Stories

Spot-lit Product Incubation Programme Update

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Welcome to the Spot-Lit Literary Tourism Product Incubation Programme (LT-PIP) and to our new way of working (for the time being).

This morning we held our first online Zoom meeting with the 5 businesses in Ireland that we will be working with during the programme.

We have set out and agreed our intended programme outputs, timelines, schedules and how we will work collaboratively and transnationally to engage with the Literary Tourism sector and develop  Literary Products and Services across the partner regions.

We have planned a series of monthly engagement workshops, learning journeys, business advice clinics and individual mentoring supports as well as up to €10,000 innovation support.

A very productive first meeting!

Spot-lit Programme Vision is:“ To grow entrepreneurship and SME reach beyond local markets by developing and marketing literary tourism products”

Spot-Lit Project Update COVID-19

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With the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation developing quickly, we believe it’s important to keep stakeholders informed about how Spot-Lit.eu is responding to the outbreak. Our philosophy is to approach this situation with empathy and safety; Spot-Lit top priority is the health and safety of our team, our stakeholders and project  partners.

Like many organisations we have taken precautions and we are now all working from home with all face to face meetings now replaced by electronic meetings.

At Spot-Lit.eu we are fortunate in that we’ve been able to move our team to social distancing/working from home and there should be minimal disruption to workflow. The project partners continue to work to deliver The Spot-Lit programme, meet project deliverables and engage productively with our funders, partners and stakeholders.

If you wish to contact any of the Spot-Lit partners – our contact details can be found at this link.

As one, the partners are also keen to express their belief that the continued support for our remote SMEs, especially those in the hard-hit tourism industry, now has greater importance than ever for our regions’ economies. Projects such as Spot-Lit make a vital contribution in this regard.

The Spot-Lit Digital App: A Shop Window for The Literary Tourist

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The Spot-Lit Digital App, putting Literary Tourism on the Map!

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, are developing a digital platform (App) that will serve literature associations, organizations and SME’s to digitalize and create content for literature tourism and provide related products and services. Two additional applications (Android and iOS) will be developed to serve the end users (tourists) to access all the content and services that are digitalized and created. Once published, the apps from any region (N. Ireland, Finland, Ireland, Scotland) will be available for download through the Google Play Store or Apple iOS store to everyone. Example: If a person from Germany is interested to visit Finland, they can download the app and use it regardless of where they are located. The app requires an internet connection to download and will be available for any smartphone. Users can explore authors, local culture, events, interesting places and find all services for a visit (accommodation,  transportation, dining….)

What type of content can be uploaded to the app?

​Text descriptions of businesses, authors, culture associations, events, locations and more. Images, PDF files, such as books, event brochures, custom maps, marketing materials and more.

What are the benefits of listing your business on the app?

The apps will have maps integrated, allowing the app user to see points of interest in his area that are relevant to tourism or culture, such as hotels, museums, restaurants, public transportation, tours, trails and more.

How will the app be promoted/where will it be listed?

​The application will be listed on the smartphone app stores free for downloading. In the Finland, tourism internet pages will be used to connect regional culture and tourism, while also featuring the mobile applications and the various authors and municipalities of the Kainuu Region.

Online editor

The online editor is a tool allowing the local municipality/tourism association/culture association to further add, change or replace texts, images, or points of interests on the map. Through the online editor, the Spot-lit project ensures that the content can be kept up to date long after the Spot-lit project has ended.

Add Your Business to the Literary Tourism App

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LINK – Request to add business to mobile application 

FINNISH LANGUAGE LINK – Pyyntö liittyä Spot-lit-mobiilisovellukseen

 

Kalevala Celebrations in Kuhmo Unesco City of Literature

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Kalevala week in Kuhmo began on the 23th of February and finishes on 28th of February with the Kalevala Day celebration.  The Kalevala week has many different events for all age groups. This year, the Kalevala Day is aimed at children and they will be able to see a Karelian ensemble from Voknavolok, Viena Karelia, where Elias Lönnrot, a creator of the Finnish national epic, has brought many runes from.

