Leeds LadyFest: Celebrating Women in the Arts

There’s lots going on this year at Leeds LadyFest says Jo Throup (@jojiebean) …

You may have heard on that digital grapevine we call “Twitter” that Leeds LadyFest is returning to our fair city this year for the first time since 2007 – which doesn’t sound like it was a long time ago, but it was. It was six years ago. I know. It makes you think “Bloody hell, what have I been doing these past six years?” or “Oh my god. I suddenly feel old. Like, six years older than I did in 2007”.

Anyway, celebrating women in the arts, LadyFest is a community based not-for-profit enterprise organised by volunteers who will be working like crazy to put on a one-day event later this year. The event will include a range of creative workshops and performances by local musicians with all the proceeds from the event going to charities SARSVL, Women’s Aid and Women’s Health Matters.

In the meantime though, there are plenty of fundraising events to get involved with to raise money to cover the expenses of putting the event on. Next Wednesday, For Books’ Sake will be bringing their infamous pub quiz back to Leeds. Remember last year when they celebrated World Book Night at Café 164, tested the skills of bookish folk at the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival Fringe and grilled the bibliophiles Wakefield’s first ever Literature festival?

Well, if you missed them on one of their THREE trips to West Yorkshire in 2012, and you’re a bit of a quizzy type then be sure to get yourself over to East of Arcadia in Meanwood on Wednesday 27th February, where the For Books’ Sake crew will be taking over their regular pub quiz and will include a bonus round on writing and literature.

As ever, now would be a good time to pester your friends to be part of your team and to swot up on your knowledge by reading all of Wikipedia.

The quiz starts at 8pm and entry is a mere fifty British pennies each. Plus, there’s a raffle! So if you do totally flunk the quiz you could still be in the chance with winning something! And if you lose both, well don’t be too disheartened. Just go to the bar and order a drink in exchange for money – you’ll be guaranteed a prize every time.

For more information about volunteering and donating to Leeds LadyFest, bob them an email at [email protected]

You can also find Leeds LadyFest on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @leedsladyfest and be sure to check out the ForBooks’Sakewebsite.