Bradford Literature Festival

Great opportunity for aspiring writers!
https://www.facebook.com/events/100956011 5893425/

On 27-28th October Red Bull will be in Bradford for #AmaphikoConnect. They're looking for aspiring entrepreneurs – people with ideas that aim to solve a social problem or spark social change. The deadline for applications is September 16th, more info here https://www.redbull.com/gb…/events/amap hiko-connect-bradford

Thank you to everybody who voted for festival Director Syima Aslam in the #h100awards thanks to your votes, this prestigious award will be coming back to Bradford with us! And huge thanks to our partners Provident Financial, Arts Council England, Bradford Council and the University of Bradford for your amazing support.

For any of our friends who loved this years poetry events, why not join us this Saturday with festival favourite Anthony Joseph and an amazing line up of poets including Malika Booker, Jo Bell, Genevieve Carver and Testament. We'll be kicking off the Bradford Bubble Up weekend in style, in partnership with Ilkley Literature Festival, to bring you a wonderful, water themed evening of spoken word poetry and music. Click here for more information - https://mailchi.mp/c29…/join-us-at-brad ford-bubble-up-766851

There's just one week to go to the start of Bradford Bubble Up! There's so much to do across the weekend celebrating the best of the creativity and spirit of our wonderful city!
http://bradfordbubbleup.com/

We're hiring! The festival is looking for an Education Programme Manager to aid with the development of our schools programme and year-round outreach.
If you or somebody you know might be interested, applications are only open until 22nd September, so apply now!
https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/opportu nities/

Great article and some lovely pictures from the festival in @thebookseller this afternoon! Bradford Literature Festival visitor attendance up 40%
https://www.thebookseller.com/…/bradfor d-literature-festiva…

We're excited to finally release our 2018 highlights film! Thank you to everybody who joined us at the festival this year, we look forward to seeing you all again in 2019. And do let us know if you spot yourself in the film :)

This year our festival was bigger and better than ever with an audience reach of 70,000!

Have you ever thought that the only thing missing in Bradford is a beach? Well Bradford Bubble Up is bringing an urban beach right to the city! Check out the full weekend programme here:
www.bradfordbubbleup.com

There are lots of reasons to vote for @SyimaAslam in the #h100awards! Read below for an insight into how Syima's family invaluably influenced her to have an early interest in literature and education. Vote here; http://ow.ly/3v5L30lct8S
"I’m a 2nd generation immigrant. As a child I shuttled between the UK and Pakistan. At age 8 I couldn’t speak English, at age 10 I scored 99% in my English Vocab. This was all down to my mum taking me to the library every week and pushing me ...to work hard at school."
"I was really lucky that my mum engaged with my education and told me to aim high. It’s something that really inspired my work with the festival – I feel every child can be brilliant they just need the opportunity."
"With the festival we think really hard about how we can engage whole families, make them feel welcome & included, provide new & enjoyable opportunities and how we inspire parents to think about books – for them and their children."
“My Mum is educated but doesn’t speak English, people think she’s illiterate. But it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what language you’ve been educated in, just taking the time to expose your children to new things, to engage their imaginations, can make all the difference.”
"Literacy doesn’t start and stop in the classroom – family has a massive role to play. Parents/grandparents/aunties/uncles/sibli ngs also teach us important things we learn in life. It’s important that people remember learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom.”
Remember to vote for @SyimaAslam in the #h100awards here for #TeamBradford; http://www.thehospitalclub.com/h100awards
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Team BLF have put on their dancing shoes for @bdbubbleup ! You can join in September too! #bdbubbleup

Catch Seven Streams, a collection of films and imagery inspired by Bradford Beck, as part of Bradford Bubble Up, in association with Impressions Gallery and The Brick Box Rooms.
http://bradfordbubbleup.com/