Kuhmo Library is a partner of Kalevala week and produces its Novel book of Kalevala for women.

Programme of Kalevala week

Organizers: Juminkeko Foundation and Kuhmo city

Sun 23.2.

  • 6 pm Kalevala national theatre, Love and Dove, Pajakka hall, Kuhmo Art Center, 10€ / 5€

Mon 24.2.

  • 10 am  Traditional round games with kids at Kuusenkuiske kindergarten
  • 6 pm A lecture by Ville Trohkimainen about peddlers in 19th – 20th century. The lecturer shows his peddler bag with its content dated 19 th century, Juminkeko

Tue 25.2.

  • 6 pm Poem soiree in Juminkeko: poems by Paavo Lesonen about Viena Karelia
  • 6 pm Kalevala club for kids

Wed 26.2.

  • 9 am Kalevala Bear – hobby crafts and traditional games at Kuusenkuiske kindergarten
  • 10 am Kalevala Bear – hobby crafts and traditional games at Kuusenkuiske kindergarten
  • 3 pm Prattle hut at Shell café, coffee service
  • 5 pm Kalevala adventure for kids in Juminkeko

Thu 27.2.

  • 9 am Kalevala Bear – hobby crafts and traditional games at Satumetsä kindergarten
  • 10 am Kalevala Bear – hobby crafts and traditional games at Satumetsä kindergarten
  • 1 pm The novel hook with Kalevala, Kuhmo library

Fri 28.2. 

  • 12 am The Day of Kalevala -celebration in Tuupala school

The programme is organized and carried out by Juminkeko Foundation with the partners the cultural department of Kuhmo, Kuhmo library, Kuhmo music school, Kuhmo association of local history and Kalevala women association.

 

 

WDC Tender for Development & Delivery of a ‘Literary Performance Model’

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The NPA region is home to world-class literary icons and landscapes. Current low levels of joined-up literary tourism activity in the NPA Region make it a sector that is ripe for development. Spot-lit aims to grow the literary tourism sector in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region by supporting the organisations and businesses in this culturally-rich region to grow collaborate and better engage audiences together. The Northern Periphery & Arctic Region (NPA) in Ireland covers the coastal counties from Donegal to Cork (including Leitrim) and the within this region there is a strong literary heritage that has great potential to attract visitors.

Spot-lit are developing a Literary Tourism Industry Development Programme which will include the development and trial of four Literary Tourism Models and 20 Literary Projects. Within this Literary Tourism Industry Support Programme 4 models for Literary Tourism will be developed and trialled including: – Wilde-Things Model – Young People’s LT Model – Performance based LT Model – Digital Innovations for growth model.

The Western Development Commission (WDC) are seeking a delivery partner to curate, design and deliver The Literary Performance Model. The Spot-Lit programme aims to test models of place-based opportunities in new, innovative, sustainable and creative ways which looks beyond the natural landscape and provides appeal based on cultural/literary assets to broaden interest in the region.

The Literary Performance model will focus on enhancement and complementary of existing tourism product the Wild Atlantic Way and its wealth of literary assets through immersive and creative performance-based activity. It will seek to provide opportunities by which the connection between physical spaces and literary works are exploited through performance (song, dance, art, etc) which enable the visitor to feel as though they have ‘jumped into’ the related literary work, thereby stimulating enriched visits and increased business opportunities.

The aim is to develop a bespoke and unique literary performance-based model that has the capacity to be economically sustainable in future and can attract audiences (domestic and international) to experience our unique literary heritage.

The WDC invite suitably qualified/experienced individual(s), groups, companies to present a concept for the model which ties in with the overall project aims and the theme outlined above. The maximum value of this contract is €25,000 inclusive of VAT. To view the Tender in detail please visit eTenders Portal

Tenders (including all attachments) must be received Wednesday 11th March 2020 at 12 noon. 

Applications must be submitted via eTenders Portal: 

Would the Authors of Kainuu Transform into Tourism Products?

