Ilkley Literature Festival

Looking to reach new audiences in 2024? 👏 Discover the perks and benefits of sponsoring, partnering and advertising with Ilkley Literature Festival. Find out more and get in touch:
https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/support-us/become-a-sponsor

⏰ Poets! You have until 11.59pm this Sunday to apply for the 2024 New Northern Poets programme!

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to receive mentoring from experienced poets, develop your work and build your profile.

➡️ Find out more and apply now: https://tinyurl.com/aupv6d8y

📢 Calling all northern poets! Word Up North in partnership with The University of Leeds Poetry Centre are seeking six rising poets from the north of England to take part in their 2024 New Northern Poets programme.

✍️ You'll receive mentoring, commissions, opportunities to build your profile and network & more!

This is a unique mentoring opportunity for emerging poets in the north of England, and they're particularly interested in hearing from those from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the cultural and publishing sector.

👉 Find out more and apply by 30 June: https://tinyurl.com/aupv6d8y

Sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 Ilkley Literature Festival Sponsorship opportunities are now available for local businesses to be a part of this year's Ilkley Literature Festival. Each autumn, the festival delivers a boost to the local economy, bringing visitors that eat, drink, stay and shop locally whilst taking in events. Last year’s festival delivered...

📢 Calling all northern poets! Word Up North in partnership with The University of Leeds Poetry Centre are seeking six rising poets from the north of England to take part in their 2024 New Northern Poets programme.

✍️ You'll receive mentoring, commissions, opportunities to build your profile and network & more!

This is a unique mentoring opportunity for emerging poets in the north of England, and they're particularly interested in hearing from those from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the cultural and publishing sector.

👉 Find out more and apply by 30 June: https://tinyurl.com/aupv6d8y

Our podcast, Settee Seminars, is back! Listen to fascinating short talks by leading experts 🎧

Topics this season include:
✍️ Translated literature of the Spanish Civil War
🇮🇹 The literary legacy of Italo Calvino
💧 Charles Darwin's adventures in Ilkley

And much more!

All six seasons are available now to enjoy for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Settee Seminars Podcast | Ilkley Literature Festival Settee Seminars Podcast -

⏰ Just one week left to apply for this unique, paid opportunity to become a writer in residence at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire. Word Up North in partnership with National Trust are looking for a writer based in Yorkshire and the Humber to research and develop original work inspired by NT Brimham Rocks, create and run workshops for aspiring nature writers and work with local primary school children in a creative project.

📅 Applications close Friday 24 May (one week from today!). 👉 For more details and to apply, download our recruitment pack: https://tinyurl.com/2p93tn9z

The National Trust in partnership with Word Up North is seeking a Writer-in-Residence for Brimham Rocks, near Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire. The site’s mysterious and awe-inspiring rock formations are a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers, walkers and young families.

The writer will research and develop original work inspired by Brimham Rocks’ natural environment and its people; create and run workshops for aspiring nature writers; and work with local primary school children to help them create their own written responses to the site. The residency will take place over 5 months from June – October 2024 and will culminate in a public event to share the work created through the programme.

Applications now open. Deadline: Fri 24 May 2024
Download the Recruitment Pack https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NT-Brimham-Rocks-Writer-in-Residence-Recruitment-Pack-April-2024.pdf

Happy 90th birthday Alan Bennett! 🎂

We've had the honour of hosting the legendary playwright and author six times since the 1980s. Here he is opening the 2017 festival, and we've delved into the archives to find his first appearance in our 1984 festival programme.

Did you attend one of Alan Bennett's events at ILF? Let us know! 👇

The National Trust in partnership with Word Up North is seeking a Writer-in-Residence for Brimham Rocks, near Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire. The site’s mysterious and awe-inspiring rock formations are a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers, walkers and young families.

The writer will research and develop original work inspired by Brimham Rocks’ natural environment and its people; create and run workshops for aspiring nature writers; and work with local primary school children to help them create their own written responses to the site. The residency will take place over 5 months from June – October 2024 and will culminate in a public event to share the work created through the programme.

Applications now open. Deadline: Fri 24 May 2024
Download the Recruitment Pack https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NT-Brimham-Rocks-Writer-in-Residence-Recruitment-Pack-April-2024.pdf

Less than two weeks left to apply! Get your applications in now. https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

We are looking for a customer service superstar to join us as Box Office Supervisor!

If you have experience with...
🎫 Ticket sales
😃 Customer enquiries
🖇️ Sales reporting
💰 Cash handling..then we want to hear from you!

Interested? Find out more information and apply here: https://ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Closing date for applications: Monday 13 May, 5pm

Tickets are selling fast! Book yours now ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/ILF-MrBatesPostOffice
Go behind the scenes with the writer of the gripping ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, in this exclusive event about the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history ✉️📮
Join the mind behind this influential series that rocked the nation, listen to stories of the lives that were changed, and learn how the act of writing and telling a story can create shockwaves, political change, and justice ✍️
Interview by journalist and media consultant Ruth Pitt, director of the Creative Cities Convention.
📅 Wednesday 15 May, 7pm
❓ All Saints' Church
🎥 Or available via live-stream

We are looking for a customer service superstar to join us as Box Office Supervisor!

