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Bradford Literature Festival

The Bradford Literature Festival (sometimes abbreviated to BLF)[1] is a spoken and written word event that promotes literature and is held for ten days annually over June and July in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The first event was held in 2014 and was attended by 968 people; over the next decade the attendance had risen to over 115,000 per year. The event is noted for its attendance by minority groups and writers, with over 50% of attendees coming from BAME backgrounds and 85% of attendees benefitting from free tickets as part of the Ethical Ticketing Policy.[2]

Bradford Literature Festival
StatusActive
GenreFestival
BeginsLate June
EndsEarly July (variable dates)
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Bradford, West Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Years active10
Inaugurated2014
FoundersSyima Aslam
Irna Qureshi
Most recent2024
Next event2025
Participants500
Attendance155,000
Organised byCulture Squared
Filing statuscommunity interest company
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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The Festival was started by Syima Aslam and Irna Qureshi in 2014 for a weekend. By the time of the 2017 event, they had a full-time staff of seven besides themselves with funding from Bradford Council, the Arts Council and the National Lottery.[3][4] After the short weekend festival in 2014, the event was lengthened to cover ten days which was held across late June/early July for the 2017 and 2018 and 2019 festivals. The 2016 event was held in late May of that year.[5] The festival is a series of events held at different locations across the Bradford District including theatres such as the Alhambra, bookshops, schools, colleges, Bradford City Hall, bars and art galleries.[6] Whilst the emphasis is on the written word, some parts of the event include the arts, theatre, film, music[7] and talks by famous people such as the former boxer, Frank Bruno, hip-hop artist Akala, 80's icon Luke Goss and former footballer John Barnes.[8]

In 2018, as a celebration of the 200 years since Emily Brontë's birth, the festival installed four stones engraved with specially commissioned poems from four contemporary female writers, at strategic points between Thornton and Haworth.[9] Jeanette Winterson, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay and Kate Bush have each written a piece of poetry that will adorn the four stones. The stones form a walk which connects the Bronte birthplace at Thornton, with the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.[10] In 2018, Bradford Literature Festival was awarded Tourism Event of the Year at the White Rose Awards.[11]

In 2019, the festival attracted speakers such as Jeanette Winterson, Elif Shafak, John Barnes, Habib Ali al-Jifri, Luke Goss, Saul Williams, Lady Leshurr and Michael Rosen, attracting an audience of over 70,000 including a free Education Programme which reached over 18,000 young people.[12] Approximately 15 of the 500+ booked speakers pulled out of the event when it was revealed that some of the sponsorship for the festival had come from the Home Office's Building a Stronger Britain Together programme. One of those who withdrew, journalist Hussein Kesvani, stated that if he had appeared at the festival, then it would have been a conflict of interest. Some of the young Muslims whom he had interviewed "expressed how the expansive counter-extremism programme had affected their ability to express their religious identity".[13]

In 2020, the covid 19 pandemic had a drastic change to the festival programming. In response to the challenges of social distancing, BLF produced an all-digital festival and began a partnership with Reading is Magic Festival and Adab Festival Pakistan, increasing its international reach.[14]

In 2021, the festival moved to a hybrid festival, programming 49 live event and 50 digital events, attracting an audience of 114,139 people, with 57% BAME visitors. In response to the COVID-19 climate, five Family Fun Days entitled ‘Literature Unlocked’ were held at public parks across the City. [15]

In 2022, the10-day literary and cultural celebration attracted 56,338 visitors in June/July 2022, an 81% return on pre-Covid audiences, and was heralded as the “Glastonbury of literature festivals”. In just eight years, Bradford Literature Festival established itself as one of the largest literature festivals in the UK and the industry leader for championing socio-economic and ethnic diversity of audiences and artists alike. Welcoming audiences from across the Bradford district, the breadth of the UK, and from overseas. [16]

In 2023, Bradford Literature Festival delivered an acclaimed programme to record-breaking audiences – hailed as their best year yet. Attendance doubled to 116,225 with 678 events and 63,350 engagements with children and young people. [17] [18]

In 2024, Bradford Literature Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with 699 events across the 10-day festival. Attendance increased from 2023 to over 155,900, including 58,700 children and young people. BLF also unveiled a new partnership with Network Rail, which raised awareness of the festival through takeovers at nine major railway stations across the UK, including five stations in London.[19][20]

Events

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Date Attendance No of events Notable people Notes
2014 968 24 Christa Ackroyd, Lemn Sissay, Steve Antony, Karen McCombie, Kate Rhodes, Penny Hancock, Shazia Mirza, Damian Le Bas, Brian Liddy, Inder Goldfinger, Katy Carr, [7][21][22]
15–24 May 2015 11,000 150 Shabnam Khan, Brian Patten, Sukina Owen-Douglas [7][23]
20–29 May 2016 32,000 200 Carol Ann Duffy, Nadiya Hussain, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi [24][25][26]
30 June–9 July 2017 50,0000 300 Jeanette Winterson, Joanna Trollope, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Germaine Greer [25][27][28]
29 June–8 July 2018 70,000 400 Frank Bruno, Suzi Quatro, Kate Bush [25][29][30][31][32]
28 June–7 July 2019 69,862 432 John Barnes, Luke Goss, Elif Shafak, Charly Cox, Sabrina Mahfouz, Juan Felipe Herrera, Imtiaz Dharker, Rachel Reeves, Tracy Brabin, Kate McCann [33][34][35]
2020 32,619 (digitally) 99 Christopher Eccleston, Lowkey, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad,Ilhan Omar, Joseph Coelho, Ian Rankin In person events cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[36] Digital events proceeded. [37]
25 June–4 July 2021 114,139 100 Caitlin Moran, Abdul Hakim Murad, Jeanette Wilson, Michael Rosen, A A Dhand, Anita Rani, Saima Mir, Aamnah Rashman, Tez Ilyas, Jacqueline Wilson 220 speakers in 100 sessions, with 50% of these online[38][39]
24 June–3 July

