Off the Shelf Festival explained

Off the Shelf Festival of Words
Status:	Active
Genre:	Festival
Date:	October
Frequency:	Annually
Location:	Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Country:	England
Years Active:	1991–present
Founders:	-->
Or Sponsors:	-->

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.

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 writing and reading festivals, 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. It 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Background History & About Off the Shelf Festival of Words Sheffield . Off The Shelf - Festival of Words . 23 November 2018.
2. News: Caig . Anna . Book Club: Off the Shelf . 23 November 2018 . Sheffield Telegraph . 21 May 2018.
3. Book: Owen . Alysoun . Children's writers' & artists' yearbook 2017. . 2016 . Bloomsbury . London . 9781472924964 . 424 . 13.
4. News: Colne Valley poet Simon Armitage launches Off the Shelf festival of writing and reading in Sheffield . 23 November 2018 . Huddersfield Examiner . 1 October 2010.
5. News: Walker . Graham . VIDEO PREVIEW:among big names at Sheffield's Off The Shelf 2016 book festival . 23 November 2018 . Sheffield Star . 6 September 2016.
6. News: Off The Shelf: Big names at this year's Sheffield book festival . 23 November 2018 . South Yorkshire Times . 14 August 2011.
7. News: O'Keeffe . Alice . Pulp, pop and poetry: Cocker's off-the-wall words are a big hit . 23 November 2018 . The Guardian . 30 October 2005.
8. Book: Hilbert . Donna . Greatest hits, 1989-2000 . 2001 . Pudding House Publications . Ohio . 1-930755-15-5 . 8 . 1.
9. News: Reviews: Theatre, Music and Festivals . 23 November 2018 . Doncaster Free Press . 27 September 2014.
10. News: Grainger . Charlotte . Aesthetica Magazine - Review of Off the Shelf, Sheffield . 23 November 2018 . Aesthetica Magazine . 10 November 2014.
11. News: Blackled . Richard . Off The Shelf 2018: Landmarks of society and literature to be celebrated at Sheffield book festival . 23 November 2018 . Sheffield Star . 28 August 2018.