THE Brontë Society has unveiled some of its plans for next year’s bicentenary of the birth of Charlotte Brontë.

The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth teamed up with Marc de Luca, proprietor of Emily’s in nearby Thornton, to host a party on Tuesday to celebrate the author’s 199th birthday and launch Brontë200, the Society’s programme of events celebrating the bicentenaries of the Brontë siblings: Charlotte in 2016, Branwell in 2017, Emily in 2018 and Anne in 2020.

The Society also plans to commemorate Patrick Brontë in 2019, 200 years after he was invited to take up the Parson’s role in Haworth.

Attendees at the party heard how the Society intends to ‘bring the Brontës to the world and the world to Yorkshire’ through a series of events, exhibitions and partnership projects.

Working with the museum team as a creative partner during 2016 is Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl Earring, Remarkable Creatures and The Last Runaway. Tracy is developing a number of projects supported by Arts Council England, including a special exhibition at the Parsonage which will contrast the smallness of Charlotte’s world with the greatness of her ambition and achievements. The exhibition, named ‘I Shall Go Off Like a Bombshell’, will open at the Museum in February next year.

Tracy is also editing a collection of short stories influenced by the writing of Charlotte Brontë. Reader, I Married Him will be published in the spring of 2016 by the Borough Press and will comprise stories by British and North American women writers including Helen Dunmore, Susan Hill, Emma Donoghue, Audrey Niffenegger and Jane Gardam.

Tracy said: “I have long loved Charlotte Brontë and am thrilled to be involved in the upcoming celebration of her bicentenary.

“The Parsonage is a unique house; it’s incredible to see the place where so much creativity arose.

“I’m hoping to sprinkle some surprises in amongst the dresses and writing desks – including a Twitter tour of the house and exhibition, and even a knitted Jane Eyre.”

The Society has launched the #seekingcharlotte social media campaign.
Marketing officer Rebecca Yorke said: “We often have visitors to the museum who tell us that they were named after one of the Brontë sisters, so we thought it would be fascinating to find women of all ages called Charlotte who share her birthday. We are asking Charlottes born on or near April 21 to contact us at seekingcharlotte@bronte.org.uk so that we can invite them to share our celebrations in 2016.”
The society is developing a website www.bronte200.org to serve as a hub for all events and activities connected to the programme and a Brontë200 logo which will be available for use by other organisations wishing to celebrate the bicentenaries.
Matthew Withey, chairman of the Brontë Society Bicentenary Committee, said: “The bicentenaries of the Brontë siblings provide a tremendous opportunity for the Brontë Society to celebrate the legacy of the Brontës across the globe. We recognise that arts organisations, museums and individuals will want to help us mark these special anniversaries and look forward to building new partnerships and reaching new audiences during the five-year programme.”
Bonnie Greer, President of the Brontë Society, is developing a number of personal projects aimed at growing and diversifying the membership of the Society during the bicentenary period. These include BSide – a programme aimed at engaging young women with the Societyis work. She is  developing an award named after Patrick Brontë and an initiative with Bradford Council that will commemorate Branwell Brontë. Bonnie has also made a short film promoting the bicentenaries with Ann Dinsdale, who is Collections Manager at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Ms Greer said: “We recognise that the Brontë Society and Parsonage Museum have an important role to play in growing the visitor economy and supporting local businesses.”