Vote for Syima in the h100club awards! http://www.thehospitalclub.com/h100awards

Another highlight of Bradford Bubble Up is Phase Change, a mass interactive performance to transform the city's iconic mirror pool, in association with photographer Gary Clarke, Handmade Parade, Dance United Yorkshire and The Brick Box Rooms .
http://bradfordbubbleup.com/

From the 7th-9th September, the Bradford Bubble Up weekend will celebrate the currents of our great city, from our secret waterways to our creativity and spirit. Visit the website for more details of the fantastic programme of events. http://www.bradfordbubbleup.com

There are lots of reasons to vote for BLF director Syima Aslam in the #h100awards. Syima takes inspiration from all aspects of life including her daughter, her fountain pen, & her favourite books. Read below for an insight into what influences Syima & why. Vote here; http://ow.ly/3v5L30lct8S
“I draw inspiration from my @pelikan_company fountain pen, it makes me feel connected to hundreds of years of writers, and more largely, has helped to bring me to where I am now and what ...I do here in Bradford.”
“Throughout life, I have always looked to The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud din Attar as an inspirational lesson that when trying to reach goals, the journey will always have peaks and troughs – but you must learn from it, and keep going.”
“I love @markmiodownik's work with materials at the cutting edge of design & technology & his book ‘Stuff Matters’ – I take inspiration from his method of thinking about the world in exiting ways to influence what we programme at the festival & who we programme it for.”
“My daughter Tayyibah is a constant source of inspiration to me. She's 15 now & growing up in a very different world to the one I did. With the festival, and in everything I do, I hope to create something that will enhance her life & the lives of other young people like her."
Remember to vote for Syima in the #h100awards and to take a look at the other outstanding individuals nominated in other categories; http://ow.ly/3v5L30lct8S
See More

BLF Director Syima Aslam nominated in the #h100awards & we need your help!
Over the coming weeks we will share 10 great reasons to vote for Syima and support an outstanding person who has created a festival accessible to everyone. Or you can vote now; http://ow.ly/3v5L30lct8S

📢 Exciting news! 📢 Our director Syima Aslam has been nominated in The Hospital Club's #h100awards for the Publishing and Writing award. What a fantastic chance to support Bradford and an amazing Bradfordian!
Vote now: http://www.thehospitalclub.com/h100awards

yyyyyyyyyyyessssssssd

What a glorious event that was.Thrilled to see Bradford coming to life-great having all the events in such a concentrated area-reminds me of the best days of Bradford Festival in the 90's.My husband( a Bradfordian who avoids the city centre) was impressed.Not the city centre he remembers from 10 years ago.

This is my second year attending events as part of the festival.

A bewildering choice of events! Something for everyone.



2 friends of mine were on panels this year, in the French Ballroom of the Midland hotel. Good venue, good panels.



Hopefully, I'll be back next year.

Thank you for an amazing festival! We loved it, great variety of events & very inspiring, bought many books. It is hard to pick a favourite but 'Poetry with a Punch', 'Sufiana Kalaam' & 'Lives of Man' were amazing, not to mention 'The Legacy of Nelson Mandela'. Feel very inspired & thank you for opening our eyes to new books! ...Bradford Literary Circle.

My husband and I have been attending this for the past 3 years. We try to participate in as many as we can physically get to. So so much choice and just not enough time. An absolutely amazing event which just gets better every year. I can't praise it enough. Exceptionally well organised and such a wide variety of events. Met people from all over the country and authors from all over the world.

It's definitely one of our highlights of the year.

feeling little sad that it's almost over but God willing we will attend next year too.

Can't wait for Bradfordlitfest2018

It was excellent yesterday! There was so much to do. We spent 4 hours there and they didn’t even go in water. Too busy! �

It has been a brilliant year so much information to learn every year just keeps getting better and better. Once of the key features to its success was the rise of workshops and practical advice from the authors. Many thanks to Pete @postiveprison for the book and the advice and to the many authors that have given great advice and discussion, A A Dhand and Liz Mistry for advice of publishing, drafting a story and editing, Yasir Mirza, Stephen Camden and John Sidden for your advice methods of learning. I know have a further collection of books to read and a deeper understanding, into the world of literature.

