Arts in Libraries will launch in the East Riding on Make Music Day: 21 June

Events in Goole, Bridlington, and Beverley and across the Wolds

Singers and musicians will be popping up at libraries across the East Riding on Wednesday, 21 June to celebrate the start of a new three-year programme of arts and cultural events in local libraries.

Ruth Getz and Elle Douglas AKA Miss Vintage Twist will be hopping on board the mobile libraries throughout the day to delight audiences in villages across the Wolds with music from the 1940s to now. Local talents Eleanor Grace and Tess Fletcher will be entertaining customers at Bridlington Central Library (10.30am to 1.15pm) and Beverley Library (11am-2pm).

Goole town centre is going to be taken over by familiar faces including Elton Wrong and Memphis Pete, as they rock along the high street. They’ll be entertaining the crowds and inviting local people to share their opinions on new events being planned for the library.

Goole Library will be hosting more activities and performances, and local stilt walker Sydney Sparks will take to the streets. The project in Goole is part of a new partnership with Back to Ours, an arts organisation from Hull who deliver unexpected events on people’s doorsteps. The events in Goole will be between 10.30am and 3pm.

All events on 21 June are free and no booking is required.

Councillor Nick Coultish, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, explained : “21 June is global Make Music Day and East Riding Libraries are getting involved to celebrate the fact that libraries are so much more than books! Libraries are creative hubs in the hearts of local communities and over the next three years there will be many more opportunities to get involved with creative events in libraries across the East Riding.

“It’s very exciting to be launching this new libraries project that will give new opportunities for people to get involved with arts and cultural events, no matter where they live in the East Riding.”

The Arts In Libraries programme funded by Arts Council England will see libraries coming to life with music workshops, poetry performances, opera for babies and much more. This year will see the return of the Festival of Words and a Children’s Festival of Words that will be the largest yet. There will be an affordable Christmas show for families touring libraries across the East Riding with She Productions.

ArtERY will continue to tour professional dance, music and theatre events in libraries as part of the Rural Touring Scheme. East Riding Libraries are also working with Mikron Theatre to create a new show in partnership with customers of the Mobile Library Service and to bring new theatre shows to village halls.

East Riding Libraries are one of 16 library services across the country to be awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status by Arts Council England. This will provide significant funding to transform local libraries into thriving cultural venues.