From 11-22 June, 80 children’s authors and illustrators will take part in the second annual Pop Up Festival – a national schools literature festival that sees books brought to life. 

Over the course of the festival, the authors and illustrators will visit 15,000 children in classrooms, libraries, museums and galleries across England and Wales and lead interactive workshops that will kick-start pupils’ creative writing and illustration, with thousands of books supplied to participating primary, secondary and SEND schools in the process.  The author visits and workshops are the culmination of a term’s work which has seen each school’s pupils participate in a tailored reading programme which immerses them in the authors’ books.

Saul Argent, education manager at Pop Up Projects, says “In each of its festival hubs in England and Wales, Pop Up Projects works collaboratively with educational, literary and cultural organisations to enable children, empower teachers, and engage families from all walks of life to read more widely, write more creatively, and develop visual storytelling skills.”  Launched in 2017, Pop Up Festival forms part of a wider children’s literature programme from Pop Up Projects, including teacher CPD, an education conference, a magazine and an international illustrator’s exchange.

Throughout summer term 2018, 15,000 children age 3-14 are reading 170 book titles by 80 children’s writers and illustrators. Then over the two weeks in June the authors are delivering exciting class workshops (many in local libraries, museums and galleries) to kick-start pupils’ creative writing and illustration. This year’s programme also sees 7,000 books supplied to participating primary, secondary and SEND schools in Kent, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Shropshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Literature Wales, Pop Up’s partner in Wales, are delighted to be associated with the project. “Literature Wales welcomes and supports the Pop Up Festival,” commented their spokesperson, “It is the Festival’s second year with schools in Wales and the pupils’ reactions to meeting the authors is magical. The Pop Up Festival creates real excitement and enthusiasm and promotes engagement with reading.” 

For more information click here and visit the festival website.