If you have experience with...
🎫 Ticket sales
😃 Customer enquiries
🖇️ Sales reporting
💰 Cash handling..then we want to hear from you!

Interested? Find out more information and apply here: https://ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Closing date for applications: Monday 13 May, 5pm

Book now ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/ILF-MrBatesPostOffice

Go behind the scenes with the writer of the gripping ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, in this exclusive event about the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history ✉️📮

Join the mind behind this influential series that rocked the nation, listen to stories of the lives that were changed, and learn how the act of writing and telling a story can create shockwaves, political change, and justice ✍️

Interview by journalist and media consultant Ruth Pitt, director of the Creative Cities Convention.

📅 Wednesday 15 May, 7pm
❓ All Saints' Church
🎥 Or available via live-stream

Do you want to help us develop and deliver our programme of work? You're in luck! We're looking for a Programme Manager to join our team 🧡

We would love to hear from those with experience working with:
🧒 Children and young people
🏫 Schools
🙌 Grassroots community groups and leaders
✍️ Writers/artists and creative practitioners

Deadline 📅 Sunday 7 April 2024
Interested or know someone who might be? Find out more and apply now:
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Do you have experience delivering innovative and creative programmes of work to children, young people or communities? If so, you’re in luck! 🧡

📣 We’re looking for a Programme Manager to join our team! 📣
If you want to encourage creativity with words, reading and writing and work with schools, libraries, artists and more, we want to hear from you.

Deadline 📅 Sunday 7 April 2024
Interested or know someone who might be? Find out more and apply now:
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Just one day left to apply! We are looking for a Communications & Digital Officer to develop and deliver our:

📣 External voice
🖥️ Marketing campaigns
💬 Communication strategies
📷 Digital Content
🎫 Audience development plans

Interested? Apply now! https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

📢 Job Opportunity 📢

Are you a wiz with words and a digital dynamo looking for an exciting opportunity to put your skills to use? 💻
If so, you’re in luck!

We are looking for a Communications & Digital Officer to help develop the voice of Word Up North and Ilkley Literature Festival.

Find out more and apply online
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies
Deadline for applications: Thu 22 Feb

One week left to apply! We're hiring a Communications & Digital Officer🤩

If you have experience of print and digital marketing, content creation, and audience development, we would love to hear from you 🧡

Find out more and apply:
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

📢 Job Opportunity 📢

Are you a wiz with words and a digital dynamo looking for an exciting opportunity to put your skills to use? 💻
If so, you’re in luck!

We are looking for a Communications & Digital Officer to help develop the voice of Word Up North and Ilkley Literature Festival.

Find out more and apply online
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies
Deadline for applications: Thu 22 Feb

Don't forget, tomorrow we are hosting a free storytelling workshops at Keighley Library!

In this workshop, learn skills in adaptation, plot construction, dialogue and more, and write and perform a piece inspired by local folklore and news. Find your voice, learn how to use it, and make people stop and listen 📢

Create your own inspiring, moving and engaging stories and captivate the minds of your audience with expert storytellers, Obscura Theatre ✏️

Presented in partnership with our friends at the Brontë Parsonage Museum ❤️

Sat 10 Feb
Sat 17 Feb - Unfortunately this session has been CANCELLED due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause.
Keighley Library, 2-4pm
Adults and children 7+ • Families welcome!
Free, no booking required!

For more info: https://ilkleyliteraturefestival-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

📢 Job Opportunity 📢

Are you a wiz with words and a digital dynamo looking for an exciting opportunity to put your skills to use? 💻
If so, you’re in luck!

We are looking for a Communications & Digital Officer to help develop the voice of Word Up North and Ilkley Literature Festival.

Find out more and apply online
🔗 https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/about-us/vacancies
Deadline for applications: Thu 22 Feb

Books with endless twists and turns 📖 Films you just can’t switch off 📽️ Podcasts keeping you on the edge of your seat 🎧 Catchy songs on repeat 🎶
What do these have in common? They are master storytelling.

Create your own inspiring, moving and engaging stories and captivate the minds of your audience with expert storytellers, Obscura Theatre ✏️
Presented in partnership with our friends at the Brontë Parsonage Museum ❤️

In these workshops, learn skills in adaptation, plot construction, dialogue and more, and write and perform a piece inspired by local folklore and news. Find your voice, learn how to use it, and make people stop and listen 📢

Sat 10 & Sat 17 February
Keighley Library, 2-4pm
Adults and children 7+ • Families welcome!
Free, no booking required!

For more info: https://ilkleyliteraturefestival-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

Our Young Writers group returns today at Keighley Library for the first session of 2024!

In this FREE group for teens, explore world building, songwriting, activism, screenwriting, journalism and more!

Interested? Just turn up for a taster session!
Young Writers takes place every Wednesday from 4.30-6pm from now until March at Keighley Library.

Or find out more here: http://www.wordupnorth.org.uk/

The 2000s. The new millennium. It’s time to take a look back on this transformative decade of Ilkley Literature Festival for today’s .

