Creative Coach and Founder of The Curious Creative Club, Juliet Thomas, explains how the Festival promotes not just literary appreciation but also individual growth, creativity, and community spirit.
Working in partnership with the Huddersfield Literature Festival team was something I had always wanted to do due to their strong reputation for excellence, passion for designing a diverse and enriching programme, and their commitment to collaborating with the local community.
The team are always open to new ideas and inspiration, so when I suggested some slightly different creative workshops, to bring people together and work on their own wellbeing at the same time, they were full of encouragement. We soon were excited to create the events, partnering with local community enterprises to provide workshops that were fresh and attractive to audiences both old and new.
Eden Forest CIC based in Honley became our hosts for the Finding Stories in Nature event, where our guests enjoyed immersing themselves in this unique and glorious natural space, surrounded by bluebells, tree canopies, bird song and the ripple of the stream.
Upon taking notes and returning to the cosy campfire, the participants wrote stories and poems. Then, after getting to know each other more over a lunch of wood-fired pizza, they felt confident to share their nature themed stories to the rest of the group. Beautiful and uplifting stories were read out, you could hear a pin drop as we all listened intently over the crackle of the fire.
This event exemplified the festival’s commitment to fostering a sense of connection within participants, to themselves and others and to reconnect with nature and boost overall wellbeing.
Another workshop I delivered was all about Creating your own Vision Board for the future life you desire. We collaborated with community partner Hive Café CIC to host this in person in the centre of Huddersfield and also online so the wider community could get involved too.
This workshop provided a space for individuals to reassess their lives and envision their future, encouraging them to live with intention and purpose. Participants chatted about their hopes and dreams whilst sifting through magazines, selecting images that resonated with their aspirations before designing their boards.
The result was a collection of vibrant, inspiring vision boards, each a reflection of its creator’s personality and what was important to them. Participants left with huge smiles, having spent some time on themselves along with the opportunity to be creative in a safe, inspiring environment.
The success of these workshops highlights the festival’s role in encouraging not just literary appreciation but also individual growth, creativity, and community spirit.
As participants left with newfound confidence and proud of what they had created, it was clear that over the years the Huddersfield Literature Festival has become bigger than an event—it’s a movement that positively impacts the community and truly nurtures its inhabitant’s wellbeing.
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