The Big Eurovision Read Reading Den Opens in Liverpool
From 2-13 May, The Reading Agency will be hosting two weeks of workshops and events in The Big Eurovision Read pop-up reading den outside Liverpool Central Library as part of EuroFestival.
Supported by BBC Arts, the Reading Den will be home to our exciting range of activities and workshops as well as giving the public access to the “douze” titles on our booklist with the opportunity to sit back and relax with one of the brilliant books that have been selected by librarians from across the UK, we also have some for children so the whole family can enjoy the den. Come and join in the fun and celebrate the Big Eurovision Read with us in Liverpool.
The den will be open daily from 2-5 May and 9-13 May.
Reading Den Programme
Wednesday 3 May 2023
The Music Bird by ArtsGroupie
Get inspired by the Liver Birds and create a new and unique animal called The Music Bird! In this interactive workshop participants will explore their memories and the Big Eurovision Read booklist to create The Music Bird.
11:00 and 14:00
Friday 5 May 2023
Latin/African Drumming Performance by Luma Creations
Come and join us for a performance piece that consists of a mix of Latin American and African drumming and dance.
12:00
Saturday 6 May 2023
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED to STURDAY 13 MAY
Words That Fly by Ali Harwood
Inspired by the book Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye, explore the music of the Big Eurovision Read and Liverpool as you create your own Eurovision heart, ready to share and take away.
10:00 – 13:00
Monday 8 May 2023
Music-Heritage Walking Tour by ArtsGroupie
Wind your way through the historic St. George’s Quarter and discover the musical history
of Liverpool in these free, accessible, 45 minute walking tours.
10:00, 12:00, 15:00
Wednesday 10 May 2023
Music-Heritage Walking Tour by ArtsGroupie
Wind your way through the historic St. George’s Quarter and discover the musical history of Liverpool in these free, accessible, 45 minute walking tours.
10:00, 12:00, 15:00
Thursday 11 May 2023
Luma Trio Performance by Luma Creations
Come and hear the sounds of Latin Americawith the Luma Trio. The group will play a range of traditional and contemporary pieces to get you into the mood as the Eurovision Grand Final approaches.
12:00
Friday 12 May 2023
The Music Bird by ArtsGroupie
Get inspired by the Liver Birds and create a new and unique animal called The Music Bird! In this interactive workshop participants will explore their memories and the Big Eurovision Read booklist to create The Music Bird.
11:00 and 14:00
Saturday 13 May 2023
Words That Fly by Ali Harwood
Inspired by the book Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye, explore the music of the Big Eurovision Read and Liverpool as you create your own Eurovision heart, ready to share and take away.
10:00 – 16:00
The Big Eurovision Read Titles
- Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor (Bloomsbury)
- Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam (Faber & Faber)
- Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye (Faber & Faber)
- Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell (Sceptre, Hodder & Stoughton)
- Space Opera by Catherynne M Valente (Corsair, Little, Brown Book Group)
- High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
- The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce (Black Swan, Penguin Random House)
- Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far by Stormzy, edited and co-written by Jude Yawson (Merky Books, Penguin Random House)
- Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
- Broken Greek: A Story of Chip Shops and Pop Songs by Pete Paphides (Quercus)
- The Songs You’ve Never Heard by Becky Jerams & Ellie Wyatt (Sweet Cherry Publishing)
- The Madonna of Bolton by Matt Cain (Unbound)
These books will be available to explore and enjoy at the Reading Den, where visitors (as well as relaxing on one of the bean bags or deck chairs with a book) will be invited to add their favourite books about the power of music on the suggestion wall. If you like what you read you can pop into your local library to loan the book for free*. The Reading Agency will be gifting books to the public on Saturday 13 May in celebration of the Eurovision final!
The Big Eurovision Read booklist is not a definitive collection of titles celebrating the power of music but an inspirational look at how reading and music are intertwined. Readers are encouraged to share their great reads featuring the power of music here.
The Big Eurovision Read campaign is delivered in partnership with BBC Arts and The Reading Agency with support from public libraries and funding from Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, as part of EuroFestival.
The Eurovision Song Contest airs live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this May. Watch Semi Final 1 on 9 May, Semi Final 2 on 11 May and the Grand Final on 13 May.
Please note that the Reading Den will be closed on Sunday 7 May and Monday 8 May. Scheduled events will still start and end outside of Liverpool Central Library.
The Reading Den will be open to the public from 10:00 – 19:00 Monday – Friday, and 10:00 – 16:30 Saturday.
*subject to availability
