In a move that seems as surprising as it is geographically disparate the Los Angeles Times announced Wednesday that it is moving the location of its Festival of Books from UCLA to the campus of USC in 2011.
After 15 years on the Westside of Los Angeles the move to a location near the heart of downtown is anticipated to attract a larger and more diverse group of people to the two-day event. Attendance last year at the nation’s largest public literary festival was estimated at 140,000 and included 400 authors, hundreds of booksellers and publisher exhibitors, educational panels, book signings, and children’s activities. According to a statement released by the Times, “the move allows for increased attendance due to USC’s central location, proximity to public transportation, abundant parking and newly enhanced campus facilities.” Next year’s Festival will be held April 30 – May 1.
UCLA and USC are only 13 miles apart but represent two very different cultural and ethnic populations in Los Angeles. The Festival’s programming for 2011 will reflect this, as will its food concessions. Nancy Sullivan of the Times’ communications department said, “The usable amount of space that the UCLA campus offered us is less than what we will be able to utilize at USC. As for the panel and lecture rooms, we will also have increased opportunity on USC’s University Park campus.” No other reason was given for the move, nor would the Times comment on how long the plans had been in the works.
