Director’s welcome

I look forward to welcoming you to the tenth annual Bradford Literature Festival (28 June – 7 July 2024). BLF 2024 will feature hundreds of unique events for all ages across 10 brilliant days, welcoming some of the most inspirational and creative figures from the worlds of literature, poetry, business, politics, science and history, film and TV, among many others, to Bradford.

Look out for the return of our flagship events including Poetry with a Punch, and the ever-popular Brontë Day and Family Fun Days in City Park, as well as several new themes and topics.

We passionately believe in the power of words to broaden horizons and raise aspirations and we hope you can join us on this journey of discovery.

Syima Aslam, Founder, CEO & Artistic Director

About Bradford Literature Festival

Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) is one of the top three largest literature festivals in the UK, is the UK’s largest Muslim platform, and Europe’s most eclectic and diverse literature festival. Renowned globally as an innovator within the culture sector, BLF forges international partnerships, curating diverse, innovative, and inclusive programmes.

At the heart of BLF is a commitment to artistic brilliance and contemporary discourse, combining renowned literary figures with up-and-coming voices to curate dynamic programmes that spark dialogue and delight audiences.

Embodying a unique perspective and a strong sense of identity, BLF mirrors the pulse of modern Britain and the global community, making it a thought-provoking destination for literary enthusiasts and cultural observers alike.

BLF’s reach extends across the UK and the world. Since our inception in 2014, we have engaged an audience of over 550,000 from 30 countries, welcoming 116,000 audiences in 2023 alone.

Arts, culture and literature have the power to change lives

BLF creates spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all, with a vision of creating a fairer society and changing lives through world-class culture and literature.

Our representative programmes give a platform to diverse and often underrepresented narratives, providing a stage for rich, varied perspectives and fostering engaging discussions, even on the most challenging topics.

To make sure everyone can access our work, BLF pioneered ‘Ethical Ticketing’, allowing free access for those who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend arts and cultural events.

We do this because we believe culture, literature and education have the power to change lives.

Inclusive Education and Cultural Development

BLF has the largest Education Programme of any UK festival, and it stands out for its deep integration within the main festival, giving children and young people unparalleled access to world-renowned authors, poets, writers, and distinguished speakers. For example, Attorney General of Minnesota Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress and the prosecutor of the George Floyd case, explored lasting change and racial justice as part of BLF’s Education Programme 2023; an opportunity described by teachers as ‘being part of living history.’

At the centre of our Education Programme are themed education days designed to complement the curriculum that cover a wide range of topics from superheroes to Shakespeare, and from Hitler to Tutankhamun. The Education Programme reflects diverse cultural narratives and subjects not seen in mainstream education, focusing on global historical and cultural themes, including underrepresented topics like the ‘Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire,’ which explored the formation of the modern Middle East.

More than just academic exercises, we shape and impact future generations worldwide, enhancing students’ global understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures, equipping them to become well-informed and open-minded global citizens.

Building Community Participation

The internationality of our programme reflects and resonates with Bradford’s many communities that hail from all parts of the world, and our work with the city’s different communities continues year-round.

Our long-term relationships and confidence-building work with community groups lead to co-curated, culturally relevant and high-quality events within the festival itself, which the community groups want to attend.

Our work spans over 35 grassroots organisations and community groups representing diverse backgrounds, be it class, faith or ethnicity. The projects that we support are as diverse as the people that we serve, working with refugees, children in care, women’s centres, homeless services, hospice care, mental health providers, hospitals and more, with events tailored to the needs of each community.

Creative Economic Conference

Founded on the belief that the cultural sector can be the driving force behind the economic and social regeneration of the UK, the annual Creative Economic Conference (CEC) brings together the creative and commercial industries.

The conference serves as a strategic leadership intervention, breaking down silos and sparking debates among leaders from various sectors. It explores how the business and creative sectors can work together to drive innovation, inspire visionary thinking, and grow the economy both regionally and nationally.

In 2023, we were honoured to host inspiring leaders from the business and creative industries, distinguished politicians, and visionary entrepreneurs such as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves; US Attorney General Keith Ellison; CEO of the Royal Society of Arts, Andy Haldane; National Chair of Federation of Small Businesses, Martin McTague; Co-Founder of WeTransfer, Damian Bradfield, and many more.