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There is already a cruise product built around Eino Leino and more ideas evolving. But how could we utilize Ilmari Kianto, Veikko Huovinen and Lönnrot’s Kalevala?

What would dinners hosted by Eino Leino look like, or Eino Leino reciting a poem to congratulate you on your birthday?

For example these ideas have been developed by the Vaara collective, being the most advanced party in commercialization of well-known Kainuu writers for tourism products.

Last fall, the collective organized a handful of Eino Leino cruises on the Kouta ship, where actor Sami Sainio from Kajaani took on the role of Eino Leino.

Next summer, there will be 12 open Eino Leino cruises, but on request the Kouta ship will depart for this  cruise at other times too. Groups of up to 30-40 people can book and the cruise ship which normally takes up to 60 passengers.

Veikko Leinonen, producer of the Vaara collective and director of the Eino Leino cruise, argues that with the smaller audience the atmosphere remains more intimate and that all passengers can hear what Leino is speaking about and the poems being recited on board.

As famous Eino Leino, Sami Sainio performs some of the poet’s poems, he also remembers his childhood and occasionally comments on the current state of his soul landscape, sometimes quite passionately.

The cruise takes about 2.5 hours, but Eino Leino does not stay aboard the ship for all that time. For dramatic reasons he is “late” arriving  to the ship and rowing from the direction of Parkinniemi to catch the boat. He also leaves for the direction of Parkinniemi rowing into the darkening night.

– It was a very exciting, impressive experience, says Minna Komulainen, a specialist in the Spot-lit literary tourism project at Regional Council of Kainuu. She went for the Eino Leino cruise in the fall.

Leinonen cannot promise whether the performance next summer will be exactly the same as last fall. It changes depending of the situation. The presentation has also been modified a bit to be more functional. In any case, Leinonen promises the cruise to be an experience. It is a play, not that a man in a black cloak and a brimmed hat walking on board, acting as a guide to Leino’s childhood and soul landscapes. The scenes are site-specific.

Similarly, the form of possible Leino-hosted dinners is still open. According to Leinonen, the Vaara collective are looking for a local restaurant as an organising partner. On the other hand, what could be the role of Leino, for example, at birthdays or weddings?

It is known that Leino did a great deal of practical poetry during his life, which was written even in the corner of a handkerchief if needed, so a congratulatory poem to a birthday hero or wedding couple would be quite natural to Leino.

Other Kainuu writers around whom cultural tourism is planned are Isa Asp, Ilmari Kianto and Veikko Huovinen, and of course, Elias Lönnrot and the Kalevala he gathered in Kainuu.

In connection with the international Spot-lit project, the Regional Council of Kainuu organized the first workshops in Kajaani, Sotkamo, Suomussalmi and Kuhmo in November and December. They attracted more than 100 people in total. More than 60 participants attended the second phase workshop in January. The third workshop will be organised in late February in Kajaani.

Before that, Komulainen together with a colleague Helena Aaltonen from Regional Council of Kainuu, and Sirpa and Markku Nieminen from Juminkeko foundation, will visit Scotland to look for models, ideas and thoughts on how writers have been utilized there in cultural tourism.

One destination they will visit is the Barrie Museum established in the childhood home of Scottish J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Komulainen tells that there are many famous writers in the Britain and Ireland and whose production has been commercialized, such as Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde. Or the famous platform 9¾ that has been built in London at Kings Cross Station based on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, to which there always is a queue. For a fee, people get their hands on a magic wand and a grasp of a scarf and then they jump … towards the brick wall.

Such a wild product might not be set in Kainuu, but many things could well be built around the Kalevala, for example. In addition, a literary festival rotating around the region has been discussed. Up to €10 000 can be awarded for promising product development ideas and at least five projects are expected to be supported.