📚 A new Director, Dominic Gregory, brought a raft of big name to Ilkley, from A.S. Byatt to V.S. Naipaul to Jeffrey Eugenides to John Cooper Clare as Reader in Residence. In 2002, Rachel Feldberg began her stint as Festival Director, which lasted 16 years until 2018!

💻 ILF went online! They set up their own website and later their own social media channels, as well as an 'e-lit' event.

👩‍👦 In this decade, we developed and expanded our a year-round programme of work with schools and young people, with a weekly young writers group for teenagers, a residential summer school, and WordsFest, a mini festival for young people with writing workshops, graffiti masterclasses and free chocolate cake.

📮 ILF also produced a wider range of children's events, bringing incredible children's authors to Ilkley, such as Ilkley resident and creator of Postman Pat, who became the Children's Festival patron.

❤️ Rachel Feldberg introduced a Mushaira to Ilkley - a traditional South Asian gathering of poets - where every year 35 South Asian poets gathered to share their work.

🎭 The noughties saw the introduction of the Festival Fringe, as well as specific strands within the programme making the festival more focused on important events. Some strands over the years have included the 1960s, Music and Lyrics and Explore Moor.

🪨 The Festival commissioned new work from major writers like Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy, such as our Stanza Stones Project.

What do you remember of ILF in the 2000s? Let us know! ⬇️

As part of the October Festival, we welcomed poets for day of readings, workshops, talks, networking sessions and more as part of our Poetry Day!

The day was moving, inspiring and informative, with subjects ranging from Sri Lankan literature to seasickness to ILF's past Poets in Residence.

Did you attend our Poetry Day? If so, what were some of your highlights? Let us know below! 👇

For today's , all the way from our archive, here is a short film of Patience Agbabi (our 2012 Poet in Residence) performing at the 2012 Ilkley Literature Festival.

In 2012 we commissioned short residencies from four leading poets, Daljit Nagra, Patience Agbabi, Raman Mundair and Moniza Alvi as part of ‘Allegories of Power: Art, Empires and Ideas’ – an exciting partnership project between Alchemy, Bradford Museums and Galleries, Harewood House and Ilkley Literature Festival.

Each poet was invited to Yorkshire and given the opportunity to visit ‘Silk – Bradford and the Subcontinent’, a new exhibition at the city’s Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. The poets were then given unique access to the rooms and collections at Harewood House, a magnificent Georgian mansion to the north of Leeds.

Their brief was simply to respond in whatever way they wished and the work they created was published in a collection. The poems were premiered at Ilkley Literature Festival in October 2012. Here, you can hear Patience Agbabi's poem, 'The Doll House'.

🔗

Patience Agbabi Allegories of Power 2012

The 1990s. It’s time to take a look back on another decade of Ilkley Literature Festival for today’s .

🔥 The 1990 Festival featured mime dance drama, events with Margaret Drabble and late night comedy with the Salami Brothers (who set off the King’s Hall fire alarm with a dramatic fire show!)

🖊️ Jonathan Davidson was appointed the to become Festival Director in 1991. His first programme featured the young poet Simon Armitage.

😮 1992 saw the festival change; it would now become three mini festivals in March, June and October!

📪 The 1990s saw the festival launch a new Yorkshire Open Poetry Comeptition, children’s events with Ilkley resident John Cunliffe (creator of Postman Pat), a ‘Festival of Words’, a ‘Word Writers’ tour, a commission from Ian Duhig, and so much more!

What do you remember of ILF in the 1990s? Let us know! ⬇️

For today's , we are giving a shout out to our wonderful volunteers! The festival was originally founded and ran by volunteers, and they continue to be vital to the success of the organisation. From stewards to festival runners to social media support, we could not run the festival without their support. From the entire ILF team, thank you ❤️

For today's , we want to give a massive shoutout to the wider ILF team! Over the 17 days October, our core team grows from four to over 25 freelance staff, including:
🧡 Event Managers
💜 Stage Managers
💻 Tech Managers
🎟️ Box Office Assistants
🏃Festival Assistants

We could not run the festival without their incredible hard work, so thank you! Have you ever worked for ILF? If so, let us know! 👇

Are you a short story scribbler? A secret novelist? A sofa songwriter? Do you know a young person who is? Join our FREE Keighley-based Young Writers Group for teens aged 12-18 and explore...

Fiction📚 World Building🌍 Songwriting 🎶 Activism✊ Screenwriting🎥 Journalism📰 Playwriting🎭 Comedy🤣

Find out more🔗 http://www.wordupnorth.org.uk/

Nearly three years ago in 2021, we welcomed Olivia Santovetti and Sarah Hudspith from the University of Leeds for an online discussion about the fascinating works of Elena Ferrante and Fyodor Dostoevsky. They explored the similarities between their work, the authors' impact and legacy, as well as the analysing select passages from their texts. For today's , catch up on this event and learn something new!

🔗

"Illuminating the chaos and obscurity": Ferrante and Dostoevsky in Dialogue Elena Ferrante is one of the most critically acclaimed and popular novelists on the global stage today. Her works offer reflections on the nature of good and...

Did you know that you get the chance to meet your favourite authors and get your book signed at our events? Which authors have you met over the 50 years of ILF?