New winter season of earth-focused events rolls out across libraries in Devon and Torbay this winter.
Libraries are looking to the future in Libraries Unlimited’s third season of exciting events in Devon and Torbay this winter
The charity secured a £720,369 grant from Arts Council England in 2022 to boost its thriving programme of music, films, workshops, and high-quality community events between 2023 and 2026.
Two seasons – ‘Pride of Place’ and ‘Get Creating!’ have so far reached thousands of people with workshops, performances, art, and music events.
Now ‘A Better Tomorrow’ will invite local communities to consider the planet and their place in it and encourage local action. The season will feature everything from singing circles and Bhangra dancing to a crime fiction workshop and a jazz orchestra performance.
The sessions kick off in December and run through until March at three key libraries – Barnstaple, Exeter, and Paignton – as well as smaller libraries around Devon and Torbay.
Rae Hoole from Libraries Unlimited said: “The breadth of events we’re able to put on with this incredible Arts Council England funding has been a big hit with a great variety of people in our communities. Winter is tough time for many with costly fuel bills and gloomy weather and we think it’s the perfect time to get out and get together in the warm, welcoming space of a library. We think we’ve got something for everyone and every age and look forward to a vibrant and creative season ahead.”
Events for ‘A Better Tomorrow’ are listed below. Please note that there may be a small additional booking fee for those booked via Eventbrite.
PAIGNTON LIBRARY
Tiny travels – Christmas around the world
Saturday 9th December 11am – 1pm
Age up to 11 Donations
A fun, interactive session where earning about how people celebrate Christmas Around The World with a focus on Latin America. Learn about Christmas celebrations from Mexico, Cuba to Colombia. Huge selection of crafts, instruments, smelling sensory pots, musical sound buttons to press and play food from different countries. Travel the world without leaving Devon and give your child a unique opportunity to explore world cultures.
Ceramic gifting workshop
Tuesday 5th December 4 – 5.30pm
Aged 13+ £4
Join Vicky from VJ Ceramics to make a small gift for a friend or loved one from clay. Create a soap dish, ornament or small gift and colour using slip. Vicky will take it away to be fired and you can come back to collect your gift in time for Christmas.
Tiny travels – World religion day
Saturday 20th January 11am – 1pm
Age up to 11 Donations
A fun, interactive session be celebrating World Religion Day and learning about different world religions with a focus on Asia. Huge selection of crafts, instruments, smelling sensory pots, musical sound buttons to press and play food from different countries. Travel the world without leaving Devon and give your child a unique opportunity to explore world cultures.
We need music – Carers singing circle
Monday 22nd January 11.30 – 12noon
All ages Donations
An inclusive singing circle open to carers of all ages and abilities. Songs are learnt by ear without any written music. Anyone can join in and be part of the group. We will sing uplifting, beautiful but simple rounds, call-&-response, and harmony songs. Free but pre-booking essential.
We need music – Community singing circle
Friday 26th January 11.30 to 12noon
All ages Donations
An inclusive singing circle open to all ages and abilities. Songs are learnt by ear without any written music. Anyone can join in and be part of the group. We will sing uplifting, beautiful but simple rounds, call-&-response, and harmony songs. Free but pre-booking essential.
Brick ideas – Cars of the future
Thursday 15th February 11am – 12noon and 2 – 3pm
Age 6 plus £3-£5 pay what you can
A fun, interactive workshop with Brick Ideas for children to build the car of the future. Using Lego bricks and Lego Technic to create motorised vehicles with an assortment of gears. Will your car make it up hill, what speeds will it achieve, and can you win a race in your car of the future?
Bhangra dancing with Avtar
Saturday 2nd March 1.30 – 3pm
All ages £4
Bhangra folk dance workshop (with a splash of Bollywood). Get ready to be transported to the villages of the Punjab – dancing to the rhythm of the dhol – and the streets of Mumbai dancing to masala beats of Bollywood. Bhangra & Bollywood dance can be quite strenuous, but this will be a gentler pace which builds. A chance to learn something new about India’s rich and diverse culture and have fun.
Ceilidh Barn Dance
Saturday 2nd March 7 – 9.30pm
Adults and families – dancing for those aged 6+
£6 adult, £4 concession/child
An evening of traditional dancing to the music of the Amber Fire Ceilidh Band. All ages and abilities welcome as the dance will be well guided by professional caller Jeremy Child.