WHAT is SPOT-LIT 

Spot-lit project

  • An international project aimed at developing literary tourism in Kainuu and the British Isles.
  • The project vision is to increase entrepreneurship and access of SMEs to wider markets.
  • The project highlights the area’s interesting literary heritage through product development and marketing.
  • From Finland, Regional Council of Kainuu, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences and Lapland University of Applied Sciences are involved.
  • From  Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • The project implements eg. literary tourism development workshops.
  • The project launches a Literature Tourism Network.
  • The project produces a Kainuu mobile app where entrepreneurs can present their services.
  • The project produces a literature tourism development guide.

KAINUUN SANOMAT, regional newspaper CULTURE
Released: 4th February 2020 at 21:00

Taru Paavoseppä

Article in Finnish Language HERE

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Literary Finland

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February is our ‘Focus on Finland’ month where we will give you an insight into the literary heritage of this culturally-rich Nordic country.

One of the most sparsely inhabited countries in the European Union, Finland is mostly covered in forest, lake, and tundra, where urban life is a relative novelty and the average family spends weeks every summer in a small cabin by a lake or seashore, with no running water and often no electricity. Finland is also, as you might expect, a progressive Nordic state; wired, highly literate and technologically advanced. But how literary is Finland as a nation? The power of the spoken word has a special place in Finnish literature so there’s plenty of good Finnish authors out there, both contemporary and historical. Many Finnish books are translated into multiple languages for global audiences.

Here are ten things you may not know about literary Finland.

  1. Finland’s literary history is young compared to Europe in general. During the Middle Ages, when Finland was under Swedish rule, Finnish was solely an oral language. It was only after the Reformation that writing and literacy truly came to Finland. Having said that, nowadays Finland is among the top countries measuring by the literacy rate but also in the field of library services. 
  2. The Kalevala is the national epic of Finland. The book was compiled from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology by Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884), working as the district doctor of Kajaani in Kainuu at that time. Lönnrot’s impact on the development of modern vocabulary in Finnish and contributions to improving the status of Finnish were also very important. The national centre for preservation of Kalevala traditions and culture, Juminkeko, is located in Kuhmo, the city that recently has been designated as a city of literature of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
  3. Since its first publications in 1835 and 1849, the Kalevala became the most translated book in Finland – over 60 languages and still excites translators and art people to immerse in it. What might really surprise you is that Kalevala has connections to J.R.R. Tolkien. The Story of Kullervo, publication of a previously unknown work of fantasy by Tolkien, is actually a prose version of the Kullervo cycle in the Kalevala. The Lord of the Rings itself was inspired by the Kalevala, and Tolkien studied Finnish in order to read the Kalevala in the original language!>> Read More
  4. Few Finnish language authors make a living from book sales alone. There are approximately 5.2 million native Finnish speakers and any book sales of more than three thousand units are an excellent achievement in Finland. Finnish literature also lives outside Finland, both as translations and as original works. Finnish literature is as international as any well-written literature, no matter the subject and geography. However, entering new language and cultural areas is not easy and you need translators and literary agents. This work, which is easily invisible, is essential for reaching larger markets. >> Read more. 
  5. Literary tourism is not as well known in Finland as it is in other European countries. Due to its young culture, its literary heritage is much smaller in scale. However, Finnish culture has a strong literary culture and that there are several places, locations, events and other tourism products that could be seen as literary attractions. >> Read more about Finnish Literary Tours via Visit Finland.
  6. Finland is home to a theme park based on a book. Southwest Finland is home to the internationally famous Moomin World theme park based on the Moomin books by Tove Jansson and the beloved 1990’s TV series. All the books have been translated into English and the story of the Moomins has been made into television series on many occasions by various groups, the most recent of which is a Japanese–Dutch collaboration, that has also produced a feature-length film.

