Bradford Literature Festival has embarked on a three-year project with funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to develop and deepen its relationship with the people it serves and establish a more focused, year-round model of engagement. 

By working closely with Bradford’s most isolated populations over a longer timeframe, BLF will deepen its understanding of the needs and interests of specific groups to co-curate relevant, accessible, and impactful events and programming.  

This project has been working with residents across three distinct populations and meets the needs of conflict-affected groups, settled communities who have been in the UK for decades or generations, and those that BLF have not previously engaged with. These include white working class, South Asian, refugees, asylum seekers, Gypsy Roma, and Traveller populations. 

In the first year of the project, BLF successfully launched the bespoke safe, stretch, spectacular model. The safe element included initial consultations and event delivery within existing safe community spaces, leading to stretch events which introduced groups to new creative and cultural experiences based on their interests. These events happened in community spaces and in our traditional festival spaces enabling participants to develop confidence and curiosity together with cultural literacy and agency.  

By guiding and facilitating residents towards main festival events, and conducting post-event consultation, BLF is supporting them to contribute and shape spectacular events within future festival programming. Activities included reminiscence workshops, storytelling, story sharing and speaking and listening workshops, interactive performances, drumming and rhythm workshops, and bespoke arts and crafts activities. 

This focused, tailored approach creates a safe space for expression and connection, fostering cultural literacy, community cohesion and belonging. 

In 2022, the project was successful in attracting a total of 3,567 attendees across all stages, with 606 people (17%) attending the main festival events as a result of the project and taking advantage of our free Ethical Ticketing Policy. 32 community organisations have been involved in the project to date, with 21 being new relationships, indicating that the project successfully nurtures new connections between the festival and the populations it serves. 

The project runs until 2024 and has so far been a great success, laying the foundation for developing long term sustainable relationships with populations who have typically not engaged with cultural activity in the city. This work will ensure individuals have a voice in their cultural offer, and the confidence to enjoy and engage in the festival and the city’s activities as we head towards our UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations. 

To commission, co-produce or fund similar programmes please get in touch.