A terracotta jug filled with assorted teal and turquoise paintbrushes sits on a table covered with a white cloth. Next to it lies a small bundle of dried purple flowers tied with twine. In the background, shelves filled with books are softly out of focus.

This year’s Arts Sunday will shine a light on the National Year of Reading.

The event, on 7 June, will bring visual artists, musicians, dancers, poets and more to St Peter Port’s seafront to “celebrate the arts in all forms”.

Organisers Guernsey Arts said The National Year of Reading’s ‘Go All In’ campaign aims to get islanders reading, whether they’re “a keen reader already or have fallen out of the habit“.

The annual event, which is entering its 16th year, will incorporate the written word in a variety of ways, including storytelling, recitals and showcasing “the books our creatives are reading”.

Guernsey Arts’ Jade Kershaw said writing was “part of the arts”, so celebrating “the power of words” was a “natural fit”.

A bookshop display shows wrapped books in brown and red paper tied with string, arranged on small stands as part of a blind date with a book promotion. Each book has a large handwritten tag, and shelves of colourful books fill the background.
The ‘Go All Out’ campaign is aiming to encourage people to read more about the subjects they love.

Performances and workshops

“A huge amount of artwork, from film to music to visual pieces, is inspired by literary works, folklore, poetry and prose,” she added.

Arts Sunday will also feature an arts market with a mix of over 100 stalls, as well as “performance stages, workshops and the chance to meet new creative organisations”.

The event showcases “the breadth of arts and culture within the islands, and how Guernsey Arts supports this”, Ms Kershaw said.

The charity is now looking for stallholders, with applications invited until 19 April.