Headingley Festival of Ideas

This May sees the first Headingley Festival of Ideas. The Festival is about inspiring debate and discussion on a wide a range of topics under the general theme of ‘cycles’.

The Festival takes place between 6th and 24th May at various venues, and is co-ordinated by a group of Headingley residents who operate under the umbrella of the Headingley Development Trust.

I spoke to one of its organisers to find out more.

1. Who’s idea was the Festival, and what inspired it?

The idea of a festival came from Richard Crossley OBE who has lived in Headingley for over 30 years. He came across the York Festival of Ideas and thought something like this would go down really well in Headingley: “creating a space for ideas and debate with a whole variety of different ways of exploring ideas that were not just the standard talk”.

2. How did you go about putting together a programme?

First we contacted a wide range of local people and groups and asked if anyone would like to organise an event as part of the Festival. After an enthusiastic response, we then thought about the specific types of event different groups could contribute to. Despite having to do this fairly quickly, we were surprised and delighted at how many different kinds of activities we are able to promote in this first year.

3. Can you explain the theme of ‘cycles’ a bit more?

The theme was also Richard’s idea. He was looking for a theme that was interesting, but broad enough to be interpreted in lots of different ways. The Tour de France starting in Leeds this year was a prompt, but they could be cycles in any sense of the word.

4. What are the aims for the Festival?

The aim is to provide spaces for debate dialogue and discussion: to get people talking, thinking, reflecting and inter-acting with each other. We want it to appeal to all members of the community, all ages and groups and open up people’s minds to new ideas.

See the short programme below, but for full details visit: http://www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk/festival-of-ideas

You can also contact HEART on 0113 275 4548

SHORT PROGRAMME

6 May – Headingley Library, 7pm – 9pm, Poppies Red or White? with Headingley Litfest

7 May – HEART Cafe, 7.30 – 9.30pm, Local Election Hustings with Headingley Network

11 May – Rose Garden, 10 – 12noon, Wheeling Round Headingley: literary ideas past & present

12 May – New Headingley Club, 7.30pm, From Dust to Dust: a cosmic cycle with Cafe Scientifique

15 May – HEART Cafe, 7.30 – 10pm, Peacekeeping Without Weapons

16 May – HEART Shire Oak, 7.30pm, Words and Music Concert by Trio Literati

17 May – New Headingley Club, 12noon – 4pm, Cycle to Recycle with Shire Oak Woodcraft Folk

17 May – HEART Shire Oak, 7.30pm, Sam Watts, composer & pianist with Jazz at Heart

19 May – HEART Shire Oak, 4.30 – 9pm, Schools Debating Competition with Leeds Salon

20 May – HEART Shire Oak, 7 – 9pm, Tequila Night: has lad culture gone too far? with Leeds Salon

22 May – HEART Cafe, 7.30pm, Bridging the Gap with Leeds Together for Peace

23 May – HEART Shire Oak, 8pm, Sing Freedom with Free Range Choir

24 May – HEART first floor suite, 10.30am – 2.30pm, Create Your Future

Venues:

 

 

 

 

Paul Thomas is co-founder of The Leeds Salon and writes regularly for Culture Vulture.