    ‘Moomin from Finland’ by Lutrus under Creative Commons on Flickr
    2377140194_975c53dc3a_o.jpg
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/lutrus/2377140194/

  7. War is a big part of the Finnish history. The small nation bravely survived in the Winter War against the Soviet Union (USSR) and then in the Continuation War. There is plenty of literature on the topic available, some also in English or other languages, like Unknown Soldier (Finnish: Tuntematon sotilas), the 1954 bestselling Finnish classic novel by Väinö Linna that is considered part of national legacy. The war drama is also available as a film, from which the 2017 version and the third adaptation of the original book is also subtitled in English.  Raate Road in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, was the scene of two decisive Winter War battles, and boasts today, among other things, a Winter War exhibition, field of stones, Winter War Monument and other memorials along Raate Road.
  8. Although well known internationally for its classical literature, there are also many contemporary books from Finland available in English. See more at booksfromfinland.fi and finland.fi. 
  9. Nordic Noir is a widespread, cover-all literary style for depicting Scandinavian crime fiction of the dark-kind. Reading Nordic Noir, you easily get the impression that all of Scandinavia comprises of violent societies, dark secrets, and inhabitants with screwed-up sex lives harbouring thoughts of murder, or at least of suicide. The nights are endlessly light in summer and Nordic Noir has elements of disappearing deep into the Woods. In Finnish crime stories, humour has always played an important part. The earliest of the three whodunits by Mika Waltari, the internationally acclaimed author of historical novels (The Egyptian, The Dark Angel et al.), starring Detective Inspector Palmu of the Helsinki CID, appeared in 1939 after winning the Finnish section of the Scandinavian detective story contest of 1938, and Waltari’s flair for subtle comedy is apparent in all three. The famous crime writers in Finland include Max Seeck, Reijo Mäki, Tapani Bagge, J.P. Koskinen, Jarkko Sipilä, Markku Ropponen, Christian Rönnbacka, to name but a few.

    “Nordic Noir” collection at a Helsinki library (Kulturkontakt Nord)

  10. Although there are not that many well-known literary figures apart from the Kalevala and Moomins in Finland, Lapland has used another fictional (Fictional? Who said fictional?) character to leave its touristic mark in the world. Since the 1980s, tourists from all over the world have made the trek to a small town located on the Arctic Circle to meet the one and only Santa Claus, inspiration to an infinite amount of stories and experiences. In Rovaniemi, you can meet Santa in his own little village or write him one of those 500,000 plus letters that arrive every year at his Arctic Circle office.

Image Credit: Santa Claus Village
by Tevfik Teker
https://web.archive.org/web/20161028141248/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/92045914

The stained glass portrait of Robert Burns found in the Bute Hall.

Robert Burns Is Worth £203 Million Annually In Direct Value To Scotland

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University of Glasgow Research Finds Robert Burns Is Worth £203 Million Annually In Direct Value To Scotland, And Amonst £140 Million In Brand Value.

Scotland’s national bard is worth just over £200 million a year to the Scottish economy and the poet’s brand is worth nearly £140 million annually, a report by the University of Glasgow has revealed.

The year long study funded by the Scottish Government and led by the University’s Professor Murray Pittock assessed how much the worldwide fascination with Robert Burns is supporting Scottish business and jobs.

It found that Burns economic and cultural importance to the Scottish economy is now estimated to be £203 million annually and the bard’s brand is worth £139.5 million a year.

While there have been studies of the economic impact of cultural Burns industries before – by economist Lesley Campbell (2003) and Moffat Centre (2005) who both valued Burns impact to Scotland at £157 million – this is believed to be the first assessment carried out on this scale.

In the last 20 years, there has been a substantial series of changes have taken place in Scotland recognising the poet’s importance including the opening of the £23 million Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in 2009 which has helped transform the visitor experience.

Within the UK, culture and heritage tourism in Scotland attracts more visitors than anywhere outside London. Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway is second only to Shakespeare among UK writers’ museums in its visitor numbers

The new University of Glasgow research proposes ways in which that Scotland could make even more of its national bard, in economic and cultural terms.

Professor Pittock of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University’s College of Arts said: “More than 250 years after his birth, Robert Burns, his life and work, still holds a huge fascination for a worldwide audience.

“Burns has universal appeal with his work being translated into every single major language including Russian, German, French and Chinese. While Auld Lang Syne is our New Year anthem and has been performed by everyone from Elvis Presley to Jimi Hendrix.

