Blog

The Grammar School at Leeds is very proud to partner the Children’s Festival.  We are really looking forward to seeing you all at this year’s events and we have some fantastic giveaways, competitions and prizes on offer. The design a book cover competition is back by popular demand and this year the winning design…more

On Monday 29 July a team of ten year 8 and 9 students from Allerton High School welcomed Leeds based author and illustrator Teresa Flavin and 35 pupils from local primary schools for an event they had organised themselves – with a little help from Ilkley Literature Festival. Dawn Cameron,…more

People sometimes tell me how much they would love to have my job as Festival Director, but at this time of year, I am daydreaming about being a member of the audience…I find myself leafing through the programme when I ought to be arranging staff rotas, thinking longingly of all…more

New Festival Event: Jenny Eclair: Moving 12.30pm, Sunday 11 October, Kings Hall, £12/10 We have just confirmed this new headline event! Jenny Eclair is an extremely popular broadcaster, comedian, actor and writer. She is one of only two female winners of the Perrier Award, and often features on BBC radio…more

Our weekend poetry festival, Words in the City, took place from 6 – 7 June 2015 in Bradford with leading poets including Tony Harrison, John Hegley, Jo Shapcott and Imtiaz Dharker performing their work along with fantastic events for children and families in the Poetry Yurt, the Emergency Poet dispensing…more

Do you want to be part of the 2016 Words in the City Slam? Do you have 2 poems no longer than 3 minutes each? Are you free to perform at Waterstones on Sat 9 July? Are you used to reading/performing your work to an audience?* Are you 18 or…more

Do you have a great idea for a new creative event, art project or performance based on poetry or spoken word? Do you need a small amount of financial support to realise your idea? Are you based in Bradford or have a strong connection to the city? We’re offering 3…more

A world record holding beatboxer, Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, a Multilingual Mushiara, a Poetry Slam and Shakeapeare performed like you’ve never seen before…there is something for everyone at Words in the City! This year, Words in the City is part of Bradford Festival and will bring together local and national…more

Sam from Ilkley Young Writers tells us about their recents trips to Hebden Bridge and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. On Sunday 5th July, Ilkley Young Writers delivered a young people’s writing workshop (which we’d optimistically named ‘The Mighty Write’) as part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. The workshop had been…more

Our special afternoon event on Monday 12 October for School groups is open for booking NOW. Steve Cole, will talk to Year 5 and 6 pupils about his books and writing. There will also be a special Twilight session for teachers, librarians and other professionals working with children. Steve is…more