We’re delighted to announce that FOLIO has been awarded a major grant, worth just over £9500 to run an exciting and innovative digital storytelling project in Sutton Coldfield library from August 2018.
Digital Storytellers is to to be FOLIO’s biggest project yet, resulting in an interactive digital adventure around and inspired by Sutton Coldfield Library. This exciting initiative will be free, and ideal for young people aged 10-14. It will run from August-October 2018, with an augmented reality experience designed and created by local young people being premièred in November 2018.
Digital Storytellers is supported by a £9,500 grant from the Big Lottery Fund. FOLIO will work with C&T Digital Theatre company, internationally-renowned drama and technology professionals, to run free workshops over 8 weeks for young people. This will culminate in the creation of a digital story tour around the library, where families can investigate the stories of our Digital Storytellers. The money will also be used for the purchase of 3 iPads, which will be available at the library for following the digital tour at the end of the project.
“This is FOLIO’s biggest and boldest project so far and we’re enormously excited to be able to offer something so unusual and innovative for young people in Sutton Coldfield Library, thanks to a very generous grant from the Big Lottery Fund, “ said Zoe Toft, Chair of FOLIO Sutton Coldfield. “The Digital Storytellers project is playful, creative and cutting-edge and we can’t wait to see the imaginations of local children brought to life through the use of all sorts of amazing technology.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with FOLIO on this exciting Digital Storytellers project,” said Sam George of C&T, “Empowering young people and communities by spreading digital media skills is what C&T is all about, and we believe this project will make Sutton Coldfield Library a fantastic location for learning and experiencing cutting edge digital arts.”
The young Digital Storytellers will share their favourite stories, and bring books from the library to life in a digital exploration of the library. The sessions will include drama games, creative writing and digital technology workshops, and are perfect for creative young people, especially those aged 10-14, and who have interest in English, Drama, and learning about digital media.
Digital Storytellers will kick off on August 22nd at 10am, with a relaxed drop-in workshop for young people that runs all day, playing around with all sorts of technology from 360 cameras to steadicams and augmented reality. This is a taster session, to encourage people to sign up to the project, and will allow young people to try out some of the exciting digital techniques we’ll be using. The project will take place over 8 weeks, from September 15th to October 31st, with young people attending sessions at Sutton Coldfield Library every Saturday. The interactive story adventure will be launched on November 17th, an event to which anyone in Sutton Coldfield is welcome.
For details on the project, and to book onto the taster session/register your interest to be a Digital Storyteller, please email digitalstorytellers@foliosuttoncoldfield.org.uk