian authors, up and coming talent, and local Hamilton writers – in a series of readings and themed events. The festival’s mandate is one of accessibility for both authors and audiences. gritLIT puts a focus on local authors, giving them the exposure to readers that they richly deserve.

The festival includes readings at local schools including French language presentations. And gritLIT ticket prices are among the lowest of any Southwestern Ontario literary festival.

History

gritLIT was established in November, 2004, by Hamilton writer Krista Foss. It started as a small, intimate festival, with readings taking place in the Staircase Theatre. Over the past seven years, gritLIT has evolved into a larger-scale and wider-reaching endeavour.

Mandate

gritLIT brings the best contemporary Canadian writers to Hamilton to engage with local booklovers, to inspire and to be inspired by Hamilton authors, to promote a love of reading in young audiences and to celebrate the exchange of diverse ideas, experiences and viewpoints.

Objectives

• To celebrate excellence in the literary arts

• To promote diversity of voice, perspective and experience in our programming

• To bring cultural traffic to central Hamilton

Online Safer Spaces Policy

gritLIT is committed to ensuring that all our online platforms are inclusive, welcoming spaces for all attendees, authors, event hosts and gritLIT team members. Any attendee who posts comments or questions that may be construed as bullying, as offensive or as disrespectful toward any other festival guest or organizer will have their posts removed, will be informed why the comment or question was flagged and will be asked to refrain from posting similar comments or questions in future. Any attendee who posts comments or questions that are overtly bullying, offensive or disrespectful OR who ignores a warning to refrain from posting comments or questions that may be construed as bullying, as offensive or as disrespectful OR who acts or speaks in a bullying, offensive or disrespectful manner toward any other festival guest or organizer in an interactive space will be removed from the platform and may be banned from attending gritLIT online events in future.