Check Out The Human Library!
A new season of creative events, including a 'Human Library', is coming to libraries across Devon and Torbay this April. Events range from live music to theatre, workshops and family activities, all of which celebrate local culture, creativity and community.
The 'Pride of Place' season is part of Libraries Unlimited's programme of creative events funded by Arts Council England, bringing performances, workshops and community experiences to libraries across the county. Running from April to July, the events mainly take place in Barnstaple, Exeter and Paignton Libraries.
Barnstaple Library's programme includes the launch of a Human Library, where visitors can "borrow" people with lived experiences and hear their stories in one-to-one conversations designed to challenge prejudice and build understanding. The Human library began in Copenhagen by a youth organisation that wanted to create a safe place for conversation to dispel myths and create bridges.
In Exeter, highlights include a brand-new interactive family opera, Ada and the Code Crusaders, which brings the story of pioneering mathematician and the world's first computer programmer Ada Lovelace to life through story, song and theatre. Exeter Library will also host a free daytime folk festival featuring some of the South West's most exciting artists, showcasing everything from traditional folk roots to bold contemporary interpretations.
Paignton Library will celebrate imagination and play with events ranging from a fantasy-themed Terry Pratchett Day to hands-on creative workshops and a Country and Western themed Library Lates featuring line dancing and live music.
Other highlights in the programme include the return of Stories in the Dark from the Crick Crack Club, an atmospheric storytelling performance that explores the powerful relationship between words, memory and imagination at Barnstaple Library. Exeter Library will host Fangs N Feathers, an interactive reptile experience where families can get hands-on with animals, learning about their habitats, diets, and the important role reptiles play in our ecosystem. At Paignton Library, children can join the Stay and Rave: Hello Kitty Cat party, enjoying popular music, dress-up and play stations, Sanrio-themed games and crafts, and the chance to win prizes.
The wider season will also feature a range of additional events at libraries across Devon and Torbay, including creative workshops, performances, talks and family-friendly activities designed to bring communities together and celebrate local creativity.
Many events are free or low-cost, helping ensure that libraries remain welcoming community spaces where people can come together to experience arts and culture.
Rae Hoole, Creative Communities Producer at Libraries Unlimited, said:
"The spring programme is a perfect example of the huge variety of experiences that can happen in a library space. One week you might be enjoying live music or theatre, the next you could be learning a new creative skill or taking part in a conversation that challenges the way you see the world.
Libraries are places of curiosity and discovery, and we hope people will find something that surprises and inspires them this season."
To find the full list of what's on visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/librariesunlimited
