HIF Engage - Participation and Engagement

Creating new opportunities through arts & culture

We build brighter, healthier and happier lives, firing imaginations and promoting engagement with the arts across the region and beyond. If you want to get involved, connect with your community or learn more about the arts then HIF Engage is the place for you.

Our education and engagement programme offers the opportunity to collaborate with world class artists, published authors and passionate musicians, enabling participants to access the arts and discover the vital role it can play in improving their own lives and connecting with the community.

We play a key role in Harrogate and the wider region, promoting engagement with the arts and nurturing new talent through working with schools, young people, and within our communities. From the youngest to the oldest, we support health and wellbeing through creative engagement and connection, firing imaginations and inspiring creativity.

A panel at the Old Peculier crime writing festival.

The Big Read

Encouraging as many people as possible to get reading with the North of England’s biggest book club

Find out more

Children in the audience at the childrens festival looking engaged, pointing and smiling.

Library of Live

Bringing the power of live performance to all children and young people

Find out more

Wild Foundations

The Wild Foundations is an engagement project created by Harrogate International Festivals, with support and funding from the family of Victor Wild.

Find out more

A couple of men playing trumpets.

Workshops & Masterclasses

Go behind the scenes with world class artists, published authors and passionate musicians

Find out more

The New Blood panel sitting on the festival stage with Val McDermid.

New Blood

Spotlighting the brightest new talents in the crime fiction genre

Find out more

Val McDermid, author posing outdoors for the camera.

McDermid Debut Award

Celebrating the best debut crime writers in the UK and Ireland

Find out more

A group of women stood outside smiling wearing their lanyards for the festival.

Creative Thursday

Developing the crime writing icons of tomorrow

Find out more

Jane Gregory holding a glass of red wine and smiling.

Jane Gregory Bursaries

Creating opportunities for underrepresented authors

Find out more

A violin player and acoustic guitar player on stage performing and smiling.

Young Musicians

A vital platform for the next generation of talent

Find out more

Amiri Harewood standing in front of a sign having won the Dorothy Parkinson Memorial Award.

Dorothy Parkinson Memorial Award

Recognising the world’s most talented young musicians

Find out more

Community Libraries

Read it? Love it? Swap It!

Find out more

A jazz band on stage.

Free Concerts and Talks

Bringing inspiring interviews, podcasts and music performances to you completely free

Find out more

An audience member, wearing heart shaped glasses, enjoying the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

HIF at Home

All the fun of the Festivals without stepping outside your home

Find out more

The festival branding outside a marquee tent.

You’re Booked

Books we love to share and interviews with your favourite authors

Find out more

The singer Laura Mvula takes the stage, singing into a microphone on a stand whilst holding a keytar (portable keyboard) over her shoulder.

See what’s on

Explore our full range of Festivals and events across Harrogate, all year round!

Event listings