Summer Reading Challenge 2024: Marvellous Makers

FREE All Inspire Libraries

Saturday 6 July – Sunday 1 September

Get creative with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers!

This summer, we’re tapping into our imaginations, telling amazing stories, and coming up with lots of fun new creations as we celebrate the creative arts with the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge.

The challenge invites children aged 4 – 11, to read six or more library books over the summer. There are stickers for every book read with a medal and certificate for every child who completes the challenge.   

Children will be introduced to a cast of characters who are part of their local creative club and getting ready to show their work at a big festival.  But…  some objects mysteriously go missing from the club’s creative toolbox.

Join the challenge to help the Marvellous Makers search for the missing objects to complete their creations.

FREE Inspire Libraries

Artist and Author Sessions: Thursday 22 August – Friday 30 August

Artist Only Sessions: Thursday 1 August – Thursday 29 August

Author Only Sessions: Friday 16 August – Thursday 29 August

Artist in Residence Amanda Rigby will help you to draw your own emotional monster, expressing your feelings through mark-making and colour. Author in Residence poet Mark Grist will be sharing his captivating picture books, Rhinos Don’t Cry and his brand-new release, Bears Don’t Get Scared. Families can play some rhyming games and Mark will help young writers contribute to group poems that focus on what makes us feel brave and uplifted when we’re feeling down.

Aimed at children aged 7+ but younger siblings welcome.

Presented by KnottedHawk Productions

Selected Inspire Libraries

£4 library members | £7 non-library members 

Saturday 17 August – Thursday 22 August

Glitch the little robot doesn’t feel special like all the other amazing robots living in the Junk Yard. With the help of their best friend, Shift, they go on a quest to find the pieces to make them stand out! Full of fun, adventure and self-discovery; will Glitch find what they were searching for all along?

Using projection, dance and storytelling, children interact with the performers throughout the show and take part in an engaging workshop exploring resilience, friendship and wellbeing.

The Greatest Robot Ever is a brand new, rhyming story created by KnottedHawk Productions. This interactive dance theatre show is perfect for children 3-8 years and their grownups.

FREE

Worksop Library: 10am, Saturday 7 September

Retford Library: 10am, Saturday 12 October

Snap up this opportunity to take part in a hands-on workshop with photographer Neil Pledger. This two-hour workshop is an introduction to photo composition techniques, specifically tailored to heritage and place photography. It will explore Inspire’s Picture Archive, and how to record your local area for future generations, taking Pride in our Place. Please bring your own camera or phone.

Suitable for families with children aged 7+. All children must be accompanied.

FREE

Harworth and Bircotes Library: 10am, Saturday 24 August

Worksop Library: 10am, Saturday 14 September

Join us for a fun, interactive artist workshop with Edwina Kung. Collaboratively create art maps inspired by historical local maps exploring mark-making, layering, colour and pattern.

FREE

Harworth and Bircotes Library: Saturday 27 July – Thursday 5 September

Worksop Library: Wednesday 11 September – Wednesday 2 October

Retford Library: Friday 11 October – Thursday 28 November

An exhibition celebrating Pride in our Place, Haworth and Bircotes. Contemporary photography of place informed and inspired by Heritage photos from Inspire’s collections taken by adults from the community working with professional photographer Neil pledger.  The photos are seen alongside artwork based on Heritage maps created by children from the community working with visual artist Edwina Kung.

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. With support from Bassetlaw District Council who are distributing £3.3million to local businesses and communities as part of the UKSPF.

FREE

Worksop Library: Saturday 5 October – Wednesday 13 November

Beeston Library: Saturday 16 November –Sunday 5 January 2025

The artwork on display in the I Am An Artist Exhibition shows the story between artists and groups working in co-creation. Empowering their inner artist, groups recognised themselves as creatives as they worked together to produce the place themed artwork on display.

I Am An Artist is the second branch of our three-year I Am A Creator cultural programme.

Look out for the I Am An Artist FREE family workshops coming to libraries this autumn.

£1, Mansfield Central Library: 1pm, Wednesday 11 September

With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers. Immerse yourself in a world of pure imagination and you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

About Touch Screen: Step into a world of sensory enchantment with Touch Screen – Feature by artist Sarah Hamilton-Baker.

Immerse yourself fully in the magic of the film as you explore a curated collection of sensory objects designed to engage your senses throughout the screening.

Touch, taste, feel and smell the essence of the movie in a way that goes beyond the screen, creating a multi-dimensional experience that transcends the traditional cinema outing. This relaxed film screening is suitable for all but particularly those that are neurodiverse or have additional needs their friends and family.