HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
Welcome...
A very Merry Christmas from all at the Harrogate International Festivals
We hope you’ve had an enjoyable year with the Harrogate International Festivals.
There can be few festivals that feature Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra in the glittering Royal Hall, the semi-free jazz drum-and-sax duo MOBO winners Binker & Moses, in a Spiegeltent and the giants of crime writing, stage, screen and politics in a range of literary festivals. In this, Harrogate International Festivals are distinctive amongst festivals, with our unique broad programme creating opportunities for everyone to experience power of the arts. In 2018 we have worked with a huge range of audiences and participants, bringing the arts to life and creating memories throughout the town. We brought the inspiring Luminarium by Architects of Air to Harrogate engaging nearly 5000 people in the local community over four days, some of whom had never previously experienced the work of the Festival. We created platforms and opportunities for 88 young musicians and budding authors to hone their skills, to perform in front of new audiences, and to learn from the masters of their profession. We used spaces in new ways, hosting our very first Long Table Dinner and 1940’s Day in the Valley Gardens, and transforming Crescent Gardens with the power of the mirrored Spiegeltent. This July we were delighted to be able to premiere a new commission as part of the Spiegeltent from our Guest Curator Ayanna Witter-Johnson showcasing our support for artists at all levels of their careers from emerging artists to the internationally renowned. In February, Harrogate was crowned as ‘2018’s bookiest town’ by the Independent. With three literary festivals in our programme, and a strong pedigree of exclusive events and attracting the very best authors to our town this announcement further cemented the prowess of Harrogate and our Festival as one of the UK’s top destinations for literary events. Our HIF+ programmes continued once again throughout the year. The Big Read took literature and reading skills to people throughout the north, our Big Write took the excitement of creative writing to 622 children from 22 local schools, and our Musical Mums programme worked with teenage young mums and their children developing soft skills, confidence and raising aspirations for their futures. Harrogate International Festivals goes from strength to strength, bringing high quality arts and engagement opportunities to the town despite working in a challenging fundraising landscape. Thank you for your support. Harrogate International Festivals simply could not exist without it. No matter how many tickets are sold, the reality is that sponsorship and personal giving remain our lifeblood. By helping to support the Festival you are continuing the rich history of the arts within Harrogate and are welcomed into the ‘Home of Festivals’.
2018
Box Office: 01423 562 303
www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Harrogate International Festivals is a registered charity no. 244861.
