Harrogate International Festivals

Harrogate International Festivals (HIF) is a registered charity[1] and one of the UK's longest running arts festivals, having been established in 1966.[2] It is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.[3]

Festivals include the Harrogate Music Festival, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate International Spring Series, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival and a programme of outreach which includes the Spiegeltent and Children's Festival programmes. HIF also runs a programme of community outreach including literacy, music and arts programmes for young people and communities with least access to the arts due to rural isolation, geographical location or social exclusion.[4]

Charles, Prince of Wales is the Festival's patron,[5] and Peter Blackburn CBE is its honorary president.[6]

Dame Fanny Waterman, DBE was honorary president from 2009[2] until her death in 2020, the position having previously been held by Clive Leach CBE.[7] A past vice-president was Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam.[8]

The current Chair of the Trustees is Fiona Movley.[6]

In 2017, HIF won the Northern Soul Arts Festival of the Year Award.[9]

  1. ^ "Harrogate International Festival". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Neesam, Malcolm (2017). Music Over The Waters. Manor Place Press. pp. 333–352. ISBN 978-0951096963.
  3. ^ "Harrogate International Festivals – About Us". Harrogate International Festivals. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Harrogate International Festivals – Press Office". harrogateinternationalfestivals.com. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  5. ^ "The Prince of Wales's Patronages – The Harrogate International Festival". The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Harrogate International Festivals Board of Trustees". Harrogate International Festivals. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ Neesam, Malcolm (2017). Music Over The Waters. Manor Place Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0951096963.
  8. ^ Horner, Ed (19 July 2022). "Finale of Harrogate Music Festival in memory of Malcolm Neesam". The York Press. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  9. ^ "The Northern Soul Awards 2017: The Winners". 30 June 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.