24 June, The Dye House Dance Studio, Bradford College, Bradford BD7 1DD, UK
We’re delighted to say that The Blake Society is a cultural partner with this year’s Bradford Literature Festival, and our trustees and friends are involved in three Blakean events.
See below for more info and how to book.
Why Blake Matters Today
Saturday 24 June 10.30 – 11.30
The Dye House Dance Studio, Bradford College, BD7 1DD
£7
Join Professor Jason Whittaker, Blake scholar at Lincoln University, John Higgs, author of William Blake vs. the World, and Camila Oliveira, a researcher specialising in Blake and music, as they discuss Blake’s remarkable life and work.
William Blake was one of the world’s most prolific artists and poets and yet, when he died in poverty in 1827, his work was derided and all but forgotten.
Today, thankfully, it’s a different story. Blake is hailed as a visionary and the author of the unofficial national anthem ‘Jerusalem’ and of philosophies that have helped shape contemporary English identity. Blake now enjoys a place in the pantheon of literary greats. Join us to learn why Blake still matters so much today.
An Introduction to Blake
Saturday 24 June, 11.45 – 12.45
The Dye House Dance Studio, Bradford College, BD7 1DD
£7
Are you intrigued by the wonderful world of William Blake but not sure where to start? Jason Whittaker is here to help with a beginner’s guide to a true artistic visionary, and one of England’s greatest ever poets.
This illustrated talk will cover all the Blake basics, explaining who William Blake was, what made him famous and why he was deemed controversial. Whittaker will also be considering why Blake and his writing remain highly relevant and massively influential to poets and writers around the world today. This introduction to the world of Blake is a great way of finding out more about one of the most complex and creative poets, painters and thinkers from the Romantic Age, and the perfect jumping-off point for the other Blake-based events this year.
Inspired by Blake
Saturday 24 June, 13.00 – 14.00
The Dye House Dance Studio, Bradford College, BD7 1DD
£7
He may have died penniless and unheralded, but today William Blake’s creative mind has inspired songwriters, poets and artists all over the world.
Three massive William Blake fans – acclaimed musician Susheela Raman and guitarist/producer Sam Mills, who have collaborated on an album inspired by Blake, and rapper and theatre artist Testament – join Blake researcher, Camila Oliveira, to talk about just how important this London shopkeeper’s son has become.
Blake himself once said: “The imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself.” So take a step into the minds of our Blake devotees as they discuss how he has inspired their work and reflect on his enduring influence on contemporary culture.