The £226,335 Storysmash Creative Writing project gets underway this week.
Storysmash is a 12 month programme of activity using the close connection between creative writing, reading and digital games focusing on people primarily aged 11-25 years to help address issues of low literacy in Nottingham City.
Participants will take part in a range of activities from creative writing sessions using the digital platform Twine to create their own ‘Find their own ending story’ and attending high profile games writers and author workshops to build creativity and aspiration.
Their work will be celebrated and showcased at five library gaming hotspots. These spaces will be kitted out with bespoke digital units to play the participants’ ‘Find their own ending’ stories on and for the wider public to access. The work will also be celebrated through an exhibition of the games created at the Nottingham GameCity Festival.
This pioneering partnership between Nottingham City Libraries, The National Videogame Foundation and Nottingham City of Literature has been funded by Arts Council of Great Britain (£226,335), along with funds from Nottingham City Council, UNESCO City of Literature and The National Videogame Foundation.
Cllr Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said: “We’re excited to be launching this fantastic, innovative project which will deliver the council’s priorities for libraries to promote digital inclusion and support literacy and learning. With the project being delivered in libraries in our most deprived communities, it will provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people and adults to develop skills, confidence and learning using new technology in a new environment, and so put libraries at the heart of creativity and innovation in neighbourhoods.”