WORD

15 June – 16 July 2019:

The Basque Children – The Story of Child Refugees from the Spanish Civil War 

From the Huguenots in the 17th Century to Syrians in the present day, many groups and individuals have found safety in Islington. They have escaped danger, war and hardship, political and social persecution, and have been welcomed into the Islington community. To celebrate Refugee Week 2019, Islington Museum has partnered with the Marx Memorial Library, the Islington Refugee Forum and the Basque Children Association.

This exhibition remembers the 4000 child refugees from the Basque region, who found safety in Britain after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

A far-right military coup against the elected government in Spain led to a brutal conflict. With support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy the rebels targeted civilians. Thousands fled bombing raids on the cities of northern Spain. In 1937 the Republic asked the world to take refugee children. It will include work from the Refugee Committee of students from Hugh Myddleton school who formed in response to stories of the child refugee.

This exhibition is presented by Islington Museum in partnership with BCA’37UK (the Association for the Basque Children of the UK) and the Marx Memorial Library

Where: Islington Museum 245 St. John Street EC1V 4NB Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday and Sunday (and public holidays): Closed

Tue 18 Jun  – a day of original stories and voices of all ages…

Finding a Safe Home – Under 5’s Storytelling 10.45 and 11.30am – Join Storyteller Dani for an imaginative, interactive adventure to discover the stories of the Basque Children escaping the Spanish Civil War. This event offers an engaging way into exploring stories of refugees with under 5s. Where: Islington Museum, 245 St. John Street EC1V 4NB

6pm Coming out of the Black Country – Talk – Author Stanley Underhill, resident of Charterhouse in Islington gives an illustrated talk about his recent autobiography. A true and inspiring story of a man born in the 1920s into poverty, and his journey to find his true self. Where: Finsbury Library, 245 St. John Street EC1V 4NB

6-9pm Key Change Community Open Mic – A friendly, inclusive open mic night in the heart of London’s Clerkenwell district. Enjoy a lively mix of musicians, singers, MC’s, comedians and storytellers! Where: St. Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1V 8AJ @keychangesmusic www.keychanges.org.uk

6pm Refugees to Islington – Guided Walk From Hugenots in 17^th century to Syrians in the 21^st, many groups have sought safety in Islington. Our local tour guide will explore how Islington has been shaped by those who have come here, and the response of the borough to those who have come as refugees. [presented by Islington Library and Heritage Services] Starts: Farringdon Station Book at: www.islingtonguidedwalks.com

7-9pm Words of Wisdom [presented by All Change] -A multitude of different local women’s voices – young and old, past and present – come together for an evening of poetry, stories and song – to share pearls of wisdom and a wealth of experience across the decades. Where: 27 Dingley Place, EC1V 8BR @allchangearts www.allchangearts.org

WORD brings arts, libraries and communities together to work creatively and to make connections, reducing isolation and loneliness. The first day of WORD2019 – Monday 17 June 2019 – is also the first day of Refugee Week 2019 and national Loneliness Aware Week 2019. WORD2019 is pleased and proud to support and celebrate these important initiatives:

Refugee Week 17 – 23 June 2019 – a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

Loneliness Awareness Week 17-21 June 2019 – a campaign to reduce the stigma of loneliness by The Marmalade Trust #LetsTalkLoneliness

We’re counting down to the start of the WORD2019 Festival – Summer – which runs from Mon 17 – Sun 30 June 2019 in Islington. Pick up a WORD2019 leaflet from your local library or download it HERE

Brought to you by The WORD Association – All Change | Key Changes | House of Illustration | Lyrix Organix | Upswing | Islington Library & Heritage Services – a collective of arts organisations and libraries working in partnership with local communities.

WORD is a programme of innovative arts projects and events in Islington, where arts companies, libraries and communities come together to create, share and experience new and original work, providing a platform for new and often unheard voices and stories. WORD festivals are packed with inspiring activities and events for all ages. Find WORD this June indoors and outside, in the libraries, art galleries, museums, community centres, gardens and streets of Islington.

Word is delighted and proud to congratulate Tony Brown – Stock and Reader Development Manager for Islington Libraries, and one of our Word Festival founders – on being awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2019! The honour recognises Tony’s dedication, for over 40 years, to promoting the power of books and reading in improving people’s lives in Islington.

Saturday 13 October 2018 6-8pm

– join Word2018 partners Islington Libraries, All Change, Key Changes, Lyrix Organix – UnFOLD, House of Illustration & Universal Board Games for this special #LibrariesWeek #LateAtTheLibrary event – an intergenerational celebration of words. Featuring – live music, spoken word, poetry and gamed from exceptional artists and local people.

Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street, London EC1V 4NB

Instagram: @wordislington @LyrixOrganix @allchangearts @illustrationHQ

Twitter: @wordislington @islingtonlibs @keychangesmusic @HOIeducation @allchangearts @LyrixOrganix

Summer Reading Challenge and Holiday Events in Islington Libraries

There will be pranks galore and a ton of fun at your local library this summer. Mischief Makers is the theme for the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge. Children taking part will follow clues to explore their colourful collector’s map of Beanotown, meeting Dennis, Gnasher and friends along the way. As children read library books, they collect special stickers to help them find the mysterious buried treasure! Mischief Makers celebrates adventure, friendship, reading and fun and is a must for all children who want to live in the moment and be themselves. And, if they finish all 6 books, they could also win one of our great prizes! The Challenge runs from 7 July – 23 September. For more information go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk or ask in the library.

Watch out too for our programme of summer events including live animal shows from Animal Man Nick and Ranger Stu, plus comic illustration workshops, theatre shows on the Reading Challenge theme and some really mischievous craft activities!

For more details, go to www.islingtonreads.co.uk/whats-on

Summer Reading Challenge Champions – Aged 13-19? Why not become a Summer Reading Challenge Champion, helping younger children complete their challenge? Complete 8 hours work and get a guaranteed £10 Love2Shop voucher! For more details, go to www.islingtonreads.co.uk/young-people

Saturday 30 June 11am: Clowns, Wizards and Storytellers – A Guided Walk for Families – Clerkenwell & Islington Guides’ Association in partnership with Islington Libraries presents a free guided walk for families as part of Islington Reads – 2018 Year of Reading. Explore Islington’s links to Harry Potter, Joey the Clown and Charles Dickens. Meet Islington’s oldest resident and some important freedom fighters and hear about some abominable deeds in a burial ground. Will you be able to tell fact from fiction? Starting at 11am at Finsbury Library, 245, St John’s St, EC1V 4NB the walk will finish at Lewis Carroll Library, 166 Copenhagen St, N1 0ST in time for you to join anIslington Reads story telling event in nearby Edwards Square from 12.30 – 2.30pm. Ideal for children age 7 – 11 Booking for the guided walk is essential. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

12-2pm – Lyrical at 27 Dingley Place ECV 8BR – A music writing project designed by young women for young women aged 16-25 from All Change. Develop your songwriting and music production skills. Create and perform your own original material. Work with professional artists, musicians and producers. If you like to sing, write lyrics or want to learn how – then this is the project for you! #Islington4Women

Friday 29 June 7pm: Word’s Up! – a fabulous evening of perfectly performed words and top tunes from some Word festival favourites. The closing event for this year’s festival – features spoken word and music from Key Changes #LivingLyrics artists, Lyrix Organix and House of Illustration Stereo/Type – Unfold young poets, songs from Fran Lobo and an exclusive Word2018 performance from special guest Hussain Manawer. Celebrating – and Book Ending this year’s festivities. Please note – we have limited capacity for this event – bookings are on a first come first served basis – Book Here.