Words on the Waves Kids & Schools Program received a $48,000 funding boost thanks to the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program this month.
Moving forward the Kids & Schools program will be rebranded as the RipplesProgram to reflect the objectives of the program to encourage kids and young people to start making waves by writing themselves.
The greater aim of the Words on the Waves Writers Festival RipplesProgram 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, the RipplesProgram 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” said Words on the Waves Festival Director Angela Bennetts.
With 71 government schools, 24 private and Catholic schools and four special schools in the Council area, the RipplesProgram 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.
The RipplesProgram will enjoy a share of an almost $5 million funding pool statewide 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.
Primary source: Interview and media release Words on the Waves writers festival, August 1, 2022