Drawing Words, a new exhibition of children’s book illustrations, will be on display from 20 – 30 November 2019 at the Kuwait international Book Fair.
Drawing Words is commissioned by the British Council Kuwait and curated by the Waterstones UK Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child. The exhibition features ten illustrators from across the UK whose work makes an important and original contribution to contemporary British picture book illustration.
Through Drawing Words, the British Council examines the role that literature plays in bringing people and communities together across cultures and borders, an important aspect of British Council’s work.
The exhibition will see novelists, illustrators, publishers, teachers, academics and other educators come together to explore issues of common concern, challenges and opportunities as well as best practices both in Kuwait and the United Kingdom.
Alongside the display of the illustrations there will be an engaging Programme that allows all visitors to interact with the literature through:
- Panel discussions: Experts from Kuwait and the UK will create awareness and encourage discussion about some of the challenges and opportunities for everyone that is involved in the (children’s) literature sector in Kuwait
- Workshops: The workshops will provide young people with a chance to respond imaginatively to the illustrations on display, while gaining further insight into the challenges of illustration.
- Storytelling: Children’s books are the perfect example of storytelling that entertains, educates, and helps us bond with our audience to provoke emotional responses at the same time. These stories told will help teach our young audience and inspire them to dream and to take action.
For more information about the activities click here
Drawing Words is part of the celebration of the 120 years anniversary of the Kuwait-British friendship treaty (protection agreement) which was signed by the governor of Kuwait Sheikh Mubarak bin Sabah Al Sabah, with the British government in 1899.
The UK will be Guest of Honour at the Kuwait International Book Fair as a reflection of the 120-year friendship.
Throughout 2019, the British Council will run several Arts, Education and Society initiatives to celebrate the strength of the friendship and cultural exchange between the UK and Kuwait.
British Council Kuwait works across Arts, Education and Society on the themes of ‘employability’ and ‘voice’; developing strong and vibrant relationships that provide opportunities for young people supporting the shared aspiration for a stable and prosperous future.
Michael Gordon, Country Director of British Council Kuwait mentioned that We are honored to participate in Kuwait Book Fair 2019, and we are delighted to collaborate with NCCAL in bringing Drawing Words to Kuwait. I am a strong believer in the importance of reading books, and I know that children are motivated from a young age by the illustrations that catch their attentions and make them what to discover the story. They get the habit of hearing the stories and will later want to read them. When they are older readers, they will form their own mental pictures of stories, as their imaginations are stimulated by the written word. But it all starts with the children’s book illustrations – the better they are, the more easily they start the children on the journey of reading. So that is why I particularly wanted to bring Drawing Words to Kuwait.