It's a hit - 10,000 people stream Harrogate Festivals' Weekender

The first ever virtual HIF Weekender was a magnificent success, with over 10,000 people from more than 60 countries enjoying the packed line-up of free arts events, and exclusive clips and highlights from the programme showcased on BBC Radio 4.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 people from more than 60 countries enjoyed the packed line-up of free arts events provided by HIF in response to the lack of live performances during this tough year of Covid.

The four-day digital festival was also featured in the national media on BBC Radio 4 News and BBC Radio 4’s Front Row arts programme.

The Festivals’ chief executive Sharon Canavar said: “We are thrilled that a truly global audience was able to experience the Festivals’ unique offerings, including the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.”

Sharon Canavar, CE of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “While we were hugely disappointed not to have been able to hold the Festival in its usual live format, we are thrilled that a truly global audience was able to experience the Festival’s unique offering.

"Throughout the HIF Weekender, we brought people the finest literary talents, showcased powerful new voices and, most importantly, helped inspire people at home to look to the arts in a time of refuge.

"While we remain in a precarious position as an arts charity that relies on ticket sales, we are incredibly proud to have brought the HIF Weekender to the widest audience ever, making it free for all to enjoy while continuing to pay all artists and authors involved.

"We would like to thank all those who made the virtual HIF Weekender and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival such a success.”

Since 1966, arts charity Harrogate International Festivals has created inspiring and ambitious cultural experiences across Harrogate and the region, dedicated to its charitable purpose of ensuring as many people as possible have access to the arts.

In the spirit of its commitment to this, in 2020 the Festival was brought to arts lovers’ digital doorsteps for free, and was also made available as a CD for those who couldn’t connect online.

Harrogate Theatre faces major job cuts and closure until 2021

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.