Off the Shelf Festival
The Off the Shelf Festival of Words takes place in Sheffield, England, during October each year. It is organised by the University of Sheffield with support from Arts Council England, Sheffield Hallam University and several commercial companies. The Festival offers a wide range of events for all ages.
Off the Shelf Festival of Words | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Festival |
Date(s) | October |
Frequency | Annually |
Location(s) | Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
Country | England |
Inaugurated | 1991 |
Most recent | 2020 |
Next event | 2021 |
Website | Official website |
History
First held in 1991,[1][2] the Off the Shelf Festival of Words has become an annual event attracting literature and media personalities to Sheffield. Off the Shelf is one of the United Kingdom's biggest and most significant festivals of writing and reading, combining a selection of authors, poets, journalists and broadcasters. The festival also caters for community and outreach provision, and supports emerging writers, through workshops, exhibitions, storytelling, talks, walks and also runs a programme of events for children and young people.[3][4]
Previous festivals have included events with
- Simon Armitage[4]
- Nick Clegg[5]
- Carol Ann Duffy[6]
- Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall[6]
- Michael Frayn
- Stephen Fry[7]
- Donna Hilbert[8]
- Nick Hornby[2]
- Doris Lessing
- David Lodge
- John Lydon[9]
- Paul Merton[9]
- Michael Morpurgo
- Helen Mort[10]
- Andrew Motion[6]
- Jamie Oliver[2]
- Jodi Picoult[11]
- John Pilger[2]
- Ian Rankin[2]
- Michael Rosen
- Prunella Scales[7]
- Will Self
- Lionel Shriver
- Lemn Sissay
- David Starkey
- Claire Tomalin[6]
- Rose Tremain
- Benjamin Zephaniah[2]
References
- "Background History & About Off the Shelf Festival of Words Sheffield". Off The Shelf - Festival of Words. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Caig, Anna (21 May 2018). "Book Club: Off the Shelf". Sheffield Telegraph. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Owen, Alysoun, ed. (2016). Children's writers' & artists' yearbook 2017 (13 ed.). London: Bloomsbury. p. 424. ISBN 9781472924964.
- "Colne Valley poet Simon Armitage launches Off the Shelf festival of writing and reading in Sheffield". Huddersfield Examiner. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Walker, Graham (6 September 2016). "VIDEO PREVIEW:among big names at Sheffield's Off The Shelf 2016 book festival". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- "Off The Shelf: Big names at this year's Sheffield book festival". South Yorkshire Times. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- O'Keeffe, Alice (30 October 2005). "Pulp, pop and poetry: Cocker's off-the-wall words are a big hit". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Hilbert, Donna (2001). Greatest hits, 1989-2000 (1 ed.). Ohio: Pudding House Publications. p. 8. ISBN 1-930755-15-5.
- "Reviews: Theatre, Music and Festivals". Doncaster Free Press. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Grainger, Charlotte (10 November 2014). "Aesthetica Magazine - Review of Off the Shelf, Sheffield". Aesthetica Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- Blackled, Richard (28 August 2018). "Off The Shelf 2018: Landmarks of society and literature to be celebrated at Sheffield book festival". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 23 November 2018.