Brontë Festival of Women's Writing 2024

The Brontë Festival of Women's Writing, celebrating contemporary women writers and artists at the Parsonage, is set to take place from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22, 2024. This annual event, now in its 13th year, is centered around the theme of "webs of childhood," exploring literature for children and young adults as well as writing about childhood.

Some highlights include conversations with celebrated authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, discussing her career and new Victorian adventure story, and Lucy Mangan, exploring her memoir on childhood reading. Carol Atherton will delve into the evolving relevance of books taught in schools, while Clare Wallace from the Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency will provide insights into the publishing industry. The festival also features a poetry panel with four poets discussing their work and influences. Interactive elements include a workshop for children to create their own little books, inspired by the Brontës, and a session with award-winning local author Liz Flanagan on her fantasy series. The event concludes with a guided walk to the Brontë Waterfall.

Our annual Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing is back from Friday 20 - Sunday 22 September!
We're celebrating contemporary writers and artists through this year's theme, Webs of Childhood - tying in with our 2024 special exhibition on the Brontës' younger years.
The festival's focus is literature for children and young adults, and we're excited to welcome a host of fantastic speakers and workshop leaders (including our headline speaker, Dame Jacqueline Wilson!) to help us explore the theme.
Whether you're a writer, a reader, or simply interested in reminiscing about your favourite childhood books, we have talks and workshops for all ages.
As part of the Brontë Festival of Women's Writing, we also have our free Words on the Street festival! This includes fun, accessible events for families, running alongside the main festival. We're grateful to Bradford City Council for funding these activities.

This is the complete program: