A mural made by adult learners at Fulwell Community Resource Centre is helping Sunderland libraries mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death and World Book Night this Saturday 23 April.
The adult learners worked with the Materialistics, a group of enthusiastic knitters and stitchers to produce a piece of artwork on the theme of a Midsummer Night’s Dream to mark the anniversary.
Their work, funded by Arts Council England, is set to be transformed into a banner which will go on show at the City Library and Arts Centre from 4-10 July as part of touring exhibition of the region’s libraries along with banners being made in other areas.
Visitors to libraries across the city this weekend are also being encouraged to enter into the spirit of the commemorations by taking Shakespeare selfies of themselves with some of the bard’s most famous quotes.
While Theatre Space North East will be bringing his work to life with a whistle stop tour of Shakespeare’s highlights in Washington Town Centre Library, between 2.30-3.30pm, on Saturday 23 April.
World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books that brings together a powerful collaboration of national partners – publishers, printers, distributors, libraries, booksellers, private donors, trust and foundations to encourage more people to read for pleasure.
It also sees volunteers giving away books in their communities, to share their love of reading with people who, for whatever reason, don’t read for pleasure or own books.
Fiona Brown, Director of People Services at Sunderland City Council, said: “Four hundred years after his death Shakespeare still has a massive impact on our lives from the books we study at school to the phrases we use in our everyday conversations without even realising where they came from. So it’s fantastic to see so many of this year’s celebrations for World Book night taking on a Shakespeare theme.”
Other events for World Book Night include:
– Bestselling author Lucy Diamond, whose novels include The Beach Café, speaking at the City Library and Arts Centre at 10 am on Saturday 23 April as part of the Pan Macmillan Big North Book Run, a three-day festival running up to World Book Night.
– The Foundation of Light hosting a book giveaway at one of their family learning sessions at Grangetown Primary School this week and at family learning sessions next week.
– Members of the libraries’ outreach teams will also be distributing World Book Night giveaways at various locations including Concord shopping centre, Washington, cafes and coffee shops in the Coalfields and Bunny Hill areas, Children’s Centre West, Highfield School, a Washington pub and the Empire Cinema in Sunderland.