Cardiff, home of Roald Dahl and Doctor Who, is to host its first ever Children’s Literature Festival in 2013. The Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival will take place on Wednesday 20 – Sunday 24 March 2013. It will bring together some of the best contemporary children’s writers and illustrators, putting South Wales once again on the children’s literary map.
Celebrated children’s author Jacqueline Wilson is the first to be confirmed for the festival programme. “I am delighted to have been asked to take part in Cardiff’s first festival dedicated to young readers” said the former Children’s Laureate. “Books enable children to become explorers, both of themselves and the wider world, and it’s vastly important that they are celebrated and encouraged.”
Children’s literature has never been so vibrant, prominent or exciting and this is an ideal time to start a festival in Wales dedicated to young readers. The Festival will enable young people to meet and interact with some of the most creative minds in children’s books. It will promote literacy and the arts with an inventive and accessible programme of cultural events in key venues across Cardiff, in both the Welsh and English language.
The Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival is organised by Literature Wales, Cardiff Council, Cardiff University and The National Museum of Wales.
“We will transform Cardiff into a wonderland of myths and magical characters” says Literature Wales’ Chief Executive Lleucu Siencyn “What better way to start a jam-packed year of literary activities for children and young people than to awake their creativity with a major festival in the capital city”.
“The Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival will be a key new event for the city, joining our already busy events programme” added Cllr Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure. “The Council will assist in creating the Festival, programming and providing venues like Cardiff Castle to play host. This will be a fun way to encourage children to read and more importantly to enjoy reading”
Projects such as Cardiff Council’s Literacy Strategy and Literature Wales’ Young People’s Laureate Scheme acknowledge that the essential skills of reading and creative writing need to be nourished: the Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival will be an opportunity for young people to engage with a wider range of books and ideas than ever before.
Minister of Education Leighton Andrews AM also commented that “A Children’s Literature Festival in Cardiff will be a great asset to the city. As Minister, one of my key priorities is to improve standards of literacy across the board. Anything that inspires the children and young people of the city to develop a love of reading and writing should be encouraged. I wish the Festival every success”
More information will be released throughout this year in the build up next spring’s festivities.
If you would like to be amongst the first to know please register for updates at [email protected]
