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Arvon North

Arvon North - Hebden Bridge

Transformative creative engagement in West Yorkshire and beyond.

Arvon North is an ambitious programme that aims to cultivate creative writing and community engagement at the heart of local communities in the North. At its core is the Arvon Festival of Writing, an annual celebration of the written and spoken word, as part of Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024.

About Arvon North

Arvon North aims to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that empowers individuals to share and shape their personal narratives through creative writing.

Find Out More

Festival of Writing

Arvon North’s Festival of Writing is a celebration of creative writing and the power of storytelling, taking place in Hebden Bridge from Thursday 30 May to Sunday 2 June.

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Lumb Bank Redevelopment

Arvon is undertaking a transformational capital project to adapt Lumb Bank, one of Yorkshire’s most iconic literary houses, into a beacon of creativity for the North.

Read our Case for Support

Arvon North in Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge's creative legacy dates back to the 1970s, attracting artists to its sweeping landscapes.

This vibrant history positions it as the ideal base for Arvon North. Working with our partners at IOU Hostel, we are offering Arvon retreats and live events in the heart of Hebden Bridge during the redevelopment of Lumb Bank.

About IOU Hostel

Arvon North Courses & Retreats

Residential Writing Weeks at IOU Hostel include exclusive use of its 14 bedrooms with workshop, tutorial and writing spaces in a magical woodland backdrop at the heart of one of Yorkshire’s most inspiring towns.

Jul 8-13

IOU Hostel

Poetry, Other

Residential Writing Week: Poetry and Walking

Encounter and expression

Steve Ely
Kirsten Norrie (MacGillivray)
Guest: Emily Oldfield

Jul 15-19

IOU Hostel

Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Fiction

Writing the North

Andrew Michael Hurley
Katherine Clements
Guest: Andrew McMillan

Sep 2-7

IOU Hostel

Residential Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Shaping life into writing

Lamorna Ash
Paul Farley
Guest: Amanda Thomson

Sep 23-27

IOU Hostel

Fiction, Poetry, Starting to Write

Residential Writing Week: Starting to Write Poetry & Fiction

Finding your voice

Russ Litten
Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa
Guest: Kit Fan

“The minute one enters any of the Arvon houses one is regarded as a writer and treated accordingly, whether a beginner or an established writer, published or not.”

— Arvon Course Participant

How To Support Arvon North

Support the redevelopment of Lumb Bank as an engine-house for creative writing development in the North of England, connecting the rich literary collateral of the region with a community of writers locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

You can start your credit or debit card donation using the form below:






Through the UK Government’s Gift Aid scheme, Arvon can claim an additional 25p for every £1 you donate. So if you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your donations to us by 25%, at no extra cost to yourself. Simply fill in your details below and tick the box to confirm your taxpayer status.


We will use the details provided to update your record and to process your donations to us. Please note: Arvon can only claim Gift Aid if you provide your full first name, surname and home address.

UK Address




I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Arvon.

I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference:

Please notify  Arvon if you: 

 – want to cancel this declaration
 – want to change your name or home address
 – no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains


If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.



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