Festival reaches out to pre-schoolers

SINGAPORE — As part of the Singapore Writers Festival’s (SWF) aim to gain newer and younger audiences, organisers will be taking its programmes to schools and expanding its offerings for pre-schoolers.

“We want to reach out to young people, and a lot of them are in schools. Teachers are overwhelmed with logistics and bringing the students here (to SWF venues), so why not (go to) them,” said festival director Yeow Kai Chai.

Among the international authors who will be visiting schools is Australian writer Jay Kristoff, whose acclaimed works include the bestselling young-adult series The Illuminae Files and the Japanese steampunk dystopian series The Lotus War, and Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner Philip Ardagh.

The SWF’s outreach to schools builds on its existing pre-festival programme Words Go Round, which offers multilingual programmes in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil for pre-primary to tertiary students.

Under the programme, interactive talks and workshops by Singaporean and international writers are organised in schools outside of the festival period.

Other expanded programmes include a collaboration with National Gallery Singapore to offer a literary and visual arts experience to pre-schoolers.

Organised under SWF Class for Pre-Schools, children will be able to enjoy dramatic readings, interactive craft or other drama activities, as well as tours at the National Gallery Singapore.