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Suffolk Libraries launches free Blank Page Easter holiday activities for Suffolk children

Suffolk Libraries is launching a new programme of free holiday activities for 11-16-year-olds this Easter.

The new Blank Page project is being funded by the Department for Education’s Holiday Activity Fund which aims to provide more support for young people and families during the school holidays.

The Blank Page programme will provide free, enriching and engaging holiday activities in libraries during the school holidays, starting this Easter. The activities will range from photography sessions, writing sessions with local authors, and creating art murals with local artists.

School holidays have been proven to be a pressure point for some families, creating a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households less likely to access organised out-of-school activities and more likely to experience social isolation during school holidays.

The Blank Page activities aim to tackle these issues, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people.

The events kick off this Easter with a week of activities at Stowmarket, Lowestoft, Chantry, Gainsborough and Haverhill libraries.

Katie Puls, Suffolk Libraries new Youth Activities Producer said:

“We’re really buzzing to be launching this exciting new programme of activities. We want to hit the ground running this Easter and we’ll be planning much more in future school holidays across Suffolk The programme is literally a ‘Blank Page’ of opportunity waiting to be filled with experiences and ideas! We hope it’ll be fun but will also make a big difference to the lives of the children and young people taking part who might not get these type of opportunities otherwise.”

The programme will involve engaging art workshops involving renowned local artists and creative people. All the events are free but booking is essential. You can book online via this online form.

The full programme for the week is as follows:

Gillian Allard workshops

Photographer Gillian Allard will be hosting interactive and creative activities for young people at Chantry Library including smart phone photography and creative composition.

Gillian Allard is a photographic artist based in Suffolk. She has been a freelance photographer since the 90s and specialises in documentary photography. Gillian has been commissioned for a number of projects including photographing Sir Paul McCartney at his recording studio.

This workshop is running at Chantry Library on:

Joel Millerchip workshops

Joel Millerchip will be leading a workshop where young people can learn about narrative and sequential imagery and will create an 8-page mini comic book to take home.

This workshop is running at Stowmarket Library on: Tuesday 11 April from 10AM to 3PM and at Lowestoft Library on Wednesday 12 April from 10AM to 3PM.

Joel will also be running another workshop at Lowestoft Library on Thursday 13 April from 10AM to 3PM where young people can create a fully-movable 2D cardboard human puppet, which can be used to make stop gap animations.

Joel Millerchip is an image maker in Suffolk with a second city heritage. Proud pen smith, ADHD thinker, creator visuals & workshops, and part of the education team at West Suffolk College. Joel works with bold, impactful illustrative styles that work perfectly in print.

Alice Andrea Ewing workshops

Alice will be running a workshop where you can try brass casting using clay and plaster.

Alice Andrea Ewing is an artist and founder-sculptor living and working in Suffolk, UK. In 2016, she established her own studio and foundry in the county and leads the craft-design studio Pomarius. She has exhibited nationally and internationally with previous exhibitions including those at Battersea Arts Centre, The LookOut Tower Aldeburgh, Soho Farmhouse and Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh and Royal Botanical Gardens Kew.

This workshop is running at Gainsborough Community Library on:

Chris James workshop

Chris will be offering the chance to write your own detective story and learn how to be a prize-winning poet.

Christopher James is a local poet, author, musician and artist. He's won the National Poetry Competition, The Bridport Prize and the Suffolk Poetry Competition. He's also written three Sherlock Holmes novels, including The Adventure of the Ruby Elephants. A Graduate of the MA in Creative Writing at University of East Anglia, he's also written plays, songs, and two musicals.

This workshop is running at Haverhill Library on Thursday 13 April from 10AM to 3PM.

Lily Hammond workshops

Lily Hammond will be showing how to create inspiring murals using innovative art techniques.

Lily is an illustrator working from her studio in rural Suffolk, having graduated with a first-class honours in illustration. Her practice spans the creative sector from working on a commission for Black History Month for the BBC to working in an East London studio. Lily has a real passion for colour and pattern that feeds into her love of interior décor. In addition to her decorative work lily creates bright portraits, often having inspirational women from minority ethnic backgrounds as her subject focus.

This workshop is running at Stowmarket Library on: