Leeds International Festival 2017 launches
The Leeds Business Improvement District has launched the inaugural Leeds International Festival, showcasing arts and culture from across the region.
The LIF is taking place from April 22 – 30, and the nine-day event will feature 35 different events, from Herd’s Digital Careers Fair to a Screen Yorkshire premier and Q&A,
The launch event, held at the Everyman Cinema in Leeds, showcased what will be on offer during the event, with Liz Green from BBC Radio Leeds throwing their support behind the festival.
The three main strands are music, moving image and technology.
Broadcaster Lauren Laverne will lead an Empowering Woman with Tech conference, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man headlines Live at Leeds and a new film about Leeds United all appear as part of the very first Leeds International Festival.
A whole host of music events will happen across the week with the music strand featuring acts like Wire, White Lies, Maximo Park, Pigeon Detectives, Temples and Nubiyan Twist.
Andrew Cooper, chairman of Leeds International Festival and LeedsBID chief Executive, said: “There is an ambition in the city to showcase all that is great about Leeds, nationally and internationally.
“The LeedsBID’s business plan highlights the need to help raise the city’s profile by identifying gaps and opportunities to bring new exciting signature events to the city’s calendar, working collaboratively with businesses and organisations on delivery, and maximising investment and driving footfall. This year’s festival is hopefully the start of a showpiece annual event for Leeds – the foundation for a bigger and even more ambitious LIF in 2018.”
