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Final reportDecember 2016

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What was Celebrating Shakespeare 2016?Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 marked the bardʼs 400th anniversary with library events and activities over several months. It built on the previous yearʼs successful Shakespeare Week pilot project and was funded, to the tune of 95,500, by Arts Council England. Thanks to the ACE grant, English library services were able to commission (centrally approved) artists, writers and performers to work on their Shakespeare celebrations.

When did it happen?The campaign launched during Shakespeare Week (March 14 - 20). Shakespeare Selfie Saturday - a mass participation event in libraries and bookshops across England - marked the bard’s anniversary on April 23. The library celebrations continued, with arts events and activities through to December.

Who was involved?The Society of Chief Librarians worked with a number of high-profile partners to ensure maximum reach and impact: the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Association of Children’s and Education Librarians, The Reading Agency, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, BBC Learning, the Booksellers’ Association, British Library and Royal Shakespeare Company.

The project steering group was chaired by SCL National Executive member Ayub Khan MBE.

What did it aim to achieve?Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 aimed to introduce younger children to Shakespeare in a fun way, to interest teenagers in a playwright who was arguably the rapper of his day, and to encourage adults to revisit his works with a fresh eye.

What did the grant mean for libraries?The ACE funding was great news at a time when most library budgets were under pressure. It meant library services could be more ambitious and creative in their plans to mark the 400th anniversary of England’s most famous writer.

How did it go?During Shakespeare Week more than 11,000 children, young people and adults attended 572 sessions run by 388 libraries - a three-fold increase in engagement on the previous year.Shakespeare Selfie Saturday in April generated more than 6,000 tweets to #shakespeare16 and was shortlisted in two categories of the Public Sector Communications Awards 2016.A total of 47 different artists or groups received 95 commissions to work on arts events in 716 libraries over the Summer and Autumn - attracting 12,024 people.

See for yourself - check out the Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 movie at:

https://youtu.be/qiP_ErF3NMk

Campaign outline

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ResourcesWe had roughly two months between confirmation of ACE funding and the start of Shakespeare Week 2016 - so downloadable activity pack resources, produced for Celebrating Shakespeare in Libraries 2015, were updated and refreshed. New resources were also added - including children’s masks by Marcia Williams, a series of short films produced by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Head of Research and Knowledge, and a fairy lullaby, colouring sheet and CBeebies film provided by BBC Learning.

A graphic designer was commissioned to produce campaign logos, a set of 20 downloadable Shakespeare ‘quote bubbles’ and a poster promoting the mass selfie/social media event on April 23. A master set of quote bubbles (printed on A3 card) was posted to 152 heads of library services in England, encouraging use before, during and after Selfie Saturday. The designer produced more downloadable support materials to help libraries promote their arts-based events through the Summer and Autumn.

Hampshire produced some high-quality, extra resources of their own (example shown bottom right) - which they kindly made available for other library services to use. All downloadable resources were available via a special libraries page on the Shakespeare Week website: http://shakespeareweek.org.uk/libraries/

In addition, 20,000 Passports to Shakespeare were delivered to English library services to hand out to home-educated children, or those who did not receive a passport at school. Produced by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the passport was a small booklet that encouraged children (age 5 - 11) to continue their relationship with Shakespeare beyond the classroom.

Print or write out a quote,

take a selfie,

and share it

#shakespeare16

Shakespeare Selfie Day

Saturday 23 April 2016

Join us to mark the bard’s 400th anniversary in a big way

Shall I compare thee to a summer's

day? Sonnet 18

Double, double toil

and trouble; fire burn, and caldron bubble

Macbeth

Once more unto the

breach, dear friends, once

more Henry V

O Romeo, Romeo!

Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Romeo and Juliet

Janene Cox, SCL

Brian Ashley, ACE

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Behind the scenesProject management

The campaign Steering Group, comprising representatives from partner organisations, met on 27 November 2015, 17 February, 4 May and 5 October 2016. Contact between meetings was mainly by email.

A small sub-group of four was in constant communication to manage day-to-day operations: the Steering Group Chair, Project Co-ordinator, ASCEL Chair, and a member of the SCL National Executive. The Steering Group Chair and Project Co-ordinator liaised with the SCL Treasurer, Chief Executive Officer and Advocacy Manager.

