The Rekindle initiative has successfully placed libraries at the heart of creative and cultural experiences for rural and underserved communities. Led by Creative Arts East and supported by Arts Council England, this project partners with library and arts partners across Medway, Norfolk, Sandwell, Blackburn, and Buckinghamshire.
Applause has partnered with Medway Library Service to strengthen ties with the local community, supporting them to bring culturally relevant and creatively vibrant activities to library users. Helping to transform the libraries into hubs of artistic exploration and cultural immersion, fostering a new appreciation for these community cornerstones.
As Applause celebrate our first year as part of Rekindle, we are proud to share the project’s achievements:
The Rekindle initiative has emphasised the essential role of culture in libraries. Library staff echo this sentiment, stating, “Culture is a fundamental aspect of libraries, as intrinsic as having books.” Libraries are more than repositories of books; they are centres of community identity and storytelling.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. One library patron shared, “Really enjoyed it, love to see stuff like this at the library.” Another noted, “It enriches and changes lives! Culture, creativity, art, stories… these are the things that make us human, make us kinder, make it worth getting up in the morning and being alive for.”
The project ensures accessibility to cultural experiences for all community members. As library staff highlight, “We level the playing field – someone (or families) who cannot pay to access theatre, an author event, or an art gallery can do so for free at the library.”
With Rekindle running until 2026, we are excited about the future and the continued impact of Rekindle in bringing creativity and culture to libraries and their communities.
Latest from Applause and Medway Library Service
Going forward Applause has commissioned a new show from Touched Theatre, The Library at the Edge of the World, for families with children aged 4-11. Especially created for Rekindle, this show is about the power of listening to the stories of the living things all around us. This magical, interactive show and writing experience celebrates the power of stories to reconnect us to the world around us. The show toured to 10 libraries as part of Medway’s Summer Reading Challenge.
WOW is it impressive, thank you so much for enabling us to bring this to so many of our children!!
Coming up at Medway Libraries:
Lordswood Library – Stories in the Dust on Sat, 28 September; 1.30pm
With live music and puppetry, Stories in the Dust is a funny, heartfelt and hopeful eco-fable that takes you to another world. A world where an ancient book guides your way, a drop of rain changes everything and a mighty lion holds its secrets in an old clay pot.
Hempstead Library – Curious Investigators on Sat, 26 October; 1.30pm
Curious Investigators is a cracking adventure created in collaboration with engineering experts from Lancaster University: a delightfully surprising, highly visual show for 3–7- year-olds and their grown-ups.
As we reflect on our first year, we are excited about the future and the continued impact of Rekindle in bringing creativity and culture to libraries and their communities.
Book online at www.medway.gov.uk/libraries, call 01634 337799 or visit any Medway Library FREE EVENTS (child and adult registration required)