2022

57,000 450+ Lemn Sissay, Asma Khan, Joelle Taylor, Malika Booker, Anthony Anaxagorou, Delia Smith, Ed Balls, Jon Barnes, Dom Joly, Andy Haldane, First full in–person event since the COVID pandemic.[40][41]
23 June - 2 July 2023 116,225 678 Anita Rani, Sir Lenny Henry, Lemn Sissay, Sir Michael Palin, Shaykh Al-Yaqoubi, Angela Rayner, Bolu Babalola, Ben Okri, Gary Younge, AC Grayling, A A Dhand, Adam Kay, [42]
28 June - 7 July 2024 155,900 699 Miriam Margolyes, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Sara Pascoe, Ruby Wax, Lemn Sissay, Shaparak Khorsandi, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mary Beard, Kate Bottley, Husam Zomlot, Joelle Taylor, DJ Paulette 10th anniversary year. [43][44]

References

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  1. ^ "An Evaluation of Social Return using Willingness to Pay" (PDF). providentfinancial.com. December 2017. p. 4. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Key Information". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. ^ Armitstead, Claire (26 June 2017). "Brontes, Bradford and Buddhist poetry – meet the women transforming the literary festival". The Guardian. p. 12. ISSN 0261-3077.
  4. ^ Wilde, Claire (6 February 2015). "Bradford wins extra Arts Council funding". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival – University of Bradford". www.bradford.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. ^ Johnson, Helen (12 June 2018). "Bradford Literature Festival: Everything you need to know about this year's literary extravaganza". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Festival review: Bradford Literature Festival". The Yorkshire Post. 26 May 2015. ProQuest 1683071685.
  8. ^ Jalal, Sabah (7 July 2018). "Top author and former heavyweight boxing champion to appear at Bradford Literature Festival". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ Knights, David (3 April 2018). "Brontës at Bradford Lit Festival". Keighley News. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  10. ^ Kelly, Lauren (26 April 2018). "Kate Bush to write a new tribute to Emily Bronte". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Archive | White Rose Awards". White Rose Awards. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival: In-depth Review". www.issuu.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ Beever, Susie (20 June 2019). "Six speakers boycott Bradford Literature Festival in anti-extremism funding row". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Previous Festivals". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  15. ^ "BLF 2021". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  16. ^ "BLF 2022". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  17. ^ "BLF 2023". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival Impact Report 2023 by bradfordlitfest - Issuu". issuu.com. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival: Record ticket sales for latest year". BBC News. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival unveils new partnership with Network Rail". The Bookseller. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival 2018 Programme Announcement @ University of Bradford Union of Students". www.bradfordunisu.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  22. ^ Farooq, Aisha (26 September 2014). "Bradford Literature Festival ~ Launch Weekend". DESIblitz. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival pays tribute to JB Priestley's works". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  24. ^ Stelfox, Hilarie (16 May 2016). "Will freshly-baked star Nadiya rise to the challenge at Bradford festival?". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  25. ^ a b c Young, Chris (12 October 2017). "Record number of 50,000 take part in Bradford Literature Festival". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  26. ^ Clayton, Emma (20 May 2016). "BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL: From pirates to a Poet Laureate – looking ahead to the first weekend of Bradford Literature Festival". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  27. ^ "What's happening in the literary world". The Sunday Times. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  28. ^ Young, Chris (29 June 2017). "FULL SCHEDULE: Over 300 events taking place for Bradford Literature Festival". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  29. ^ Young, Chris (12 June 2018). "University to play major role in Bradford Literature Festival". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  30. ^ Young, Chris (19 May 2018). "Festival details launched". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  31. ^ Young, Chris (19 May 2018). "Festival details launched". Craven Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival visitor attendance up 40% | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  33. ^ Black, Michael (29 March 2019). "Bros star and St George's Hall rap concert among 2019 Bradford Literature Festival events". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  34. ^ "BLF 2019". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Literary festivals 2019: our pick of the UK's best book festivals". www.stylist.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  36. ^ Clayton, Emma (9 July 2020). "Bradford Literature Festival is cancelled". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  37. ^ "BLF 2020". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  38. ^ Kitchen, Ruby (25 June 2021). "Coming together at diverse literature festival". The Yorkshire Post. p. 3. ISSN 0963-1496.
  39. ^ "BLF 2021". Bradford Literature Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  40. ^ Kitchen, Ruby (18 March 2022). "Literature festival is poised to turn over a new leaf". The Yorkshire Post. p. 3. ISSN 0963-1496.
  41. ^ "RSA CEO Andy Haldane speaks at the Bradford Literature Festival". The RSA. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  42. ^ "Bradford festival hailed most successful yet after attracting 110,000 people". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  43. ^ Times, Yorkshire. "Sissay, Pascoe, Yusuf and Margolyes Lead 10 year Celebrations With Sold-Out Events For BLF 2024's First Weekend". yorkshiretimes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Bradford Literature Festival: Record ticket sales for latest year". BBC News. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
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