Networks and connectivity

“Poets and writers in Leeds are so supportive of each other. They treat each other like family.” Organisation  

Our research found that there is a reasonable degree of connection between writers in Leeds and the wider area, but that there is an appetite for further development of collaboration and networks.  

The foundations that bring together emerging writers, grassroots organisations or cultural entrepreneurs and larger, more established and better subsidised cultural organisations are weak. This means there is little sense of a writing ecology in the city. It is fragmented and disjointed.  

“Leeds is very well-equipped to support writers [...] But the problem is that everyone grafts away on their own projects, and things don't get joined up, people rarely get together in the same room for a chat. Things end up siloed by accident. So much more could happen, and be run more efficiently, if people talked more. The main reason this happens is shortage of time.”  

Organisation  

The general literary community in Leeds appears to be poorly networked internally and often externally, and almost everyone that we interviewed and surveyed mentioned this from some perspective, telling us “it’s flourishing but fragmented”. We were surprised that many people interviewed had not met each other and did not feel that they were part of networks in the city. This is surprising in a city of this scale.  

“Without fostering the creative industries they really don’t have a city with a soul, it’s there but diffused and disconnected.” Writer  

Within the city, this lack of networks and associated dialogue and creative development impacts on collaboration, prevents people from feeling engaged in collective aims and ambitions, and means that people experience a fragmented picture of what is going on. It also means that knowledge and intelligence are not well shared.  

Respondents noted the need for greater connectivity, particularly links between the universities and other writing organisations in the city, and across the various writing groups within the city.  

“The ‘new Leeds’ is for about 60K people – and is not reaching everyone.”  

Organisation  

“Not a lot of joined-up thinking in Leeds... Things too niche – no one having a conversation on a broader level. Need for greater cohesion.” Writer  

A lack of visible networks and activities also presents barriers for participation and can make activity appear more niche and exclusive than it is.  

Externally, it means that the literary profile of Leeds is vague, as it’s nobody’s job to profile it. As the city will be growing to encompass two major literary capital projects, this is an area of need. Without a shared vision for the city underpinning it, this scale of capital development poses the risk that one large organisation may lead the profile of the city – negating and potentially swamping other activity.  

Currently several people and events do work as connectors across groups and areas of interest including:  

• The Writing on Air audio festival and Chapel FM as a focal point for a wide range of writers at all levels and ages throughout the year.  

• Leeds Libraries connection across access and economy themes.  

• Hyde Park Book Club as a workspace and performance venue.  

• Leeds 2023 bringing together the British Library and BookTrust for a project.  

• Leeds Lit Fest, built on collective work across people and organisations.  

The development of the National Poetry Centre and the stage of creative development that the project is at mean that it could potentially play a significant role in addressing some of the issues of local, regional, national and international connectivity, profile raising and as a workspace and other activities for the sector. The National Poetry Centre plans to take a partnership approach to developing programme and as such there should be the potential to nurture an approach that would bring city and regional stakeholders together to harness funding and to ensure that the ambition of the National Poetry Centre can benefit existing activities in the city.  

“Leeds Lit Fest has […] helped make Leeds feel like more of a flourishing literary scene.” Writer  

Leeds Lit Fest is an award-winning literary festival that celebrates reading and writing. Running for its fifth year in 2023, the festival takes place each March and hosts a diverse array of over 50 events celebrating writers and voices across the city. It is delivered by nine Leeds organisations, and current partner organisations include the Leeds Library, Leeds Libraries, Hyde Park Book Club, MiliM, Leeds Big Bookend and Northern Short Story Festival, Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds Church Institute and Strix. Events run across the city and centrally, and operate at venues such as Hyde Park Book Club, the Carriageworks, Leeds Libraries, University of Leeds, Leeds Library, Chapel FM, The Chemic Tavern and more.  

The festival curates an extensive and varied programme that showcases and brings together the literature scene in Leeds. Events have included author talks and panel discussions, theatrical performances, open mics, creative workshops, publishing showcases and book fairs, film screenings, art exhibitions, comedy events, and even interactive activities such as literature quizzes and readathons. The festival has received small grants from Leeds Inspired and Arts@Leeds and won Best Literary Festival at the national Saboteur Awards in 2020 and 2022.  

Leeds Lit Fest showcases local writers, performers, artists and organisations, drawing on and celebrating the broad array of literary talent in the region. The festival provides an opportunity to introduce people to the literature scene in Leeds, offering a space to network with other readers and writers in the city and to discover events that run beyond the festival. Local author talks and book launches celebrate the successes of local writers, and interactive sessions give both established and emerging writers the opportunity to share their work and meet their peers and neighbours.  

The festival provides a space for local literary organisations in the city to highlight and celebrate their work alongside a programme featuring nationally and internationally renowned authors. Such events provide an opportunity for Leeds to host esteemed events, drawing attendees from outside the area and contributing to the establishment of the city as a literary hub of activity. A children’s and family programme supports local literacy.  

The festival is firmly integrated into the city, and events are often positioned as celebrations of Leeds and Leeds-based writing. Talks celebrating the area’s local heritage include an exploration of the Brontë sisters. Other events celebrate the city by encouraging attendees to get out and explore the area, such as adventure walks round the city, walks in Roundhay Park, and an Otley Run poetry walk.  

A key element to the festival is the opportunity for writers to develop elements of their craft through a wide and accessible programme of activities, such as Leeds Lit Crit enabling writers to share their work and Write like A Grrrl sharing tools and strategies for how writers can better understand their relationship with writing.