Literary Product Innovation Programme

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.

Contact Us:

 

 

 

 

 

Suomussalmi Municipality – Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp

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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.

Hossa national park in the farthest corner of the municipality invites you to experience both its gentle and mystical side. The beauty of the easily negotiable paths amid the pine trees leading from one ridge to the next and the crystal-clear waters are a joy to behold. The landscape’s mysticism derives from the ancient paintings of Värikallio and the monumental canyon lake Julma-Ölkky.

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.

The boot camp will combine a traditional residency model with new ways of working, possibly creating novel, cross-sectoral development ideas and networks and interesting story lines. It will be about creating new contents at the international, creative writing camp for professional writers, but also about interactive public events, that will inspire and help new writers.

The public events include a storytelling/ scriptwriting training event, where the participants could discuss their own scripts with professionals and a bonfire event where a famous writer will tell about his/ her writing process.  The open events will be broadcasted online.

Contact Us:

 

 

Eino Leino House Foundation – Kullervo Play

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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.

The Eino Leino House is rented out for various occasions especially summer weddings. During the summer holidays, the house also hosts a café, a summer theatre and other events. In summer 2019 the summer performances by Giant Opera was performed in the open air at the Eino Leino House, involving a cast of up to 80 Dutch and Finnish singers, actors, and dancers.

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.

 

 

Spotlight on Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme in Northern Ireland & Cavan and Monaghan.

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Lead Partner on the Spot-lit Project, ICBAN, has recently selected seven projects to participate in the PIP programme and receive innovation supports in the programme territory of Northern Ireland and counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Iniskeen Enterprise Development Group – Patrick Kavanagh Literature Project

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre is a visitor experience and performance space dedicated to the life and work of poet Patrick Kavanagh.  It is newly refurbished and will open to the public in July 2020.  The visitor experience includes a series of six memory boxes augmented by touch-screen terminals, each dealing with a period or aspect of Kavanagh’s life and work. The centrepiece of the experience is a stunningly evocative 15-minute film featuring readings of Kavanagh’s poetry.

With support from the Spot-lit project, a cluster of authentic experiences will be created, using literature as a theme – for visitors to enjoy over a day/ two days in this rural area. There has been substantial investment in the new Visitor Experience in the Kavanagh Centre recently but the Group’s view is that the key to the success of the Centre will be to link and further integrate it with the Kavanagh Trail and Kavanagh Country more widely, as a pivotal element of a rural tourism cluster, better combined with other priority segments of the market to give wider appeal, including heritage, food and drink, walking and cycling.

It is envisaged that the Kavanagh Centre – which tells the story of the poet himself – his life, work and the influences that shaped his writing – will be the central ‘experience’ in this cluster and that sites/activities/attractions/businesses will be promoted to visitors who will choose which ‘experience’ best suits them, so that it is tailor-made to their own needs.

Patrick Kavanagh Centre

Droimnín Destinations

Droimnín Destinations is a new business established with the intention of providing specialised tourism initiatives working with a range of stakeholders throughout County Cavan – from the Chamber of Commerce, adventure centres, genealogy, museums, heritage, accommodation sector, theatres, and all artists.

The Spot-lit project will assist in developing bespoke literary tours to the domestic, European, and International ‘culturally curious’ tourist. These tours will explore Cavan’s rich literary heritage through a culturally packed experience of art, music, drama, the virtual and the adventurous reality.

The trails will follow writers of the past and their ties to Cavan; Dean Jonathan Swift, Brinsley Sheridan, Charlotte Brook and the more contemporary names of Tom MacIntyre, Dermot Healy and Michael Harding. Events will also offer avant garde exhibitions from young award-winning artists and a chance to take part in workshops on sculpture, ceramics, contemporary crafts as well as participating in literary performances that combine music with the spoken word.  Droimnín Destinations will offer workshops that combine poetry, art and place in unique Irish traditional settings that explore Cavan in its richest literary and artistic sense. Input from the community and local businesses sector will realise a totally distinctive experience for the intelligent traveller.

The Light Theatre Company – Bloomsday Festival

The Light Theatre Company was conceived by Director, Alistair Livingstone and Writer, Csilla Toldy as a vehicle to develop and perform high quality theatre in small alternative venues. To date it has produced Bananas, a one-woman piece based on mental ill health, homelessness and recovery for the East Belfast Festival and subsequently toured it and The Emigrant Woman’s Story, to various venues in the North and South of Ireland.

The Spot-lit project will help the development and delivery of a new Bloomsday Festival in Rostrevor, County Down. It will also help to expand local links associated with CS Lewis, Charles Dickens and Seamus Heaney. The Light Theatre Company view the Spot-lit project as an opportunity to capitalise on the literary and creative heritage and potential of Rostrevor and County Down as a tourism generator.