Artist approval panel

In March, libraries nominated 149 artists they would like to work with on Celebrating Shakespeare 2016. Nominees were then asked to complete an expression of interest form - and 103 artists did. A specialist panel was set up - to consider the applications - comprising representatives from four Bridge Organisations, ASCEL, SCL, RSC and Writing West Midlands.

The panel approved 87 artists and their details were circulated to English library services in early April. We stipulated that project funding could only be used to commission artists on the approved list.

Information sharing and promotion

Initial project information and FAQs were circulated via SCL and partner networks in January 2016. Monthly e-newsletters provided updates and encouragement to get onboard. We promoted library and bookshop participation in Shakespeare Week and Selfie Saturday, and encouraged library services to get involved in, and excited about, the artist commissioning process. Blogs and articles were produced for SCL, CILIP and the Libraries Taskforce.

‘Bard is my Bag’ t-shirts and bags were ordered from the Booksellers’ Association to use as incentives/prizes.

Above: members of the Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 steering group took a selfie of sorts at their meeting on February 17

Right: Living statue outside Stratford upon Avon Library was moved to join in - with a selfie

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Regional approach Spotlight on Shakespeare WeekThe bulk of the ACE grant was used to provide funds to commission artists to work with libraries on Shakespeare-themed events over the Summer and Autumn. Funding was allocated proportionately to the nine English SCL regional groups. A separate fund was set aside for a national programme of events in prison libraries.

SCL Regional Chairs met in Stratford upon Avon in March to finalise the funding allocations and process. They each agreed to nominate a Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 co-ordinator for the project and signed a partnership agreement with SCL, outlining the agreed terms.

Basically, each regional co-ordinator provided SCL with costed proposals for arts events - using approved artists. Once the plans were confirmed, the funding was made available.

The regional approach worked well. The programmes were varied - reflecting different regional priorities and capacities. Two groups booked one artist to tour their region. Another responded to limited staff capacity by launching an online poll to find the public’s favourite bard quote - which an artist then represented visually. Other groups asked member library services to decide which artists they wanted to use.

The result was a broad range of high-quality events, large and small, across many different art-forms.

Library services across England ran a wide variety of activities for Shakespeare Week 2016. Examples included a Shakespeare Insult Tournament, Tudor who-dunnits, storytelling, drama workshops, historic re-enactments, games, word fun, shadow puppet theatre, computer coding, craft activities and much more - all with a Shakespearian twist.

A total of 68 library services (45%) responded to an SCL survey in April. Results showed that 11,197 children, young people and adults participated in 572 sessions run by 388 libraries - a threefold increase in engagement on the ‘Shakespeare Week Celebrate in Libraries 2015’ campaign.

A separate survey, conducted by ASCEL, found that 167 libraries used the CBeebies Lullaby during Shakespeare Week 2016 rhyme time sessions for under-5s, attended by 3,269 children and 2,846 parents/adults.

The Reading Agency reported that their updated Shakespeare Week Chatterbooks Activity Pack was downloaded 1,900 times, compared to 984 in 2015.

North West CS 2016 Regional Co-ordinator Clancy Mason

Brent Libraries poster

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Shakespeare Selfie SaturdayOn Saturday April 23, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, libraries and bookshops invited customers, colleagues and celebrities to read out a quote from the speech bubbles provided, take a selfie, and share it via social media (#shakespeare16). A blank speech bubble was available for download so people could choose their own favourite Shakespeare quote, or message, if they preferred.

The mass selfie event was designed to be really simple to organise and easy to deliver - to maximise participation. Libraries were encouraged to start their social media campaigns in the run-up to anniversary Saturday, but were asked to upload selfies taken in advance on the day itself.

Mid- April survey results indicated that at least 577 English libraries planned to take part. The Booksellers’ Association forecast that 150 bookshops - or more - would be joining in Shakespeare Saturday in some way with Bard bags and displays, and social media activity - including selfies.

Analysis after the event showed that 129 library services (85%) got involved generating at least 6,000 tweets/retweets for #shakespeare16. An estimated 10 - 20% more tweeted to other hashtags such as #shakespeare400 and #shakespeare2016.

Shakespeare Selfie Saturday proved popular with libraries, customers, and colleagues. It was subsequently shortlisted in the digital and low-budget campaign categories of the Public Sector Communications Awards 2016. The selfie model has already been re-used on another SCL campaign.

