New Writing North and Durham County Council are working together to develop innovative new ways to bring reading to the heart of communities and are looking for two readers-in-residence.
Building on the success of Durham Book Festival and an active network of libraries and arts development provision, we are developing a targeted programme which creates joyful, high-quality cultural experiences to tackle low literacy, support school readiness and address unequal access to opportunity.
In September and October 2026, to mark the National Year of Reading, we will run two mass reading initiatives via Durham Book Festival: The Big Read and The Little Read:
The Big Read is The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, an accessible locked-room crime novel set in a remote Scottish hunting lodge. Lucy Foley will appear in conversation at Durham Book Festival on Saturday 10 October.
The Little Read is The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band by Giles Andreae and Nick East, a picture book for early years and Key Stage 1.
Thousands of free copies will be distributed across the North East through libraries, community settings, schools, family hubs and hospitals.
We are now recruiting one reader-in-residence for each book to plan and deliver sessions in community settings, using the books as a gateway to promote reading for pleasure. We are looking for skilled facilitators who are confident, creative and experienced in working with communities, children or families, with a good understanding of inclusive engagement practice.
Sessions: 20 (for the Big Read) or 15 (for the Little Read) sessions of up to two hours per session
Fee: £175 per session, inclusive of local travel, planning and preparation.
Dates: 14 September to 31 October 2026
Find out more here
Deadline: 2 September 2026, 12pm