Literary Product Innovation Programme

Beckett & Wilde – Launch of Fermanagh Literary Tourism Project

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Beckett & Wilde – Launch of Fermanagh literary tourism project.

A public art installation in Enniskillen will see a live game of chess played across the Fermanagh town throughout the year

The Beckett Enniskillen Chess Set, a permanent public art installation by sculptor Alan Milligan comprising 32 1.5ft tall bronze chess pieces representing characters and motifs from the work of Samuel Beckett, and 64 1ftsq steel cubes as chess squares in bronze mounted on wood is the next phase of a Literary Tourism Project that is already reaping benefits for Enniskillen.

The pieces will be mounted in 64 different indoor locations across Enniskillen within the four ‘corners’ of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School (Portora site), Forthill Cole’s Monument, Enniskillen Castles Museum and National Trust Castle Coole, forming a chess set that will be played throughout the year with performances at three key times.

The installation is the second phase of an Enniskillen Literary Tourism project, the first of which, The Flight of the Little Golden Swallow, saw the installation of 150 little swallows in gold leaf across Enniskillen Island Town during early summer, on the exterior facades of retail stores and community buildings including its schools.  Installed in May this year, already that element of the project is meeting the objective of helping to revitalise the town and its surrounds post-lockdown.

Sean Doran Artistic Director of Arts Over Borders, the organisation delivering the project explained: “The Flight of the Little Golden Swallow over the past few months has been wholly welcomed by Enniskillen’s traders and wider community and has fired the imagination of many who understand exactly what the project aims to achieve and how it can be maximised to the town’s advantage.

“Literary Tourism is an emerging niche sector within the wider cultural tourism sector, where places with literary heritage offer author and fiction-related literary tourism opportunities, along with opportunities arising from literary festivals, trails and book shops.  Following the installation of the Swallows, Enniskillen BID (Business Improvement District) has commissioned a mural of Wilde’s the Happy Prince, the Council has agreed to gild Cole’s statue which it is believed inspired Wilde’s story and traders are considering incorporating Wilde into their offering from jewelry design to menu items. All of these things help to build the tourism offering in the area.”

Now the second phase of the project builds on another of the town’s adopted sons, Samuel Beckett.  Beckett famously attended Portora Royal School in the 1920s.  With chess as one of the central themes in the writer’s work, Doran first commissioned sculptor Alan Milligan in 2013 to produce the Beckett Enniskillen Chess Set for the Beckett Festival held in Enniskillen and its surrounds. With this latest project the pieces will be brought out of storage and will become a living artwork with a game of chess performed each year.

“With all of the chess pieces installed it is our intention to play out a game of chess each year,” said Sean Doran. “We will work with chess masters to establish a game online with the pieces in Enniskillen being moved across our living chess board on the ground in Enniskillen in sync with the moves made by the masters online.

“This set up means that at three key times throughout the year, the public can follow the game online and in performance beginning with the Queen’s Gambit Opening Game on Good Friday (Beckett was born of Good Friday of course), the Middle Game will be played during the annual Beckett Festival which is set to return in 2022 and the End Game will be played out over 1-3 days from the 22nd December, the date of Beckett’s death.”

As he goes on to explain, Doran has curated the location for each square very deliberately, with a particular meaning behind each place chosen.

“Each location chosen for the chess board and the placement of the chess pieces is of significance,” Sean said. “For instance, the Queens (Winnie and Not I) are at The Regal/Fermanagh Unionist Association and in Maguire’s Keep Enniskillen Castle (the oldest room in Enniskillen) while the Kings are in Magee’s Spirit Store (Krapp) and Rebecca’s Cafe The Buttermarket (Hamm). The Knights starting points are in the Sinn Fein office, Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen Hotel, Portora School Dining Hall and the Bishops are in St.Macartin’s Cathedral (Gogo from Godot), St. MIchael’s Church (Didi from Godot), Saddlers Restaurant (Pozzo from Godot) and Aisling Centre.

In Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland border counties, the potential for literary tourism is particularly rich and unparalleled worldwide through its literary heritage with Seamus Heaney, C S Lewis, W B Yeats, Brian Friel, Jonathan Swift, Flann O’Brien, Patrick Kavanagh and of course Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde school day associations in Enniskillen.

Bernie Mooney, Project Manager said, “significantly, this project is part of a wider European Initiative, the NPA funded SPOT-LIT programme, supporting economic development through the vehicle of literary tourism and Enniskillen will benefit greatly from the additional visibility and growth this will bring to the area.”

A key issue that the project will address is seasonality for Enniskillen and Fermanagh. Those behind the literary tourism project see the Flight of the little golden Swallow which is installed on external walls as particularly appealing in spring and summer while the board and the pieces of the Beckett Enniskillen Chess Set will be located internally and therefore fitting for autumn and winter viewing.  Added to this is the performances that will take place at key points throughout the year.

Sally Rees, Project Support, who has worked with local businesses and organisations on the installation of both The Flight of The Little Golden Swallow and the Beckett Enniskillen Chess set, says,” essentially these two contrasting installations are strategically complementary lending themselves to different seasons. Both provide the opportunity for tourist trails that will take visitors across and around the town to places of interest and into community buildings, public buildings, shops, cafes and places of worship and ultimately have a very wide appeal.  Added to this of course, is the live performances of the chess game at key points throughout the year.”

Image Credit: Brian Morrison Photography.

New Mural Celebrates Poet Antoine Ó Raifteirí and the Kiltimagh Diaspora.

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What a fantastic work of art….. Kiltimagh towns newest mural has reached completion, celebrating Raftery an file, the famous Irish language poet, also celebrating the famous Kiltimagh diaspora.  Wonderful work by Damien Moran sign writer for bringing this to life, a joint project of Kiltimagh Tidy Towns, Kavanagh’s Supervalu Kiltimagh, Kiltimagh Tourism Festivals and Spot-lit.eu.

 

Raftery Returns Arts Festival Poetry Competition.

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A wonderful night of poetry and music hosted by Terry McDonagh was held in The Cill Eadain Court Hotel. The presentation of the the first poetry competition Prize took place as part of The Raftery Returns Arts Festival was held.

Supported by the Spot-Lit,  Raftery Returns Arts Festival Poetry Competition Results:

  • 1st Prize: Daragh Byrne – As it is in Heaven.
  • 2nd Prize: John McGrath – Leaving (July 1st 1966).
  • 3rd Prize: Art O’Suilleabhan – No Going back

Our thanks to all entrants and especially to the winners and the competition judge, Ger Reidy.
The winning poem will be unveiled as part of a poetry trail in Kiltimagh on Raftery’s birthday, March 30th 2022.

See Facebook Live HERE.

 

 

Spot-lit Business Support Toolkit and Resources.

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Spot-lit have developed a transnational Literary Product Innovation Programme using experiential learning and supports to stimulate interest and engagement within the sector as a potential business growth opportunity. 28 new literary products are being delivered across the project partner regions, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland and Scotland.

A Business Support Toolkit has been developed together with a suite of useful resources, the toolkit and resources are intended to provide a comprehensive guide to aid development of literary tourism and tourism-related enterprises in the NPA region and beyond.

View/Download The Spot-lit Business Support Toolkit and Resources HERE.

Literary Tourism Products Developed in Ireland.

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Cairde Sligo Arts Festival have developed two literary strands to their arts festival, Cairde Word hosted online in 2020 is a series of high-quality literary performances and a literary trail incorporating poetry, readings and performance art, details HERE. This year the festival have commissioned landscape theatre specialists LUXE to create an illuminated processional spectacle between the waters of Rosses Point and the shifting sands of Cumeen Strand. This event will also feature newly commissioned work by writer Annemarie Ní Churreáin, with sound and visuals by Laura Sheeran in collaboration with The Lighthouse Project. The event will take place on 4th September 2021.

LUXE Landscape Theatre

LUXE Landscape Theatre

Tertulia ‘A Bookshop Like No Other’.

