Wakefield Lit Fest launches seed fund to help productions

Grants up to £200 are on offer to help groups produce their own events for the September 23 to October 2 festival at places and spaces across the district and city centre.

Last year’s event featured TV historian Michael Wood and Gillian Clarke, the national poet of Wales, and a host of other talent.

But the deadline for 2016 funding applications is looming, June 13.

Frances Smith, principal consultant at festival organisers Beam, said: “2016 is a special year for Wakefield Lit Fest as we celebrate our fifth festival. Wakefield Lit Fest - programmed by arts charity Beam and supported by Arts Council England - has become a real highlight in the city’s cultural calendar and the seed fund needs you to make this year’s festival one to remember.

“The seed fund enables groups and individuals to get involved with the festival by producing their own events.”

The festival can support community events through marketing activity including listings in a festival brochure and website as well as festival promotion through social media channels.

The arts consultant added: “Be as creative as you like - events can be a spoken word performance, poetry reading, book launch or anything that celebrates reading, writing and words - you don’t need to have previous experience just enthusiasm to devise and deliver a great event.

“Need help? We can advise you with planning your event, just let us know how we can support you.

“We’re really excited about the festival this year, working with our fantastic festival partners our ambition is to bring a fresh and dynamic programme that truly offers something for everyone. Since Beam programmed the first festival back in 2012 the festival has gone from strength to strength and we’re looking forward to celebrating our fifth festival with our community partners, friends and audiences - and hopefully welcome a few new faces along the way.”

Visit www.wakefieldlitfest.org.uk for the seed fund application form. The deadline for applications is Monday, June 13 at 9.30am.

The 2016 Wakefield Lit Fest programme will celebrate reading and writing from September 23 to October 2.

It will take place across district at a range of venues, from community centres, cafes and shops to Wakefield’s historic buildings, cathedral, chapels and libraries.

Each festival programme includes a wide range of community led events including poetry readings, writers workshops, spoken word, performance, music and more alongside an array of events.

Last year’s highlights included a Wakefield Civic Society organised screening of kitchen sink drama A Taste of Honey at Unity Works, Ian McMillan - the bard of Barnsley and folk singer Kate Rusby.