Research

This report was commissioned by Leeds City Council to understand the dynamics and potential of literature and writing in Leeds as the city welcomes new developments such as the British Library North and the National Poetry Centre.  

New Writing North’s approach to this research was to prioritise understanding the relationships, communities, and networks that support literature and writing in Leeds and West Yorkshire, and to look for the opportunities and challenges that might exist within those groupings.  

The approach we took to defining writing and literature was intentionally broad, recognising the interdependencies and connections between forms of writing, especially from the perspective of writers who often work across more than one form and may be dependent on a wide variety of work opportunities and support. However, we have concentrated most of our research on and with those involved in literature, poetry (on and off the page) and the writing, reading and presentation of the written word. This includes audio, festivals, libraries, events, and talent programmes, and consultation with major new capital project leads and the university sector.  

A team of four people worked on the project: Chief Executive, Claire Malcolm; Executive Director Programme and Impact, Anna Disley; Senior Manager Talent Development, Will Mackie; and Research Associate, Sarah France.  

The research process involved data gathering of Arts Council England funding given to writers and literary projects in the Leeds area; a survey for writers and literature organisations to discover needs and interests; and face-to-face interviews with organisations, individuals and institutions that play a role in the literary ecology of Leeds, including libraries, universities, publishers and project-funded producers and organisers.  

We interviewed 29 individuals and organisations as part of the research and received 40 responses to the writers’ survey. Interviews took place during April and May 2023. A questionnaire was also circulated to smaller and project-funded organisations to allow wider participation in the process. Nine responded to this.  

When approaching the report, it was important to ensure that that our findings were fully representative of the diversity of the sector and the city. We endeavoured to engage with a broad range of writers, organisations, and stakeholders across Leeds, with the aim of enhancing understanding of their current activity, views and experiences regarding the literature sector, and their potential needs.  

Participants expressed a great deal of interest and support for the opportunity to both talk about how literature and writing worked in Leeds and to consider how it might move forward positively. The research has felt timely. Literature is ready to be in the spotlight.