Seven Stories - National Centre for Children’s Books joins with the festivals this weekend to bring its much-loved brand of family fun On the Road.
First stop this weekend is Eclectic Iron Festival in Cullercoats where families can expect seaside story times and a chance to draw their own adventures. Seven Stories’ event is inspired by the epic seafaring adventures of the gloomy marsh-dweller and his mysterious Sailor in The Snorgh and The Sailor by William Buckingham and Thomas Docherty. In the run up to Saturday’s event, the National Centre will lead an imaginative workshop with pupils from Cullercoats Primary School which will culminate in the creation of artwork inspired by The Snorgh and the Sailor. Families attending the event on Saturday 6 June at Cullercoats Community Centre will be able to see the finished display.
IRON Press editor Peter Mortimer said, "We are thrilled to have Seven Stories on board for the festival. They are one of the flagship cultural outfits for the region and it's great that they'll not only be here during the festival but working in Cullercoats Primary School in the build-up. That's exactly the kind of involvement we were looking for."
Seven Stories’ On the Road schedule will continue on Sunday 7 June to join Jesterval, The North East's Premier Comedy Festival, which is returning to the region for the third year running. Against the iconic backdrop of the Baltic Square at Gateshead Quays, families can expect to take part in lively storytelling and make a pair of wacky specs to take away with them as Seven Stories lends a sprinkling of its trademark flair and family fun to this fabulously funny festival.
Jesterval Event Organiser, Della Haq says “Jesterval are both excited and overjoyed about working with Seven Stories. We have been working hard over the last couple of years to find fun ways to entertain the kids as well as the grown-ups, with the help of organisations such as Seven Stories and hope the family entertainment will continue to be as popular as the rest of the comedy festival.”
Seven Stories hopes the outreach programme will instil a fresh passion for reading in both regular visitors and first-time families who attend the events and help to build excitement for the relaunch of its Visitor Centre in July. Programme Director Alison Gwynn says, “We are thrilled to be working with IRON Age and Jesterval this June and are delighted to bring a family element to their fantastic line-up of events.”
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Media Contact
For images, quotes or interviews please contact:
Hannah Lambert, Programming and Marketing Assistant
Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle. NE1 2PQ.
T: 0845 271 0777 ext. 223
E: hannah.lambert@sevenstories.org.uk
Notes to Editor:
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Seven Stories is a charity which relies on donations to help deliver all of the extraordinary activities for which they are recognised. Public donations will help Seven Stories to build their unique Collection, bring it to life through a lively arts programme and broaden engagement through their learning, outreach and community work. To donate to the Seven Stories’ 10th Birthday Appeal, please follow this link: http://www.sevenstories.org.uk/get-involved/donate/your-details?value=other or Text READ07 followed by £amount to 07070.
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Follow Seven Stories even while they are closed by reading their 10 Years of Seven Stories Blog https://sevenstories10years.wordpress.com/
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For more information about Jesterval 2015 visit the website: www.jesterval.co.uk
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For more information about Iron Age Festival visit the website: www.ironpress.co.uk/news.html
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Full listings of On the Road events click here.
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Seven Stories – National Centre for Children’s Books.
Seven Stories is the only place in Britain dedicated to the art of children’s books and the joy of reading, and one of just a few such places in the world. Our work is enjoyed by over 150,000 people every year.
Everything we do aims to inspire children and grown-ups to be curious, imaginative and creative. We strive to ensure that people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can take part to enjoy a lifetime of reading for pleasure.
Our home is a carefully converted Victorian warehouse in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. We opened in 2005 and our seven floors house galleries for exhibitions, performances and creative spaces, a specialist children’s bookshop and a café.
Seven Stories is widely recognised for our abilities and achievements. We have established an important collection of artwork, manuscripts and archives of Britain’s most acclaimed writers and illustrators for children from 1930s to the present day. We bring this unique treasure trove to life through playful and immersive exhibitions, an entertaining and informative public events programme and research opportunities.
Seven Stories was awarded National status by Arts Council England in 2012 in recognition of the significance of our Collection and its high standard of care, and the excellent way that we engage with our visitors and users. We were also awarded with a National Lottery Award in September 2013 after being voted the UK’s favourite education project.