“We are very fortunate to have such an iconic Scottish figure like Burns. We have been able to put a value of over £200 million on the tourism, products, festivals and estimate an additional embedded brand value of almost £140 million which Burns brings to Scotland. What it shows is that Burns the Brand makes a huge contribution to the economy of Scotland.

“We hope that our research will help to inform and encourage Scotland to continue to develop plans to promote Burns at home and abroad. It also shows the great potential of Burns’ brand to support regional inclusive growth from hotels and restaurants to food, drink and memorabilia.”

Economy Secretary Derek Mackay said: “I welcome this report and the work conducted by Professor Pittock to explore the contribution of Robert Burns to the Scottish economy.

“It goes without saying that the cultural and societal importance of Burns the brand is enormous. In fact, the report highlights that the values and identity of Robert Burns – the lover of nature, the innovator, and the humanitarian – resonate with the identity of modern Scotland.”

 

The biggest single source of economic impact is Burns-related tourism – it brings in in just under £155 million, almost two-thirds of which (£121 million) goes to Ayrshire and Arran where the poet was born and lived most of his life.

Burns Night, the celebration which takes place on the anniversary of the poet’s birth on 25 January, has a turnover of £11 million in Scotland.

Burns Festivals throughout Scotland have an estimated value of £7 million to Scotland’s economy. While spending on Burns-related food and drink is estimated to be £20 million and University research and education on Burns is estimated to bring £500,000 a year.

Among the recommendations to further enhance Scotland’s economy by harnessing the Burns brand to drive economic growth for Scotland includes –

  • Recognition of the work carried out by the Robert Burns World Federation in supporting Burns in schools and local authorities in Ayrshire and Arran and Dumfries and Galloway to work more closely with them. That Education Scotland is pro-active in disseminating good quality practice in Burns-related education in schools with the support of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies.
  • That the Scottish Government should establish a Burns Humanitarian Ambassadors programme or award to recognise work carried out in Scotland and abroad which supports the values with which Burns, and the country are both associated with.
  • Consider recommending the renaming of Prestwick Airport after Robert Burns to its new owners.
  • Signage and infrastructure to be improved on the M74 to better reflect Burns’ appeal and the strong pull of cultural tourism in the Ayrshires and south west of Scotland.
  • Greater awareness of evidence for higher cultural tourism spend, the future investigation of the effective development of the Mozart brand in Austria and the incorporation of Burns Supper Information on the Scotland’s Winter Festivals website.
  • Greater alignment between food, produce and cultural tourism in Ayrshire and Arran and Dumfries and Galloway regional tourism plans.

The research was given £46,000 funding by the Economic Development Directorate of the Scottish Government following a debate in the Scottish Parliament on a motion put down by Joan McAlpine MSP on the economic potential of Robert Burns on 17 January 2018.

Born in 1759, Robert Burns’ poems and songs have been translated into every major language, and his influence has extended far beyond Scotland. Some 9.5 million people worldwide are estimated to attend Burns Suppers annually.

The Centre for Robert Burns Studies
The Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow has the biggest concentration of Burns experts in the world. It was established in July 2007. Its mission is the development of research, scholarship and teaching in the area of Robert Burns, his cultural period and related literature.

The Centre for Robert Burns Studies is currently working on a 15 year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council called Editing Robert Burns for the 21st century. By 2024, it will have produced a new multi volume edition of his entire work published by Oxford University Press. It has attracted research and development income well in excess of £4 million since

Courtesy of University of Glasgow https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_705300_en.html

Unlock the Potential of the Literary Tourism Sector

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If you are a business or cultural group located in Northern Ireland or counties Cavan and Monaghan and would like to develop a literary tourism product or service, the Spot-Lit programme could be for you. Find out more by attending one of our information workshops in January by registering for your free place now.

Read more

Spot-lit Development Programmme Progressing in Kainuu

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The Spot-lit Literary Tourism development programme has been launched in Kainuu in Northern Finland, as the first four workshops have been carried out around the region.

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