Festival to celebrate ‘best of the north’

A new arts, culture and innovation festival highlighting the best of the contemporary north of England begins in Leeds next week.

Hannah, which runs from 12-16 June, will feature arts and music events, debates, new science and technology and family-friendly activities. It will be held in venues across the city.

Highlights of the diverse programme include gigs by touted York band Fawn Spots and others, an interactive Twitter-based art exhibition and an atmospheric night of suffragette-inspired films in the old prison cells at Leeds Town Hall (pictured above).

There will also be poetry readings and educational talks – free after-work classes at the festival’s “pop-up polytechnic” (including tips for starting your own business).

In all, there will be nearly 30 events over the four days of Hannah – named after an inspirational figure from the north, Hannah Mitchell (1872–1956), a suffragette and rebel who tried to create “beauty in civic life” in her work on public libraries, parks and gardens.

During the festival, people can take part in a walkshop – spending an hour in small groups on the streets of Leeds documenting its past, present and future. That research will be drawn together and published by Leeds-based designer and writer Matt Edgar.

Girl Geek Evening, meanwhile, provides an opportunity to hang out with the city’s brightest women digital creatives, technologists, developers and entrepreneurs.

For families, Icky Sticky Kids brings messy play to the city centre (pictured right) – they clean up afterwards so you don’t have to. Super Monster Spotters gives tech-savvy kids the chance to be among the first in the world to play a great new iPhone game that uses the streets of Leeds as the setting for monsterish fun.

Most Hannah events are free, while others charge a nominal fee – usually £3.

For more information see www.hannahfestival.com