A Welcome from our Chair

Bradford Literature Festival 2022 A WELCOME FROM OUR CHAIR

The Bradford Literature Festival is back – and ready to go ahead full blast. The past two Festivals have been full of brilliant things but have been held back inevitably by the Covid pandemic.

We are looking forward to picking up where we left off with what is the largest literature festival in the North of England – and the most diverse and exciting in the country.

Bradford Literature Festival is unlike anything you will find at other festivals around the UK in its breadth and diversity, and its events are of both local and global relevance. For ten exciting days, it will bring the world to Bradford, and Bradford to the world.

This summer’s events will show, once again, the power of words and culture to change people’s lives for the better. The needs of the people of the great City of Bradford are at the heart of everything we do: we bring together people from all different communities to celebrate everything that unites us, while at the same time creating a nuanced understanding of those things that divide us. Inspiring a love of words and nurturing literacy is reflected in our extensive, yearround education, community, and family programmes. We warmly welcome everyone to our events, which is why the education and Children & Young People’s programmes are free.

Across the programme will be insights into the very real struggles that we all face globally, ranging from those affected by war to the fights against discrimination and inequality. There will be events on Ukraine, Russia and Afghanistan, while our feminism strand will explore a wide range of issues from motherhood to unequal pay. The festival flows from politics to poetry, fairy tales to fantasy, bringing words off the page into our city and our communities.

Bradford Literature Festival has a lofty vision, which is to help create a fairer society and change lives through access to world-class arts and literature for all. This summer, we very much hope that you will join us on this journey.

Sir Richard Lambert Chair of BLF Board