Tertulia have been very busy during the last year in developing their Literary Tourism offering in Westport. Through Spot-lit, a new experiential product offering is being developed for visitors to Westport; half and full-day “Literature and Philosophy” events throughout the year. These events will involve speakers, workshops and debates based on the model of a mini Citizen’s Assembly, using experts and informed debates.  Tertulia have also launched a Short Story Competition for Teens. More Here.

Brid and Neil ‘Terulia a bookshop like no other’

Thoor Ballylee Development CLG.

Rooted in the fourteenth-century hiberno tower just outside Gort, Co. Galway, Thoor Ballylee Development CLG is a literary and cultural organisation with a track record of over 25 years delivering educational and artistic infrastructure, attracting visitors seeking literary and cultural tourism experiences in South Galway. Through Spot-Lit, the group contunue to work towards developing a new network connecting local people and visitors to locations and sites of international literary and artistic importance in our region.

Thoor Ballylee

Artisan House, Connemara, Galway.

Connemara has an abundance of literary and artistic associations extending over many decades and even centuries. Through the Spot-lit programme, the publishing company plans to develop a series of literary tourism guided tours in Connemara including package holidays, printed materials and maps.

Image of Gurteenacloch Renvyle by Artisan House.

Mayo Celtic Holidays Ltd./Kiltimagh Tourism Association.

The Spot-lit supported Raftery Returns Arts Festival is set to take place in Kiltimagh, between 26th September and 3rd October, celebrating the life and work of Anthony Raftery, the last Irish Bard. Included in the programme of events are creative writing and performance skills with children in the area, readings and workshops as well a literary tour through Cill Aodain and a programme to reach out to the visually impaired community. Raftery Returns Arts Festival  are also running a Poetry Competition.

Thatcher at Work at WB and George Yeats’s cottage.

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Signs of hope as WB and George Yeats’s cottage, at Thoor Ballylee gets a new coat of reeds. We look forward to welcoming you in the better, brighter, days ahead.

Spot-lit Project colleagues Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society are dedicated to restoring and keeping open Thoor Ballylee, the C14th Norman tower in Galway, Ireland, home and poetic symbol of Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler Yeats.

Through Spot-Lit, the group proposes to develop a new network connecting local people and visitors to locations and sites of international literary and artistic importance in our region.

Scottish Publishers Hail New Annual Event

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With the book trade reeling from the once-in-a-century challenge of the pandemic and lockdown, Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown, is the venue for Stellar Words, a new annual sales fair offering hope to publishers.

In June 2021 Stellar Words will bring together small presses, established indies and large trade publishers for an event showcasing books, pamphlets, periodicals, journals, zines, ephemera and digital products. It will link publishers with booksellers, readers, writers and literature stakeholders. With no other event quite like this in Scotland, Stellar Words will champion writing of all genres in all formats and forge connections between all the main characters in a book’s story.

Stellar Words will be free to attend and open to the public. It will initially be held over one day, with the intention to grow it into a weekend-long event with a programme of activities featuring authors and publishers. Held in the County Buildings in Wigtown on June 12th, 2021, the event details will be confirmed subject to the venue’s booking restrictions under Scotland’s local authorities’ COVID-19 safety protocols.

Stellar Words was conceived by Gillian Hamnett, a freelance bookseller, proofreader and arts administrator who has worked in the literature sector for 20 years. She saw the potential for this event and successfully secured investment as part of the Spot-lit project – a multi-partner, multi-regional literary tourism programme funded by the Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme and delivered in Dumfries & Galloway by Wigtown Festival Company. You can find more information here:

https://www.spot-lit.eu/nine-dumfries-galloway-businesses-to-take-part-in-spot-lit-programme/

“I’m thrilled to be organising this event. I wanted to run a Scottish Publishers’ Fair long before the pandemic’s arrival, but it’s now more important than ever to support Scottish Publishing and provide an inclusive platform for the buying public to experience it at a dedicated event. I can’t think of a better place to do that than in Scotland’s National Book Town, alongside local booksellers, writers and readers.”

