Adam Foundation was proud to support Bradford Literature Festival as a sponsor and to create opportunities for Avicenna Foundation Scholars to take part in one of the UK’s most distinctive programmes of literature, culture and ideas.
Across several days at the Festival, scholars attended conversations spanning politics, history, faith and culture, meeting speakers and audiences with perspectives very different from those they encounter in university or professional settings.
The programme included a Doha Debates session in which Avicenna Scholars joined students from the University of Lagos for a virtual discussion on the question: “Is civilisation facing its collapse or rebirth?” The exchange encouraged participants to test assumptions, listen across borders and engage with competing views.
Scholars also took part in experiences outside the traditional lecture or panel format, including a sound bath and a tatreez embroidery workshop, reflecting the Festival’s broad approach to culture, creativity and participation.
For Adam Foundation, experiences like Bradford Literature Festival are part of a wider approach to leadership development. Strong leadership requires more than academic achievement. It also requires curiosity, cultural literacy, intellectual range and the ability to engage thoughtfully with people whose experiences and perspectives differ from our own.
The Festival gave scholars time to engage face to face and immerse themselves in stories, history, faith and the arts. It also demonstrated how partnership can deepen perspective, encourage curiosity and strengthen the skills needed to contribute thoughtfully to wider public life.