In the beginning was the word...and the words kept coming from Jeanette Winterson...no script, no autocue, just a passion for language that filled the hour in a blink��

I visited the tai chi workshop and really enjoyed the demonstration and tea ceremony

I saw " Pearls of Islam" - divine !!, " Kama Sutra diaries - amazing ladies - bought the book - am dazzled and horrified by it !!, " The Art of Seduction" - Seema is scintillating <3 and bought the book, saw Akala talk - felt the love, "Female Mystics" - fabulous - I got so much from each woman - am gonna follow up - I have been on the path for a number of years starting with myself training as a Priestess of the Goddess !! - I loved it !! and lastly I saw Jules Evans - who did not get a proper thankyou clap at the end as someone too eager to give the football score ha ha - again a subject right where I am at so to speak - bought his book and am gonna follow up !! - so all in all a spectacular festival - I am from Hudderfield and could not come to anymore - there was too much brilliant stuff really !! but for me its the content of the spiritual, mystical and bringing together of the divine and where all faiths meet together - pure LOVE <3 just what the world needs - I am sure Bradford is special in what you have achieved with this - xxxxthankyou <3 and Blessings xxxx

Had a fabulous time watching the amazing shoutdrama. My little girl has done nothing but talk about rockets and the moon since watching Sue at the library.

Great event for the general public

Farewell Bradford Lit Fest, what a tremendous festival it was aswell. Only in its second year, yet so diverse, so accessible and pretty much something on for everyone.

City centre has been buzzing with people all week. Social media has been awash with praise.

Just goes to show with some investment and some real forward thinking leaders the best of this city is really showcased...

On that note, well done to Irna, Syima and the whole Lit Fest team. You outdid yourselves. You put Bradders on the map.

I, for one, have no idea now what I will be doing with the kids next weekend. We have been truly spoilt. Thank you

Came to the Superhero & Harry Potter days and they were both such fantastic events. In particular the Harry Potter day was so well done - the crafts were great, we all loved listening to The Dragonsitter illustrator Garry Parsons and my children enjoyed the Wrongsemble show so much that they chose to get out of the fountains to watch it for a second time! Tried twice to get on the Knight Bus and was fully booked well in advance both times but there was still plenty to do without it.

Brilliant superhero event , my son loved it thank you.

Been to the bronte talks all wear excellent and the hotel as a nice place to have the talk and good celection of books

Attended A A Dhands book launch and his workshop this afternoon. Both were fantastic and really informative for writers. Thanks so much for a great festival. Keep up the good work. All staff really friendly and helpful too.

An amazing mixture of events for all ages. Too many to pick from however the Btonte talks have been super. I've just returned from the walking in footsteps Charlotte Bronte tour with Christa Ackroyd. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgable. It has been an unforgettable day. Can't wait for next year's festival.

Thank you so much for this Year's excellent festival! 2016s was mostly for Moslems so I felt excluded but this one had a much better mix. More of the same please.

yyyyyyyyyyyessssssssd

What a glorious event that was.Thrilled to see Bradford coming to life-great having all the events in such a concentrated area-reminds me of the best days of Bradford Festival in the 90's.My husband( a Bradfordian who avoids the city centre) was impressed.Not the city centre he remembers from 10 years ago.

This is my second year attending events as part of the festival.

A bewildering choice of events! Something for everyone.



2 friends of mine were on panels this year, in the French Ballroom of the Midland hotel. Good venue, good panels.



Hopefully, I'll be back next year.

Thank you for an amazing festival! We loved it, great variety of events & very inspiring, bought many books. It is hard to pick a favourite but 'Poetry with a Punch', 'Sufiana Kalaam' & 'Lives of Man' were amazing, not to mention 'The Legacy of Nelson Mandela'. Feel very inspired & thank you for opening our eyes to new books! ...Bradford Literary Circle.

