Acomb Reading Magazine 2026

R E A B D M E O

AUTUMN 2026

RS

AC

NEW VISUALITY / ART CAMP 2026

FANTASY FICTION

NEW VISUALITY

ACOMB WARD / 2026

WARD PRIORITIES Acomb Ward funding enabled New Visuality to deliver accessible creative activities for children and young people throughout the summer holidays, with Acomb Explore providing a welcoming base for the project. Sessions used art, books and storytelling to encourage creativity, confidence and positive use of a local community space.

A key focus was encouraging enthusiasm for reading. We celebrated the legacy of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and explored how books can inspire artwork, imagination and conversation. Many young people were surprised by how much they enjoyed reading and discussing the books available, particularly when this was combined with drawing, making and informal creative activity.

The project also created a wider public legacy. City centre York Explore is now exhibiting artwork celebrating Acomb’s young readers and their creativity, giving participants the opportunity to see their work valued beyond the project itself.

The activity supported Acomb Ward priorities by providing positive opportunities for children and families, encouraging wellbeing, strengthening community connections and promoting pride in the local area. Most encouraging was the enthusiasm young people showed for reading, storytelling and creativity — a very positive sign for Acomb’s cultural future.

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SUMMER 2026 / ACOMB

The National Year of Reading 2026 feels especially important for young people because reading for pleasure is falling, particularly among teenagers.

The Go All In campaign is trying to change that by making reading feel less like something you are told to do at school and more like something that connects with the things you already care about — whether that is music, football, films, comics, fashion, gaming or art.

That idea really works in Acomb. It is a historical and fascinating place, full of stories, characters and change, but like anywhere else it is also very easy to switch off and plug into a digital device.

Reading asks you to do something different: concentrate, imagine, question things and spend time inside somebody else’s point of view. It can make you more curious and empathetic, but it can also inspire you to draw, write, debate and create. For us, that is what Go All In is really about — finding something you already love and reading further into it.

ACOMB READERS

NEW VISUALITY

A big part of the project was encouraging each other. We did have quiet reading time, but we also wanted people to talk about the books, recommend characters and explain what they liked about them. That made reading feel much more social and less like something you only do in a classroom.

We then used those conversations to make art.

People drew, painted and experimented with the characters they found most interesting, and it was great seeing how differently everyone responded. We all took a lot of pride in the work because it came from stories we had actually talked about and enjoyed together.

Joanie, age 9: “I didn’t think I’d like the books that much, but once I started reading I wanted to keep going. The comics were really funny and I liked choosing what to read myself.”

Shannay, age 10: “I thought reading time might be boring, but there were loads of different books and I found one I really liked. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed it.”

ART CAMP

ACOMB READERS & ARTISTS

A ROLL OF HONOUR "Here at York Explore we welcome anyone who has given reading a go this year, the year of National Year of Reading 2026. The artwork here at York Explore reflects that in Acomb reading and even responding creatively to reading is in good health." Dave Fleming, creative producer at Explore York Libraries and Archives

Acomb Ward funded New Visuality to deliver creative activities throughout the summer holidays, with Acomb Explore providing an inspiring base for the project. City centre York Explore is now exhibiting artwork celebrating Acomb’s young readers and their creativity. Alongside this, we celebrated the legacy of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Most encouraging was the young people’s enthusiasm for reading, creativity and storytelling — a great sign for Acomb’s cultural future.

“The UK has designated 2026 as the National Year of Reading, led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust. The campaign aims to reverse declining reading enjoyment by connecting books with people’s interests and passions. It is encouraging to see Acomb already embracing that spirit.” Greg McGee, Director, New Visuality