Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) was founded in 2014 with a vision to create a fairer society and change lives through world-class arts, literature and education. BLF is a disruptor within the national culture sector and a leader in social inclusion, accessibility, and representation.
BLF supports 35 local community groups. The festival designs unique programmes that address educational inequities, amplifying the voices of marginalised populations and engaging with often underserved groups. BLF’s unique Ethical Ticketing Policy provides free tickets for those who need it the most, regardless of their background. Everyone is welcome.
BLF’s long-term strategy is to catalyse socio-economic regeneration by improving longitudinal engagement with culture, literature and education for all, with a specific focus on children, young people and families.
BLF has already created meaningful change in its home city of Bradford and across the region by working with over 269,000 children and young people, ensuring the benefits of a cultural education is extended to all Bradford’s students. BLF also held the UK’s largest World Book Day event in 2023, and was independently cited as a significant reason for the UK City of Culture 2025 being awarded to Bradford.
Case studies of recent BLF projects are detailed below. To commission, co-produce or fund similar programmes please get in touch.
Case Studies
World Book Day
In 2023, BLF held the UK’s largest World Book Day event, inviting Key Stage 1 and 2 students from across the district to explore a love of words, and over 2,200 children from 50 schools and home education environments attended.
Paul Hamlyn Community Project
BLF has embarked on a three-year project with funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to develop a more focused, year-round model of engagement.
St. Mary Magdalene Community Church
Through the Paul Hamlyn Community Project, BLF worked in partnership with the St. Mary Magdalene Community Church, a youth space in Manningham.
Producers of the Future: From Keighley to Karachi
In 2021, BLF launched a ground-breaking international project working in collaboration with Adab Festival in Pakistan to develop female talent and leadership in the arts and culture through a digital exchange and development programme.
Bradford Inspired: Aladdin and the Stolen Stories
Aladdin and the Stolen Stories is an interactive digital storytelling experience for children of all ages, created as part of BLF’s Bradford Inspired initiative.
Bradford Inspired: Inspiring Women
As part of Bradford Inspired, BLF commissioned Inspiring Women; 10 short films focusing on the lives and achievements of 10 inspiring, contemporary women of South Asian Muslim heritage.
Bradford Inspired: Poetry Films
As part of Bradford Inspired, BLF commissioned a series of remarkable poets to create new work that would reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic and look ahead, in hope, to a brighter future.
Brontë Stones
The story of the Brontë family is an integral part of the literary landscape of Bradford, and the inspiration for BLF’s annual Brontë Heritage strand of events that includes a permanent, multi-site public art commission, the Brontë Stones.
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