RSA Journal interview: Andy Haldane In Conversation With Syima Aslam

·39 min·3 clips

Syima Aslam lost her entire childhood book collection when her family moved from Pakistan to the UK, sparking a lifelong mission.

This RSA Journal interview features Syima Aslam in conversation with Andy Haldane about the creation and impact of Bradford Literature Festival. Aslam begins by sharing her personal background as a second-generation migrant who lost her childhood book collection when moving from Pakistan to the UK, which fueled her passion for literacy. She describes how her mother's determination to improve her English through weekly library visits shaped her educational journey. Aslam explains that the festival idea emerged from her work in regeneration and education in Bradford, where she recognized that children from underperforming schools would miss future job opportunities without improved literacy. The festival launched in 2014 with 25 events and has grown to 678 events with 116,000 attendees by 2023, becoming the largest diverse-led cultural organization in northern England. Key features include a free education program that brings international speakers like Keith Ellison to schools, an ethical ticketing policy, and programming that engages over 150 language communities. Aslam discusses how the festival contributes to Bradford's regeneration by changing the city's image, generating economic impact through tourism, and fostering social connections across diverse communities. She reflects on how the festival's conversations about community cohesion have become more urgent since its founding, particularly in light of political developments like UKIP's rise. Looking ahead to the festival's 10th anniversary and Bradford's 2025 UK City of Culture status, Aslam aims to make it the UK's key literature festival and launch new program strands like 'In Memory, Fan de Lucia' exploring interfaith understanding. She reveals that her neurodiverse 'butterfly head' interests shape the festival's eclectic programming, which she describes as a mind map of her thoughts. The interview concludes with Aslam's vision for the north of England to develop better economic connectivity and for arts to serve as a bonding agent across communities, using the festival's original name 'Common Word Festival' as inspiration for finding shared understanding.

As heard by us

A conversation about Bradford that treats culture as civic work.

Saima's conversation with Andy Haldane moves from books, fairy tales, and fantasy to the Bradford Literature Festival, then into the practical work of bringing children, parents, and young people into the room.

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Why you'd press play

A good pick if you like a festival with a public mission.

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