Future proof
Saturday 2nd March 10am – 3pm
All ages
All activities in the main library area will be free to access. Workshops and talks held upstairs will be individually ticketed
This event is seeking to offer a taste of a positive and creative future for Torbay in the midst of a world being reshaped by climate change. The day will weave together crafts, film, free exchange, repair and upcycling, practical workshops and inspiring speakers that map pathways toward greater local resilience.
Day of Dance
Saturday 2nd March 2024 11am – 12pm
Ages 6+ £3
Celebrate the joy of dance in Paignton Library’s first Day of Dance! Ami Lauren is back with another of her amazing dance workshops. This time Ami will be teaching you an introduction to cheerleading! An exciting workshop incorporating cheer motions, balance and teamwork skills. The workshop is for children over 6 years old and adults of all abilities. Grab some pom poms and learn a fun cheer dance.
Earth stories
Saturday 23rd March 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ages 5 – 11 £3
What if we all knew we were a valued part of the Earth, right from an early age, and brought this through our lives? How might we live, and how might we treat the Earth? Parents and carers and their children are invited to join Ambă for a facilitated Storytime morning, gently weaving in this idea of Belonging to the Earth. There will be a reading of a picture book and then there’ll be space for sharing what stood out and in the story. There will be plenty of colour and art materials to get creative with.
EXETER LIBRARY
Swinging Christmas with Exeter Jazz Orchestra
Saturday 16th December 7.30 – 9.30pm
All ages
Tickets for this performance are Pay What You Can Afford, on a sliding scale from £6 – £12
Swing into Christmas with a night of jazz classics, golden age groovers and cool carols, as the Exeter Jazz Orchestra make their triumphant, trumpeting return to Exeter Library with Swingin’ Christmas! Following a sell-out show earlier this year, the band are back. Don’t miss out on this glorious gig.
Tiny travels – Cultural learning through play
Saturday 27th January 10am – 2pm
Free for children aged under 10
Join Tiny Travels for a fun, interactive family session for all ages and abilities, to help children learn about cultures and religions of the world – with a focus on Asia. Travel the world without leaving the Children’s Library. This is a free, drop-in event. No booking required.
Winter warmer – Poetry and music
Thursday 8th February 7.30 – 9pm
All ages £10 (£8 self selecting concession)
Snuggle up in Exeter Library for a cosy evening of poetry, music, and magic. Featuring poet Chris Tutton (award-winning author of eight collections) accompanying harpist Anne Denholm (joint Principal Harp with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales from 2015-2019.) Plus, the library’s young spoken-word competition winner and others.
Thrills and spills an evening of crime fiction
Thursday 29th February 7.30 – 9.30pm
Age 12+ (some non-explicit mentions of murder, violence, and other crime fiction related themes)
£8 (self-selecting £5 commission)
An evening of exhilarating crime fiction. Featuring a conversation with award-winning novelist Sarah Pearse (The Sanatorium No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller,) as well as a crime writing workshop that’s perfect for beginners and a mini murder mystery from Moonstone Theatre Company.
DAWLISH LIBRARY
Nature Doodles
Monday 4th March 4pm – 6pm
All ages Free drop in
As winter turns to spring, the beauty, variety, eccentricity, and sheer magic of nature erupts into colour! Join local artist Megan Dowsett and explore how to doodle with Nature in this interactive family friendly workshop.
TEIGNMOUTH LIBRARY
Flying with Strings
Monday 12th February 10.30 – 11am performance and 11.15am – 12noon workshop
Age 5+ children under 7 will need an accompanying adult
£2
Join Louis and Sarah for a spectacular puppet show performance and an accompanying marionette making workshop. Inspired by the avian world of Britain, Europe and Africa, this interactive show features intricate string puppetry and live music.
BRIXHAM LIBRARY
The Magical Screentest of Isobel Jeffery
Friday 8th March 7.15 – 8.20pm
16+ £3
Four of Swords presents the true story of a resourceful young neurodivergent woman, her trials, and tribulations, and her quest to become a successful actor!
For further details and booking go to librariesevolve.org.uk/events
Libraries in Devon and Torbay are run by Libraries Unlimited, an independent staff and community owned charity. Join up for free by filling in the online form at devonlibraries.org.uk or torbaylibraries.org.uk. Follow Libraries Unlimited on Facebook.
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