Some of the steering group’s favourite selfies are shown. See many more at:https://storify.com/SarahMears10/shakespeare-selfie-571d35b5515fd0ff30a4c142.htmlhttps://storify.com/SarahMears10/shakespeare-sefie-3.htmlhttps://storify.com/SarahMears10/shakespeare-selfie-2.htmlhttps://storify.com/SarahMears10/shakespeare-selfies

Sir Ian McKellen visited Bolton and Manchester Libraries

Biggest smile - Salford Library

Character acting in Staffordshire

Thora (98) Denton Library

Stoke on Trent

Three Lancashire witches

Best costume - Bristol Library‘To be or not to be?’ AmberleyPrimary School

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Summer - Autumn arts events in public librariesCentral funding was made available to the nine English SCL regional groups - so members could commission artists to work on high-quality, creative, Shakespeare-themed events to attract wide audiences.

The basic thinking was that budgetary and staffing limitations should not prevent libraries from celebrating the bard’s 400th anniversary in a big way.

Regional approaches varied:

The West Midlands commissioned theatre company Oddsocks to tour a 90-minute production of Bard’s Best bits ….. Romeo and Juliet around 13 library services.

Twelve library services across the North East worked with Big Foot Arts Education who offered either a Play in a Day or Story Tickler’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The London region shortlisted 17 artists and allocated an equal commissioning budget to 33 boroughs - so that at least one activity could be delivered in each.

Seven library services in Yorkshire and Humber commissioned seven different artists. The regional programme included drama workshops, storytelling and poetry.

The South East launched an online poll to find the public’s favourite Shakespeare quote. Artist Marcia Williams created a visual representation of the winner.

The North West commissioned 14 artists to work with 22 library services on a wide variety of activities including sonnet writing workshops and a murder mystery event.

Five East Midlands library services worked with seven artists on events including illustration workshops, interactive performance, and a Tudor music concert.

Eleven library services in the South West worked with four artists - Michele O’Brien (The Spice Box), Spaniel in the Works, Thick as Thieves and The Pantaloons.

In the East five library services commissioned seven different artists for a varied programme including crafts, storytelling, illustration and Hip Hop Shakespeare.

Prisons programmeA separate, national fund was set aside for Shakespeare events in prisons. CILIP’s Prison Libraries Group put together an impressive programme for adult prisoners, young offenders and visiting families. Events - featuring fine art, poetry, drama and Hip Hop Shakespeare - were held in 12 different prisons across the country.

“I didn’t know that words could be so powerful.”

Prisoner - HMP Nottingham

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Children’s authors The Two Steves

Akala - Artistic Director of Hip Hop Shakespeare

Storyteller Mike Dodsworth

Artist/illustrator Steve SmallmanPerformance storyteller Anna Conomos Poet Craig BradleyArtist Marcia Williams

Artists of many different disciplines were involved in Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 - some you might expect to find in libraries, like authors and storytellers, and some you might not.

We had calligraphy and creative writing, music and dance, poetry and rap, pop-up crafts and comic illustration, drama workshops and theatre, storytelling, murder mysteries and much more.

A total of 47 different artists or groups were commissioned to work in libraries - and many received multiple bookings.

What’s striking is how much they seemed to have enjoyed themselves - and how rewarding they found the experience. Some of the artists had worked in libraries before but for others this was new territory.

See some of their comments opposite.

As an artist, I have felt very supported and encouraged on this wonderful project. It has been heartwarming to see the children and adults involved so richly respond to the sessions. An excellent experience start to end. Dominic Berry

We’ve had a fantastic week and it’s brought Oddsocks to an audience who may not have ever had the chance to see our work. It’s the direction we want to head in and are proud to be doing so - in terms of bringing theatre to the many and not just the few. Oddsocks Productions

I have been running my Rap & Rhyming Shakespeare sessions in numerous London libraries and have been delighted with the response from the (primary) children taking part. The project also enabled children to visit their library and helped me form links with schools. Fab! Neal Zetter

It was a fabulous opportunity for our company to explore the work of Shakespeare in an innovative way and we have learnt an enormous amount through the experience on many levels. Beach Hut Theatre Co

Artists and art forms Artist feedback

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Audiences CommentsTarget audiences were wide-ranging - from toddlers to the most senior of citizens - and included lower-ability children, people in relatively deprived areas, and the prison population.

