Can libraries in Gloucestershire be new places of “arts every day” for children and young people especially those who do not actively engage with the sector?
Art of Libraries (AoL) is a collective change programme across the library, arts and education sectors in Gloucestershire. The shared vision is a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural offer in libraries across Gloucestershire that sparks and sustains a daily creative habit for children, young people and their parents and/or carers.
Art of Libraries is more than just a new programme - it is a catalyst for a new way of working and thinking across previously disconnected sectors. It is bringing a creative and innovative attitude to engage differently with children and young people - to convince them that libraries aren’t just places to be quiet.
This test programme was led by Create Gloucestershire with Gloucestershire Libraries and Registration, with investment from Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, Ernest Cook Trust, the Summerfield Trust and other local community funds over three years and the support of Barnwood Trust and Real Ideas.
Background
Our guess was that if we could grow cultural “habits” from a very early stage in life, children would become adults who value art and culture as “every day”.
Libraries are generally seen as trusted civic spaces, connecting people with ideas and offering free services for some of the most isolated or those suffering deprivation. They are located in rural and urban areas and everything in-between. So a perfect partner to test a new way of introducing children and young people to arts and culture.
The project
We worked with four early adopter libraries (increasing to six in year two) where through a re-think and a “refresh” – weaving arts and cultural activity (everything from Virtual Reality, GPS embroidery, coding, music) with activities more associated with a library such as storytelling and reading. The goal was a change in mindsets so libraries aren’t just seen as a “hush” space, but a place to play, experiment and be creative.
There were artists working as change agents (our Creative Catalyst team) in each library, building relationships, discovering what does and doesn’t work and sharing this with a whole set of people. With an interesting mix of backgrounds, skillsets and producing experience connected to Blast Theory and Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio to aerial and outdoor performance work; they were the vital catalyst to this new way of working. With a blend of leadership and facilitation, mentoring and enabling the Creative Catalysts (CC) built capacity and confidence within the team of library staff to work towards the change model becoming “business as usual” when the funding ended.
watch what happened
Watch the film to share in the extraordinary journey we took. In 6 libraries over 3 years the library staff ripped up the rulebook for children and young people to get creative and take part in a range of creative activities from circus workshops to animation workshops and to watch live theatre - and claim their place in this space in the heart of the community.
Find out more
If you are interested in discovering more about the AoL journey, ways you can be involved or want to share your experiences as an artist working in libraries, or work in a library using arts and culture, then join our conversation. #Artoflibraries
For more information contact Louise Bardgett, Programme Manager
louise@creategloucestershire.co.uk
What’s happening elsewhere
Have a look at what is happening in other areas, we’re interested in Libraries Unlimited South West and St.Helens Cultural Hubs.
AoL Blog Collection
