More than 120 individuals, groups and organisations were funded through the recent NSW Government Arts and Cultural Development Program 2021/22 Round 2 program. Words on the Waves was pleased to be included in this group of recipients, specifically to deliver an increased kids and school program, which will be rebranded as Ripples.
The aim of the Words on the Waves Writers Festival Ripples program is to foster literacy in the next generation of writers and readers on the Central Coast. Building on the success of the 2021 and 2022 events, Ripples will launch a Secondary Schools Program, and further develop the Primary Schools Program and Family Fun Day. These events will take place both over the festival period (May 31 – June 5, 2023) as well as through year-round capacity-building incursions.
With 71 government schools, 24 private and Catholic schools and four special schools in the Council area, Ripples aims to help teachers engage students and demonstrate the value of literacy and creative expression with real-life exposure to working artists and authors. It also seeks to create opportunities for children’s and youth authors to connect with readers outside of the urban centre and benefit from paid opportunities.
Ripples will enjoy a share of an almost $5 million funding pool, that overall goes towards supporting an exciting range of art forms including music, dance, theatre, festivals and literature across the state. Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the funding will deliver strong arts and cultural experiences and provide a critical boost to the state’s talented artists, cultural workers and organisations.
Find out more
A community consultation day will also take place in October. Educators and schools interested in finding out more about the Kids & Schools Program (Ripples) please sign up to our mailing list for more updates here.
The Words on the Waves Ripples (Kids and Schools Program) is supported by the NSW Government through CreateNSW.