~ Gillian Hamnett, Founder of Stellar Words

“We were very impressed by Gillian’s proposal to hold an annual publishers’ fair in Wigtown and are thrilled to be able to support the inception of Stellar Words through our work with the Spot-lit programme. It’s a fantastic proposition that has great future potential and it’s exciting to see a new event being added to Wigtown’s annual calendar, especially one that we hope will reinforce the Book Town’s relationship with the literature sector even further.”

~ Isla Rosser-Owen, Cultural Producer, Wigtown Festival Company

“The booksellers of Wigtown are hugely supportive of this exciting new event being initiated in Scotland’s National Book Town. We wish Gillian every success and hope it becomes a regular feature of Wigtown’s growing literary calendar.”

~ The Association Of Wigtown Booksellers

“Publishers work hard to reach new audiences for their authors all year round, but also on the individual building up of their publishing lists and profile. The Scottish Publishers’ Fair gives them a fantastic opportunity and context to meet readers directly and present to them the range of what their companies have to offer. A lovely opportunity in a great location will make this an unmissable event.”

~ Marion Sinclair, Chief Executive, Publishing Scotland

“We are delighted there is now a showcase event to highlight the range, variety and quality of the Scottish publishing industry. It’s something that has needed to be done for a long while.”

~ Hugh Andrew, Managing Director, Birlinn Ltd

“A Scottish Publishers’ fair is a wonderful idea. After a year when we’ve been unable to get together or to showcase the breadth and imagination of publishing in Scotland, this is definitely something to look forward to.”

~ Moira Forsyth, Publishing Director, Sandstone Press

“I’m really looking forward to this long overdue event – adversity often leads to great creativity so I’m sure great things will come from this initiative.”

~ Robbie Porteous, Pocket Mountains Ltd

“Stellar Words looks set to offer a much-needed boost for wee presses such as ourselves. Such a fair would be a welcome addition to the calendar even in the best of times but given the drop off in publishers’ usual sales opportunities over the past few months it’s now particularly important. I couldn’t be more pleased to be involved!”

~ Duncan Lockerbie, Publishing Director, Stewed Rhubarb and Tapsalteerie

 

 

 

Spotlight on Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme in Northern Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding. Today, we are showcasing the seven selected Finnish organisations participating in the Literary Product Innovation Programme (LT-PIP).

“VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store.  Find Out More HERE.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of the Kalevala

Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all. The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

Find Out More HERE.

Culture Cooperative G-voima & Vaara Collective: Developing a Dramatic Eino Leino Product Family.

Cultural cooperative G-voima was founded in 2006. Vaara-collective is a performing arts collective founded in 2014, producing high quality creative performing and applied art locally and nationally.

Our home base is at Generaattori (in English, “the Generator”) house of performing arts situated in the centre of Kajaani. Generaattori is managed by G-Voima and the space is shared by contemporary dance production group Routa Company, Kajaani Amateur Theatre and Vaara-Collective. Our operations are quite diverse, annually producing 5-10 theatre and dance premieres, guest performances, residencies, training, concerts, discussion events and other events.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

In summer 2019, we launched our first Literary Tourism product; the Eino Leino cruise on The SS Kouta, a Finnish steamship built in 1920, with actor Sami Sainio in charachter as the late poet Eino Leino. The cruise will be offered for the full summer 2020 season. (Due to the ship capacity, numbers are limited.) Find Out More HERE.

Veikko Huovinen Society

Veikko Huovinen (1927 –2009) was a novelist who lived in Sotkamo in the Kainuu region. He was trained as a forester and practised this profession from 1953 to 1956, he then began a career as a writer. His writing is known for its realism, pacifism, sharp intellect, and especially a peculiar humour, Huovinen observed and analysed the world closely, often through satire.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The sites related to Huovinen in Sotkamo include his grave found in Sotkamo, as well as a statue “Havukka-ahon ajattelija’ by artist Nina Terno and a memorial forest dedicated for him. The Huovinen society also arranges many kinds of annual activities. A replica of his study is open to the public in summertime where items from his original office can be viewed.

