Suffolk Libraries is calling for young people across the county to have their say and help shape the Suffolk Libraries Arts Programme – BLOC.

The Suffolk Libraries Youth Council is looking for opinionated and passionate young people between the ages of 11 – 25 to influence the creative direction of the programme and become board members. The Suffolk Libraries Youth Council has been set up to help steer the creative direction of the BLOC programme and a series of taster days are being held to give young people a chance to have their say, make a difference and test out some pilot projects.

The Youth Council Taster days are being held in Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds during next week’s half term. All young people are welcome to come along to share their views, test new creative projects in their local area and find out more about becoming a board member.

The taster days are taking place as follows:

Monday 22 October – Ipswich County Library from 11am to 3pm (this session is nearly full)

Wednesday 24 October – Lowestoft Library from 11am to 3pm

Friday 26 October – Bury St Edmunds Library from 12pm to 4pm

Spaces can be booked online and there is more information about BLOC at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/bloc/

Suffolk Libraries is one of only six library services in the country to be awarded National Portfolio status by Arts Council England last year. National Portfolio Status means the Arts Council considers an organisation is doing work of national significance and comes with funding to support the work over four years.

The new BLOC programme has distinct themes of Film and Digital, Literature, Music and Dance, Arts and Create and Wellbeing and Inclusion. From the outset Suffolk Libraries has been working with young people to give them ownership of the project by asking for their ideas and their help with coming up with a name and identity for the programme.

The has many benefits for Suffolk and the library service but ultimately it’s very important for Suffolk Libraries to reach out to more young people, who are currently under represented as library users.

For a full list of all upcoming events in our libraries visit www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/upcoming-events

You can also sign up to receive our monthly newsletter at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/newsletter/