WORD

 Day 8: Thursday 8 June 2pm – Invited Islington primary school pupils will be heading down to Islington Central Library  “Streaker is no ordinary dog. She’s a rocket on four legs with a woof attached, and Trevor has got until the end of the holidays to train her. If he fails, he’ll lose his bet with horrible Charlie Smugg, and something very nasty will happen.” Top solo storyteller John Kirk presents his version of Jeremy Strong’s ‘The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog’. The show is his production for Animal Agents, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge programme for 4–11 year-olds, which starts on 1 July. Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge and join at your local library.

This year Word2017 coincides with some fantastic national initiatives which promote and celebrate reading, writing and freedom of expression – and their role within wellbeing.

This week is Bookstart Week – 5-11 June 2017

National Bookstart Week is BookTrust’s annual event celebrating the joys and benefits of sharing books and stories every day. Each year, we choose a theme to excite families, then give away our special Bookstart story booklets, as well as downloadable activities for enjoying at themed events or at home. #BookstartWeek @Booktrust

5 -11 June 2017: Broaden your lexical horizons during the festival by spotting Free Words of the Week around the borough – or join in by putting them on display where you work! There will be a new word for every week of the festival tying into its wellbeing themes. Go to https://www.freewordcentre.com/free-words to find out more and to sign up for weekly posters.

 
29 May-4 June 2017 – Broaden your lexical horizons during the festival by spotting Free Words of the Week around the borough – or join in by putting them on display where you work! There will be a new word for every week of the festival tying into its wellbeing themes. Go to https://www.freewordcentre.com/free-words to find out more and to sign up for weekly posters.

Day 2 & 3: Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June – this weekend take your pick from some incredible exhibitions:

On Saturday visit – Banners for Spain
– Fighting the Spanish Civil War in London (until Saturday 8 July open Monday–Saturday 10am-5pm [closed Wednesday) at Islington Museum The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) was sparked by a military coup led by General Franco against Spain’s elected government. In Britain, the ‘Aid Spain’ movement started to raise funds for food and medical supplies and to help refugees. This exhibition, in partnership with the Marx Memorial Library, showcases six visually stunning campaign banners for ‘Aid Spain’. Admission Free

On Saturday or Sunday – The Life of Birds – until Sunday 1 October 2017, open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm (Closed Monday) at House of Illustration “I have always liked drawing birds. I can’t quite explain why but it may be because like us, they are on two legs and have expressive gestures. In ‘The Life of Birds’ they appear as humans or perhaps humans appear as them. It’s a way of commenting on the people we see around us without actually drawing individuals.” This exhibition brings together Quentin Blake’s expressive drawings for his book ‘The Life of Birds’ with several new illustrations produced specially for the occasion.

Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan  until 10 September 2017 at House of Illustration An exhibition of hand-painted backgrounds from sci-fi anime films including ‘Ghost in the Shell’. Inspired by Asia’s emerging megacities, Production I.G designed fictional worlds that reflected the real story of ruthless urban development. Never seen in the UK before, their exquisite film backgrounds are a combination of painterly skill and exacting mechanical logic.

Click Here for ticket prices and directions.

Friday 2 June:

Wondering what to do today? Come to a free family show Topsy Turvy brought to you by Upswing 11.10am & 12.20pm at Finsbury Library EC1V 4NB – suitable for children aged 3+ Free entry – just turn up!

Or for older young people aged 13-25 join Candoco Dance Company at Platform Youth Hub for a Dancing Letters project workshop 2-4pm – a free weekly creative dance project this summer, suitable for disabled and non-disabled young people. We will be exploring dance and taking inspiration from reading and writing letters, both old and new. No dance experience is required, just enthusiasm – so come along, make new friends and improve your mental and physical well-being!

