News Archive

Newport’s Big Read

Wednesday 29 October
The Riverfront, Newport
Tickets: £2.50 / Family tickets: £7.50
(for two adults and up to three children)
Includes a picnic lunch

2008 is the National Year of Reading, as part of this important initiative Newport Community Learning and Libraries are organising Newport’s BIG READ which takes place on Wednesday 29 October at The Riverfront. The aim of the Big Read is to see how many words the residents of Newport can read in one day. Everybody is encouraged to take part and can add their word count to the total via, text, email and telephone.

The young people of Newport have been busy preparing for the event and their hard work will be on display at The Riverfront throughout the day in the form of a 20ft totaliser; a newsroom filming young people’s views of Newport and a film of the Young Writer’s Squad stories.

To help keep track of the word count, Newport residents aged 10-16 are taking part in two six hour workshops with Ballyhoo Arts. They will design and create a huge 20ft totaliser. The structure will take pride of place in the foyer at The Riverfront. The workshops have been organised by Newport Community Arts Development and Libraries.

Local young people aged between 11 and 17 have found a novel way to explain what, in their eyes, is important about Newport and what it is like living in Wales’ newest city. With the help of Newport Youth & Community Service they will turn an area of The Riverfront into a newsroom for the day. The news items, all about Newport and its importance to them have been written by the young people. Not only have they written the news they will also be in charge both in front of the camera and behind as cameramen and technicians.

Younger residents aged between 8 and 11 are also joining in with the event. The children belong to the Newport Writer’s Squad. They have been working with author Tom Anderson on writing workshops, culminating in a train journey. They wrote 5 stories based on what they saw and who they met on that journey. Children from Millbrook Primary School have now turned those written stories into digital format that will be shown at The Riverfront during the Big Read event.

Tickets for the event are £2.50 and include a picnic lunch. Family tickets are just £7.50 (for two adults and up to three children). Tickets can be purchased at the Riverfront Box Office or by calling 01633 656 757. 

Make your words count

Have you been shopping in the supermarket today (1000 words)? Watched breakfast television (500 words) and read your newspaper (10,000 words)?
If this is you, you could read at least 11,500 words today.

Let your local library know how many words you read on Wednesday 29 October, or join in the fun at Newport’s big READ at the Riverfront.

To add your word count to the grand total text 07800 140886 or phone 01656 656656 or email central.library@newport.gov.uk

To find out more about the Big Read and other activities planned in your area for the National Year of Reading visit: www.newport.gov.uk/libraries
or contact Newport Community Learning Services on 01633 656656