Because...Words Need Love, Too

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Date: Saturday, May 14

Place: Independence Square,

Bridgetown

      PRESS RELEASE

What could be more fun than a literary festival for children led by a spider and a bookworm?

That's exactly what's on offer at Bim LitFest Children’s Fair, the youth portion of the 2016 Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair. The theme? “Words Need Love, Too,”— a sentiment borrowed from the title of the 2000 collection by Barbados’ premier poet, Kamau Brathwaite.

Organiser Linda M. Deane of Writers Ink and ArtsEtc, makes no bones about the festival’s aim: “to get kids sucked into reading and writing, and for them to have fun while they’re at it!”

Bim LitFest Children’s Fair is once again hosted by the Spider Anansi. Portrayed this time around by actress/dancer and junior bandleader Sharon Grant, Anansi is joined by Festival volunteers aka Wordkeepers, the Festival Bookworm played by Sarah Venable, and freestyler and rapper Keoma Mallett (aka KLiMb8) as emcee.

The day’s events kick off with Anansi’s Tuk Parade into Independence Square. Children are invited to dress as their favourite characters and join a procession that will include a tuk band, stilt men, superheroes and other costumed revellers and dancers.

Jamaican guest author A-dZiko Simba Gegele will deliver a keynote performance as part of the opening ceremony that will also feature music, readings and a Festival Blessing by Chief WordKeeper Aeryn Sandiford of Cane Vale Preparatory School.

A new highlight of the Fair is LitCon!

“LitCon! involves dressing up as your favourite storybook character and walking the Lit Carpet, having your photo taken with Anansi and being judged for best creativity,” says Deane. “It takes place at the same time as the Book Fair, readings and book signings, so children will get to connect the fun of dressing up as the characters they love to the excitement of meeting the authors of their favourite books, and buying those books.” Individuals, schools, youth clubs and literacy groups are invited to get involved.

Another new feature is The Family Life Tent. This is a resource and activity space for parents and guardians seeking ways to encourage children’s reading and writing. It will feature displays and presentations from education, literacy and storytelling groups in Barbados, and falls under the umbrella of the Barbados Association of Reading (BAR).

The rest of the day’s events include:

• Storytime in the Square. This fun-packed tour of Independence Square is led by Anansi and features some surprise storytelling guests—let’s just say, not all storytellers use words!
   
•  All Write Now! Writing workshops for every age & skill of writer, led by experienced and gifted tutors DJ Simmons and Celeste St. Hill (Barbados), Lynn Joseph (Trinidad) and A-dZiko Simba Gegele (Jamaica). The workshops are held in partnership with the National Cultural Foundation, the Burt/CODE Awards, and FLOW.
   
•  Afternoon in the Square. This includes LitCon!, a Family Life Tent, a Book Fair by Days Books, a Story Boat and Poet-Tree with open mic, word & art activity, face painting, giant chess and word games, and a special youth edition of the radio show, What’s That You’re Reading?
   
• The day ends with a launch of the NIFCA junior Winning Words DVD, dramatic performance, guest readers, and a musical finale.

“Bim LitFest Children’s Fair is all about tapping into the stories that are everywhere,” says Deane, “whether we are reading, writing, or telling them. Those stories can come from everything that we do, no matter our age or whether we are authors or artists, chefs or dancers, cricketers, athletes or scientists!

“Bim LitFest Children’s Fair is all about making that kind of connection. We invite the whole of Barbados to come out and have fun making those connections, and—to play with Kamau’s quote—to show words some love, while doing so.”

2016 Bim LitFest Children’s Fair is sponsored by the Maria Holder Memorial Trust

CONTACT: bimlitfest.org • deanelinda@gmail.com • (246) 426-1792 • 254-5909 • Festival Secretariat Tel: 259-5588