Arts minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay visited Harrogate to attend the town’s literary festival and discuss the future of the arts.
Lord Parkinson met Fiona Movley and Sharon Canavar, chair and chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, and attended the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival on Friday.
The festival is part of the portfolio of events produced by Harrogate International Festivals.
The Conservative life peer also visited the Harrogate 1571 soundscape produced by Harrogate International Festivals for the 450th anniversary of the discovery of spa waters in the town.
He said:
“I was delighted to visit Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival and to see so many people enjoying thought-provoking and entertaining talks – in person – from a range of brilliant writers and speakers.
“It was also a great opportunity to hear about how the government’s support through the Culture Recovery Fund has helped to support much-valued events and organisations such as this, and what more we can do to help them bounce back from the pandemic and continue to flourish.”
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Ms Movley said the visit was “a timely opportunity to share our strategic plans for the future and the challenges that festivals and arts organisations have faced over the last two years”.
Ms Canavar said:
“It is important that the cultural and economic value of festivals across the UK and that their agility to create exciting programmes and vibrant destinations post-pandemic are recognised. It is key that their location, lack of building and seasonal delivery does not detract from their significance in the cultural landscape.”
Harrogate Internationals Festivals, which was established in 1966, is a year-round arts organisations producing festivals and events within Harrogate and the north.