Veikko Huovinen society plans to further develop the study of Veikko Huovinen and offer year-round activities. New guided tours based on storytelling will be launched with partners. Connected to this process is also raising awareness of the forgotten writers Heikki Meriläinen and Viena Korhonen of Sotkamo. Find Out More HERE.

Idän Taiga Association – Developing Kalevala for the International Tourist

The Idän Taiga association has about 60 member companies mainly located in Kuhmo and Suomussalmi areas in Eastern Kainuu, marketed under the Wild Taiga brand name. The network of member companies offer opportunities to hike in magnificent, unspoiled nature, watch and photograph wildlife, and also enjoy cultural activities.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The network of member companies participating in The Spot-lit Literary Product Innovation Programme have begun work on the development of activities for both domestic and foreign tourists. The activities will bring the Kalevala to life across a range of products and services and support the newly established status of Kuhmo city as a UNESCO City of Literature. Find Out More HERE

Eino Leino House Foundation – Kullervo Play


Poet Eino Leino was born in 1878 in Paltaniemi, where you will find the Eino Leino traditional house, built according to Leino’s childhood home. Today the traditional house is maintained by Eino Leino House Foundation dedicated to showcasing the poet’s life and extensive work. The foundation promotes culture related to the house and its surroundings. One of the important tasks of the foundation is to support research related to both Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino and the publication of related literature in various forms.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

With the support from Spot-lit project, Eino Leino house foundation plans to write, direct and pilot one of the cornerstones of Finnish literature, the story of Kullervo, as a play. The play will focus on the Kalevala, the life and work of Elias Lönnrot and the Kainuu region and will include song and dance depicting the Kalevala ‘story telling’ tradition. Find Out More HERE

Suomussalmi Municipality – Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp

Suomussalmi municipality is located in the northern part of Kainuu region, bordering Russia. Known for its pristine nature, strong cultural sector and history. Raate village in Suomussalmi was the setting of decisive battles during the Winter War in 1940.

Supporting the distinctive culture of the region and developing the area of Hossa national park are priorities for Suomussalmi municipality.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Development and piloting a storytelling boot camp in the area of Hossa national park, bringing 10-12 writers from literature, theatre and movie industries in for 5 days in 2021. If found feasible, this will be continued as an annual event. Find Out More HERE.

Launch of ‘VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure’ in Kainuu, Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding.

Today we are delighted to launch the first of these products: Vienan Portti Oy’s mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure” .

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

Traditional themes in a new format

“I’m excited about the game’s release and how the game has been adapted to the elements familiar from literature. The game has given written stories a visual form, which also inspires young people to get to know tradition and possibly also visit the site to experience the magic of the environment,” says the father of the idea, Keijo Ahtonen.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store. The game is therefore suitable for both domestic and international markets, and through it information about kaininga’s history can be experienced widely. It is a technologically innovative approach to literary tourism and the promotion of Kainnu’s culture to large audiences at national and international level.

Vienan Portti is a family business

Vienan Portti Oy is a company founded in 2019, located on an old Karelian family farm in Kuhmo Vartiuskylä, a few kilometers from the Russian border. The history of the farm means that it is well placed to promote karelianism and Karelianism, (Karelianism was a late 19th-century cultural phenomenon in the Grand Duchy of Finland and involved writers, painters, poets and sculptors). Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Keijo Ahtonen and Pirjo Kyllönen are entrepreneurs on their traditional family farm. Vienan Port will provide programme services and accommodation for tourists in the future where visitors can enjoy Viena delicacies. This summer Rimm has already got off to a good start in renovating the sites. The work continues, but you can enjoy the atmosphere of Rimm on a limited schedule at the Furniture Shed Café.

The authentic history of the farm, the proximity of the Russian border and many historical/mythical sites create a certain attraction both for the site itself and for the program services offered there. Site-based virtual experiences are also being developed on a long-term basis, enabling future customers to experience the world of Kalevala in almost its authentic environments.

Spot-lit project is funded by Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2014 – 2020.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of  the Kalevala

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Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all.  The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences  such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

The products are targeted both for domestic and international audience, since the work of Elias Lönnrot has given inspiration to international authors, artists and other national epics.

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