LIBRARIES across Wiltshire will host a year long programme of creative activities aiming to inspire and reach out to people following a successful bid for national funding.

The Arts Council has granted the maximum £100,000 of funding to Wiltshire Council’s Creative Libraries project.

The project will involve a touring exhibition of books from various museum collections, opportunities to take part in a community memory project reflecting on the lives of people living in rural parts of the county, performances bringing storybook characters to life and artists working with older people with limited mobility to use the written word to inspire movement and even dance.

The grant was created by the Arts Council to help support libraries working with their local community to develop new opportunities to take part in artistic and cultural activities.

Jonathan Seed, the council’s cabinet member for libraries, said: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are an excellent venue to bring literature to life but also to reach out to those who may find it more difficult to get involved in cultural events.

“The power of the written word is being translated into a host of colourful events and we hope this year long celebration will inspire longer term projects which will enrich people’s lives across the county.”