Word2017 launches today Thursday 1 June 2017 with an jam-packed day of activities and events for all ages…

11am-2pm: Visit Estorick Collection for a family workshops – Letters Alive Film explore the shapes and characters of letters using sensory materials. Squidge an S or cut out a C, arrange an A or mould an M and learn how to create a stop-frame animation to make them change shape and walk, run, dance or explode! This event runs on a drop-in basis so no booking is required. It is suitable for all ages and is free for children accompanied by a paying adult…

…and afterwards at 2pm and 3.10pm join Upswing for Topsy Turvy – an extraordinary immersive performance for families with young children. Finsbury Library will be transformed into a magical landscape – filled with stories animated through music, dance and acrobatics. Crrawl, hop and tumble through a variety of environments: which one would make the ideal home for you and your family? A chance to have fun together, play and explore a ‘Topsy Turvy’ world. Drawing inspiration from Upswing’s new production ‘The Ramshackle House’. Created by the makers of award winning family show, ‘Bedtime Stories’. Suitable for ages 3+ FREE entry.

From 12-6pm Breakin’ Convention & Lyrix Organix bring you Graffical, a FREE 2-day workshop (on 1 & 2 June) at Platform Youth Hub for 13-18 year olds. Working with two rap mentors, you will discuss your favourite rap songs and research their lyrical meanings. The rap mentors will then lead lyric writing workshops for you to write your own bars that would inspire the community. On the second day, you will bring your words to life by working closely with a graffer to make big graffiti murals to display in Islington for Word2017! Book Here

.. followed from 6-8pm by our first Book End No.1  – official festival launch at Platform Youth Hub – this year’s festival is framed by two special events to open and close the festivities. Join us for an opening conversation exploring the impact that the lyrics we listen to, write and speak can have on our own and our community’s wellbeing – a mix of live performances and debate with contributions from Key Changes, Lyrix Organix and Breakin’ Convention. Admission FREE

Word2017 has some great projects for young people to take part in with workshops starting in May leading up to and during the festival in June.
Join Candoco Dance Company this summer for a free, weekly, creative dance project, suitable for disabled and non-disabled young people –Fridays 5 and 12 May 5-7pm @ Lift Youth Hub; and Fridays 19 and 26 May 5.30-7.30pm 2 June 2-4pm and 9, 16, 26 June 5.30-7.30pm @ Platform Youth Hub . No dance experience is required, just your enthusiasm! Dancing Letters will bring together the rich worlds of contemporary dance and letter reading and writing to give participants the opportunity to experience different forms of expression, both written and physical.  Participants will take inspiration from letters old and new and work together for eight weeks to create a unique dance performance which will be performed on 30 June as part of the Word Festival finale. For more information about the project, visit http://www.candoco.co.uk/home/2017/04/dancing-letters/

and Breakin’ Convention & Lyrix Organix bring you Graffical Thursday 1 and Friday 2 June 12-6pm Platform Youth Hub, a FREE 2-day workshop during the half term for 13-18 year olds. Working with two rap mentors, you will discuss your favourite rap songs and research their lyrical meanings. The rap mentors will then lead lyric writing workshops for you to write your own bars that would inspire the community. On the second day, you will bring your words to life by working closely with a graffer to make big graffiti murals to display in Islington for Word2017! Up to 15 spaces – apply early. (You must attend both days)

Tuesday 25 April:

We’re delighted to announce the Word2017 Festival programme is now live – download your electronic copy of the Word Festival Brochure 2017

Printed copies will be available in all Islington libraries and local venues shortly!

WORD2017 is seeking Expressions of Interest from artists and arts organisations for participatory projects for next year’s festival.

The deadline for submissions for Commissions and Co-productions is:

12 noon, Monday 16 January 2017

The deadline for submissions for Co-promotions is: 12 noon, Friday 27 January 2017

Download the guidelines and application forms here:

2017 Guidelines

Commission and/or Co-production Expression of Interest Form

Co-Promotion proposal form

Co-Promotion proposal form

For more information about Islington Reads:

Islington Reads Strategy 

http://www.islingtonreads.co.uk/

For information about Mental Health Resources in Islington:

MentalHealthResourcesIslington2015