Your Guide to What's On: April - July 2024

Spring is in the air! We’re welcoming the lighter months with a vibrant season of events for children and families, live music, reading, poetry, arts, exhibitions, film, heritage, and even a bit of knitting!

This time of year marks the return of the annual Summer Reading Challenge. This year children aged 4 - 11 are invited to celebrate creative arts and help the Marvellous Makers search for missing objects, all while keeping up their reading throughout the holidays. The Summer Reading Challenge, produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries, will arrive in libraries from Saturday 6 July - Sunday 1 September and is free to join. 

Throughout May, you're invited to our free creative writing workshops as part of our new I Am A Writer project. With guidance of a professional writer, you'll have the chance to explore your creativity in a relaxed and welcoming environment. There are over 30 workshops in libraries in all corners of the county, and anyone from adults to children aged 9+ and their families can join in. May also sees the return of the popular Hands on Heritage Day to Mansfield Central Library on Saturday 18th, bringing fun and free heritage activities for all the family.

The Charity Knitting Challenge is back for 2024! This year we’ve partnered with Your Health Notts, Dementia Action for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Creative Lives to support crafters to make Care Squares – knitted and crochet squares that will create homely warm blankets.

As reading is at the heart of Inspire, we're welcoming a range of authors, poets and illustrators for adults and children alike. Children can join author and illustrator Petr Horácek fun-filled session, find out why Tyrannosaurus Rex is king of the dinosaurs with Jonathan Emmett, and create their own characters with author-illustrator Loretta Schauer. For the adults, poet, writer, TV and film producer Henry Normal will tour libraries as part of Nottingham Poetry Festival 2024 - an hour of poetry that guarantees to have you laughing and crying at the same time. Or, celebrate Milly Johnson's 21st novel, write women back into history with Joanna Courtney, find out about Louise Beech/Swanson's writing journey, or share your ideas at the Bad Ideas Club with Sophie Sparham. 

Grab your popcorn as the big screen returns to the comfort of your local library. Our Dementia Friendly screenings are suitable for all, particularly those with memory challenges, and our relaxed screenings are perfect for neurodiverse families. 

We're especially excited to host Alistair Morrison for a one-off talk about his work and the Time to Connect project at Mansfield Central Library this May. Alistair Morrison is a prominent photographer to the stars, whose work is included in the Primary Collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

This is just a small sample of all the exciting events we’ve got programmed this season, so do read the full guide to find out what’s on near you.

We look forward to seeing you this season, whether its to sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge, attend an exciting event in this brochure, to read, learn, enjoy culture or even use IT facilities, we hope to see you soon..