Storytime with Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni at the Open Book Festival last year. PICTURE: Iskeem Semicimbi.
The Open Book Festival’s inaugural youth festival takes place from Saturday March 25 to Saturday April 1 at schools and venues across the city.
“We have hosted talks and workshop sessions in the past that focused on children and young adult readers and the people who write for this market, but these have always been embedded into the larger festival programme. This year will be the first time we’ve organised a festival dedicated to young readers. It means we can focus all our attention on organising the kind of conversations and engagement that is relevant for a younger audience,” says Frankie Murrey, Open Book Festival programme coordinator.
“Our primary focus will be to make more young people fall in love with the written word and to help grow support for writers who create content for this audience.”
Ms Murrey says there are events planned for all age groups. The youngest readers have a variety of storytime sessions to choose from, while teens can look forward to writing and storytelling workshops, presentations by writers, and open mic sessions for aspiring poets.
Parallel events are arranged at venues across the city. Access is free, but booking is essential. Visit www.openbookfestival.co.za for the full programme.