Todd’s Leap Activity Centre –Farrell’s Lanavoye

Established 30 years ago, Todd’s Leap Activity Centre was the brainchild of Benny O’Hanlon. When Benny acquired the two neighbouring farmlands, beside his family home, his inspiration for Todd’s Leap, came from a verse of a poem that he had been taught in school.  The poem ‘Lanavoye’ by the local writer Patrick Farrell (1856 – 1938) laments of the ‘happy colony’ that once resided on the beautiful glens of Lanavoye but through time had emigrated away. Patrick writes ‘oh would kind fate where brave men lived, let joy once more prevail. With the children’s merry laughter, ringing on the evening gale’. Coincidently, the glens of Lanavoye make up the 100 acres of rugged picturesque countryside, where Todd’s Leap is based.  Patrick’s vision was adopted by Ben as the vision for Todd’s Leap and along with his wife & four children, Ben would set about creating an outdoor attraction, that would welcome people back to ‘Lanavoye’ and joy would once more prevail with merry laughter ringing through the glen.

With the assistance of the Spot-lit project, Todd’s Leap will host a seven-day, free admission poetry festival with guest speakers, readings, activities, old traditions, music, food stalls, story-telling, trails workshops, and poetry competitions. An outdoor literacy schools’ programmes will be developed, which combine creativity and literacy in an instructor-led outdoor environment. The programmes will include outdoor trails, storytelling, poetry reading, reading and writing activities, outdoor adventure activities and drama workshops. A Writers’ retreats will also be developed, hosted by writers Shirley Rocks and Eddie McClenaghan, that will offer sanctuary in peaceful log cabins to allow writers to create their own work and come together with like-minded writers. They will also be given the opportunity to explore the works of Patrick Farrell and other local writers.

Todds Leap

Lurgan & North Armagh George Russell Festival Society (GRFS)

The Society runs an Annual Festival in Lurgan, County Armagh centred around the heritage of George Russell – better known as ‘A.E.’. The Festival includes various talks and a historic walking tour as well as poetry readings and ‘open mic’ nights. As Russell was a fantastic artist as well as poet, author, editor and publisher, the Festival includes exhibitions of his art.

The Spot-lit project will help to build the AE Annual Festival in Lurgan as a successful and sustainable literary tourism offering. The first step is to establish a strong online presence. Spot-lit will also help to create a literary hub based on AE’s myriad literary connections within a 20-30 mile radius of Lurgan, and working with the support of the John Hewitt Society.

Lurgan George Russell Festival Society organisers Cathy McGibbon and Michael McKernan

 

Armagh Rhymers – Digital Guidebook

The Armagh Rhymers are one of the most celebrated traditional music and theatre ensembles on the island of Ireland. Since we were founded in 1970’s, we have delighted audiences in schools, festivals throughout Ireland and around the world. Through music, storytelling and drama, we provide an experience that is both entertaining and educational. Our colourful costumes evoke a sense of tradition and history and encapsulate the spirit of the Wren boys and the ancient house visiting traditions of Ireland, where the kitchen floor became the stage. The Rhyming tradition is a celebration of the ‘theatre of the people’ and has inspired many poets such as Seamus Heaney, Brendan Kennelly, John Montague and John Hewitt. Cualinge is set at Emain Mhacha, just outside the city.

Armagh is the ancient primatial and ecclessiastical capital of Ireland. It’s poem and song traditions are many and linked to the beautiful landscape which helped to inspire artists across centuries. Today Armagh retains these traditions, the music and liteary scene is very vibrant and the Armagh Rhymers uphold ancient traditions springing from the landscape and its people.

Our project is a digital guidebook launching in early 2021, using The Armagh Rhymers stories,  poems, music and art to take people on a virtual journey of our area, to help them learn more and encourage them to visit and experience our rich culture for themselves. Our guidebook wants to highlight the hidden stories and how they interweave from ancient times to modern poets.

Navan Fort: Image Credit Charles Freger

 

Strabane Business Improvement District – Flann O’Brien Literary Programme

Strabane BID Company was set up in 2016 to increase the prosperity of Strabane town by delivering a programme of events and supports to encourage people to live, shop and visit the town. This is delivered via three strands – supporting local businesses, accessing finance and delivering an arts and culture calendar of events for the town. In addition to supporting local musicians and artists through our annual festivals and events, it was recognised that further development was needed on the literary tourism offering. Strabane has a rich culture of poets and literary greats, including the greatly talented and globally celebrated Flann O’Brien and the Strabane BID wanted to celebrate his work and showcase his heritage.

With support from the Spot-lit project, a programme of events will be developed to celebrate Flann O’Brien and his work. This project has the potential to become a very significant cultural tourism product for Strabane as Brian O’Nolan / Flann O’Brien / Myles Na Gcopaleen is a literary figure of international renown and his birth place originates within the Bowling Green Square of Strabane Town.  It is envisaged that the project programme will be launched in October as this is the month of Brian O’Nolans birth and will be hosted in various venues across Strabane Town. These connections will be explored and exploited through music, drama, heritage and discussion.  A programme of literary initiatives will be developed to celebrate the life of Flann O’Brien (Myles Na Gcopaleen) and his world-renowned works. These will build on the grass roots appreciation of the author, as well as developing school and community group workshops, and completing a hiking trail.

In tandem with the SME Product Incubation Programme, a new Literary Tourism Model known as ‘Wilde Things’ will be developed by fellow Northern Ireland Spot-lit partner, Arts over Borders. Wilde Things is based around the schooldays of Oscar Wilde in Enniskillen and is another opportunity for local businesses to develop new literary tourism products and services through the project.

Partners:

 

Associate Partners: