Minutes:
Councillor Sennitt Clough updated members on her suggestion for trialling a Literary Festival in Whittlesey which will take place later this year and depending on how that is received she will approach the Arts Council. She stated that if this proves to be successful the thoughts are to extend the Literary Festival across Fenland and in subsequent years this Festival would serve to put Fenland on the map because Fenland has the capability to be a literary powerhouse, and also to promote the local playwriters, poets and novelists and inspire local creatives with workshops and discussions around all the different literary genres.
Councillor Sennitt Clough stated, if successful, the plan would be to develop a rotating basis across the parishes and towns of Fenland starting at Whittlesey with the name of ‘The Whit Lit Festival’ to take place later this year.
Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:
· Councillor Count stated he would like to understand what the Chairman envisions the Literary Festival to look like and to understand the rotation plans for the other towns and parishes. Councillor Sennitt Clough responded the plan would be to have a day where local novelists, playwrights and poets get invited to read some of their work, plus having some workshops given by the creative novelists and poets to inspire local people, then in the evening holding an event where adults and young people can get a chance to read their work and give them a bit of a showcase, which would all happen over one day. She referred to the question of rotation stating she was open to suggestions and would be happy to hold a debrief after the Whittlesey Festival to see if this is a viable option moving forward and how the expansion would work.
· Councillor Count commented would there be a way in which this idea could be connected to the Summer Reading Challenge.
· Councillor Nawaz stated he is happy to see this happening in Whittlesey and feels this would be a good opportunity to call upon literature work from the past, competitions between individuals, schools, and institutions, and also this idea would lend itself to plays, sketches, school plays and drama competitions. He added that he is in favour of this idea and feels this is good platform for the young people, mental health needs and inspiration for all.
· Councillor Count stated if Wisbech Museum was able to make available the copy of the original manuscript of the Great Expectations, if it is appropriately protected, he feels this would be a good addition to the festival.
· Councillor Sennitt Clough agreed this would also be a nice segue to heritage which is another arm to the committee.
· Councillor Hoy stated Wisbech does have something similar called Wisbech Reads and it might be worth making contact to get some learning from how this works.
· Councillor Sennitt Clough thanked the panel for its input and will now take the idea to the Arts Council.
Members AGREED to the initial proposal for a Literary Festival.