Words in Mind Celebrates The Healing Power of Words with Huddersfield Literature Festival
Words in Mind and Huddersfield Literature Festival have commissioned a new animated short film as part of a project for this year’s Festival, called The Creative Mind.
The three-minute film has been created by award-winning local company, Fettle Animation to explore ideas around creativity and mental wellbeing, and includes contributions from leading authors and poets such as Kit de Waal, Joanne Harris, Jackie Kay, Lisa Luxx, Nikesh Shukla and Lemn Sissay. It was premiered at the HLF2020 Preview, which took place on Tuesday 25 February at Heritage Quay at the University of Huddersfield.
Elaine Duffy, Project Co-ordinator for Words in Mind said, “We are please to be partnering with the festival for the second year running, showcasing the healing value of reading and writing for mental health and well-being. Last year we ran a full day conference introducing people to the idea of bibliotherapy with 2 of the UK’s leading researchers and Alan Johnson as keynote speaker. This year we are offering two taster sessions run by 2 of the Words in Mind volunteers who help facilitate some of the 47 groups that we run across Kirklees. They will be exploring how the process of writing can improve mood and health. And we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with award-winning local animation company, Fettle, and such well-known names from the world of literature who’ve talked about their experiences of emotional health and writing.”
Book a free bibliotherapy taster session at Huddersfield Literature Festival on 21st March at the Lawrence Batley Theatre or 24th March at Huddersfield University.
Festival Director, Michelle Hodgson, said: “Our Festival audiences often tell us about the positive and long-term benefits they experience from listening to writers and poets speak, or taking part in workshops, from creative writing to Bibliotherapy. The Creative Mind project not only features wonderful contributions from major writers and poets exploring creativity and mental wellbeing, but also brings together a number of organisations within the town, in a spirit of collaboration and co-operation.”
The Creative Mind project has also received support from Woven Festival: a biennial celebration of innovation in textiles across Kirklees, and has commissioned a banner from the One World Craft Group – a group for refugees and local people to get together and share ideas, skills and culture to create beautiful craft work. The group are also sharing their refugee stories as part of the festival.
Words in Mind is a 3-year National Lottery funded project run by TSL Kirklees, which helps local community groups, care homes, hospitals, and libraries work with volunteers to host therapeutic reading groups. These groups use extracts from all kinds of books, poetry and writing to help people connect with memories and emotions and promote good mental health, using a process called creative bibliotherapy. The project has just completed its 2nd year.
Get in touch to find out more or visit the Words in Mind page on our website.