My husband and I have been attending this for the past 3 years. We try to participate in as many as we can physically get to. So so much choice and just not enough time. An absolutely amazing event which just gets better every year. I can't praise it enough. Exceptionally well organised and such a wide variety of events. Met people from all over the country and authors from all over the world.

It's definitely one of our highlights of the year.

feeling little sad that it's almost over but God willing we will attend next year too.

Can't wait for Bradfordlitfest2018

It was excellent yesterday! There was so much to do. We spent 4 hours there and they didn’t even go in water. Too busy! �

It has been a brilliant year so much information to learn every year just keeps getting better and better. Once of the key features to its success was the rise of workshops and practical advice from the authors. Many thanks to Pete @postiveprison for the book and the advice and to the many authors that have given great advice and discussion, A A Dhand and Liz Mistry for advice of publishing, drafting a story and editing, Yasir Mirza, Stephen Camden and John Sidden for your advice methods of learning. I know have a further collection of books to read and a deeper understanding, into the world of literature.

In the beginning was the word...and the words kept coming from Jeanette Winterson...no script, no autocue, just a passion for language that filled the hour in a blink��

I visited the tai chi workshop and really enjoyed the demonstration and tea ceremony

I saw " Pearls of Islam" - divine !!, " Kama Sutra diaries - amazing ladies - bought the book - am dazzled and horrified by it !!, " The Art of Seduction" - Seema is scintillating <3 and bought the book, saw Akala talk - felt the love, "Female Mystics" - fabulous - I got so much from each woman - am gonna follow up - I have been on the path for a number of years starting with myself training as a Priestess of the Goddess !! - I loved it !! and lastly I saw Jules Evans - who did not get a proper thankyou clap at the end as someone too eager to give the football score ha ha - again a subject right where I am at so to speak - bought his book and am gonna follow up !! - so all in all a spectacular festival - I am from Hudderfield and could not come to anymore - there was too much brilliant stuff really !! but for me its the content of the spiritual, mystical and bringing together of the divine and where all faiths meet together - pure LOVE <3 just what the world needs - I am sure Bradford is special in what you have achieved with this - xxxxthankyou <3 and Blessings xxxx

Had a fabulous time watching the amazing shoutdrama. My little girl has done nothing but talk about rockets and the moon since watching Sue at the library.

Great event for the general public

Farewell Bradford Lit Fest, what a tremendous festival it was aswell. Only in its second year, yet so diverse, so accessible and pretty much something on for everyone.

City centre has been buzzing with people all week. Social media has been awash with praise.

Just goes to show with some investment and some real forward thinking leaders the best of this city is really showcased...

On that note, well done to Irna, Syima and the whole Lit Fest team. You outdid yourselves. You put Bradders on the map.

I, for one, have no idea now what I will be doing with the kids next weekend. We have been truly spoilt. Thank you

Came to the Superhero & Harry Potter days and they were both such fantastic events. In particular the Harry Potter day was so well done - the crafts were great, we all loved listening to The Dragonsitter illustrator Garry Parsons and my children enjoyed the Wrongsemble show so much that they chose to get out of the fountains to watch it for a second time! Tried twice to get on the Knight Bus and was fully booked well in advance both times but there was still plenty to do without it.

Brilliant superhero event , my son loved it thank you.

Been to the bronte talks all wear excellent and the hotel as a nice place to have the talk and good celection of books

Attended A A Dhands book launch and his workshop this afternoon. Both were fantastic and really informative for writers. Thanks so much for a great festival. Keep up the good work. All staff really friendly and helpful too.

An amazing mixture of events for all ages. Too many to pick from however the Btonte talks have been super. I've just returned from the walking in footsteps Charlotte Bronte tour with Christa Ackroyd. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgable. It has been an unforgettable day. Can't wait for next year's festival.

Thank you so much for this Year's excellent festival! 2016s was mostly for Moslems so I felt excluded but this one had a much better mix. More of the same please.