‘A little bit of Leeds’: Excitement builds for ‘bold, brave’ Leeds International Festival of Ideas

Excitement is building ahead of this year’s “bold, brave” Leeds International Festival of Ideas.

The sixth edition of the event is set to be hosted at the Leeds Playhouse next month. It is set to run from October 6 - 10 and will feature huge stars such as Louis Theroux, Roman Kemp, and Chris Packham.

In the latest episode of our podcast with LeedsBID, editor-in-chief Laura Collins sits down to chat with some of the minds behind this year’s festival.

“It looks amazing,” said Martin Dixon, the LIFI’s director. “It is amazing and yet it really can matter to people’s lives. And that’s quite a clever combination.”

Sarah Towns, who heads up artist liaison for LIFI, added: “I think the festival’s special because it’s a little bit of Leeds. So it’s bold, it’s brave, it’s innovative, it’s opinionated.”

Talking about what makes Leeds International Festival of Ideas stand out, Martin explained: “It’s not PR for the latest book, film, record. It isn’t showy.

“It’s just real people who are wanting to really understand them and their motivations and their work.”

One idea that Martin is particularly interested in ahead of this year’s edition of the festival is how young people are being put “under a lot of pressure” to be successful at an even younger age than before.

He said: “Maybe we learn more by the mistakes we make in life than the successes.”

Finally, explaining exactly how the festival helps to platform Leeds as a city, Martin said “It’s shouting about a bright, clever, exciting city in a bright, clever, exciting, unique way.”

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