Ilkley Literature Festival

The Ilkley Literature Festival is the north of England's oldest and largest literature festival.[1] It was inaugurated in 1973 by the poet W. H. Auden and up until 1988 was held every two years; it is now held annually in the autumn.

Introduction

The Ilkley Literature Festival is an annual event in the spa town of Ilkley and has become one of the UK's top arts festivals.[2] Attracting many important international literary figures, its two-week programme, starting at the end of September, now features more than 250 events, which take place in a variety of venues in Ilkley and surrounding towns and villages. The festival includes events for children and young people and a festival fringe.

Festival director Rachel Feldberg has described the festival as "bringing the best and most exciting literature from across the world to Yorkshire".[3]

History

In 1971 Ilkley residents Michael Dawson (at that time Director of the Yorkshire Arts Association) and Peter Harland (editor of the Telegraph and Argus and Chair of the Yorkshire Arts Literature Panel) began discussing the possibility of a Festival for the town. Michael Dawson had visited Cheltenham literature festival and Peter Harland suggested he should try something similar in Ilkley. A seven-week postal strike with no letters to answer gave Dawson the opportunity to draw up some concrete proposals.[4] The Yorkshire Arts Association literature panel approved the plans and promised a grant provided the urban district council made a similar commitment.

On 10 February 1972, a small group of ‘enthusiastic influential people with lots of ideas’- met at Michael Dawson’s house in Ilkley. They included Leeds University Lecturer Robin Alston, who also ran the Scolar Press; Arthur Kitching, the curator of the Manor House Museum and Ilkley resident Walter Stein, a tutor in the extra mural department at Leeds University. Donald Baverstock, Director of Programmes at YTV who lived locally, also offered to help. At a second meeting at the Town Hall in March 1972 they organised a steering committee. Local councillor, Molly Renton, the only woman, became the Chair and later suggested Geoffrey Hodges, (then Borough Treasurer) as the Treasurer. Michael Dawson was given the role of Honorary Organiser and Paddy Rowe was employed as the part-time Festival secretary. The first festival, which took place in April 1973 and was opened by English poet W. H. Auden during the last year of his life.[5] Since 1988 the festival has occurred annually.[6] 1988 also saw the appointment of the first full-time professional Director, Steve Dearden, he was followed by Jonathan Davidson, David and Alice Porter, Dominic Gregory and the director of the festival since 2003, Rachel Feldberg.[7]

Notable visiting authors

Trivia
  • Writer and broadcaster J. B. Priestley wrote to support the first festival and said: "Ilkley is the right size for a Festival town...large enough to provide various amenities and small enough to stroll around and run into everybody."[4]
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References
  1. McMillan, Andrew (17 August 2016). "Ilkley Literature Festival: A world of words". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. "Big names add local flavour to books festival". The Yorkshire Post. 18 August 2004. ProQuest 335174603.
  3. Hickson, Amy (26 September 2005). "Literature - A forum for writers' passions; Ilkley festival". The Independent. p. 49. ISSN 0951-9467.
  4. McIntyre, Annette (25 September 2008). "Ilkley Literature Festival is a big success story". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. "Four decades of success for event built on big ambitions". The Yorkshire Post. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. "Ilkley Literature Festival partnership heralds a new chapter for The Grammar School at Leeds". yorkshirelife.co.uk. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. "How Ilkley was brought to book". The Yorkshire Post. 5 October 2003. ProQuest 335215325.
  8. "Alan Bennett brings Ilkley Literature Festival to book". Yorkshire Evening Post. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. Poole, Suzy (24 September 2010). "Literature Festival boss reveals how they book the big names". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. Greaves, Amanda (5 October 2012). "'Wonderful' weekend opens Ilkley Literature Festival in style". The Argus. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

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