Thousands of under-5s and their parents enjoyed special rhyme time sessions during Shakespeare Week. At the other end of the age spectrum, we had a 90-year-old selfie-taker in Great Yarmouth Library and a 98-year-old who took part in an ‘open mic’ session in Denton, Tameside.

Shakespeare Selfie Saturday was designed to appeal to all ages - but specifically targeted social media and online library users.

Like Shakespeare, we set out - first and foremost - to entertain people. A lot of the Summer and Autumn library arts events were hands-on, so audiences didn’t just watch artists at work. At many workshops and interactive sessions they had a go at making, doing and performing things themselves.

Ages attending Shakespeare-themed arts events, over the Summer and Autumn, were as follows:

under 5 468 4%5 - 11 5821 48%12 - 19 1276 11%adult 3249 27%online/unknown 1210 10%

total 12024 100%

Natural Shocks was an exciting and inspiring event for families to watch together. It was an excellent use of library space as a community and cultural hub. Scarborough Library

The storyteller was absolutely fantastic. The best thing was seeing the cluster of families around the book display afterwards - with lots of gaps where books had been borrowed. Library Services Manager, Essex

We felt the children benefited hugely. Having a lively and fun introduction to the play, they are likely to remember it and enjoy it more later on when they come to study it in class. As some of them struggled with reading and writing, Shakespeare is going to be quite a challenge - so to start off with such a positive experience of it may change their attitude. Peterborough Library staff

Lovely food, lovely actors, fun evening, met new people, had a great evening - thank you! Adult, Bolton Central Library

Very enjoyable. Proves that Shakespeare is not boring! Well done. Adult, Wiltshire

We’ve studied the play in class so it was so good to see this version. It kept their attention and brought the whole thing alive for them. Teacher, Torquay Library

We had a great time and the show was so informative. Alex (7) had lots of fun. Oddsocks are very talented. Please do more of these educational shows. Parent, Wolverhampton

Liked the time here. I know how to draw and I want to know more about Shakespeare. Epic. 8-year-old, Derbyshire

I enjoyed dressing up and acting. I didn’t know the play but I like Shakespeare now.10-year-old, Middlesbrough Library

Today was fun and exciting and I think I’ve gone better at art.10-year-old, Tameside Central Library

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A total of

in numbers...

children, young people and adults

11,000 ...more than

attended

572 sessions

During Shakespeare Week... ...run by

libraries

a three-fold increase in

engagement on the previous year

ShakespeareSelfie

Saturday

...generated more than

tweets 6,000to #shakespeare16

and was shortlisted in two categories of the

Public Sector Communications

Awards 2016.over the Summer and Autumn

attended by more than

12000people.

different artists or groups received

47

commissions to work on arts events in...

95

716 libraries

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Finally Thank you from the ChairDid we succeed?

The headline figures for Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 are impressive: more than 29,200 people took part in library events. But did the project make a difference? Perceptional change is hard to quantify but anecdotal evidence - comments received - indicate success. We presented the bard to audiences in new ways - and asked children, teenagers and adults to give him a chance, whatever their previous knowledge or opinions. Thousands of them did just that.

Legacy

Libraries and artists have formed new relationships. They know how to work together and - should opportunities arise - are keen to do so again. We have a list of approved artists that libraries in all parts of the country can call on - to add an extra creative dimension to their events.

National learning event

We will end the project with a national celebratory ‘learning’ event at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford upon Avon, in December. The aim of the day is for SCL and partners to explore what we have achieved, what we have learned, and where we go from here. Can we apply the Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 model - or elements of it - to future projects or funding bids? Is there an appetite to do something similar again?

Guest numbers will be limited but we will film the event so it can be made available to colleagues more widely.

It genuinely has been a privilege and a pleasure to lead the Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 campaign. It was the first time SCL had done anything like this - and it was an ambitious undertaking. But thanks to the funding grant from ACE, invaluable support from our partners, and the hard work and enthusiasm of SCL regional groups and co-ordinators around the country, the project has been a great success.

The quality and diversity of events was amazing - and being able to commission so many talented artists to work with libraries made a real difference. I am sure we have learned a lot from each other.

Ayub Khan MBECelebrating Shakespeare 2016 Steering Group Chairayubkhan@warwickshire.gov.uk

See the Celebrating Shakespeare 2016 movie at: https://youtu.be/qiP_ErF3NMk