Logo for Llibres as Cultural Hub featuring an abstract tree with orange branches, a star, and green roots, encircled by the text 'Llibres as Cultural Hub'.

Libraries as Cultural Hubs

Shaping and celebrating a more diverse, inclusive and equal cultural offering from Dorset library spaces.

THE CLIENT

Libraries as Cultural Hubs is an Arts Council England National Lottery funded cultural development programme. This year-long digital arts programme was supported by The Friends Groups of Corfe Mullen, Sturminster Newton, Weymouth, Wimborne and Wyke Regis Libraries and partner agency, The Arts Development Company.

THE CHALLENGE

The initiative included 11 events and 2 artists in residencies for young people and adults across Dorset as well as a range of author, music, arts, and dance events.

L&F were tasked with producing communications both in print and online, using illustrative graphic assets and project imagery.

We needed to brand and raise awareness of the initiative, inviting individuals and families who perhaps haven’t entered into a library space before.

Application

Printed literature
Advertising

Stand out

Event programme

Further Links

Dorset Library Website

A white flyer titled 'Libraries as Cultural Hubs' with a logo of a tree and grass, placed on colorful paper backgrounds. Surrounding the flyer are several books with colorful covers, some featuring illustrations and text.
The image is a computer screen displaying a grid of colourful emojis and icons on a white background.

THE SOLUTION

We delivered a range of communications that were both easy to understand and inspired our wide-ranging audience. Communications were both clean and adhering to the Dorset Council brand, whilst offering creativity and fun, inspiring a new audience. Animating illustrative graphic assets really took comms to the next level and brought the project to life online, across the website and social media.

As a project it had the following impact:

17 artists employed
295 participants at events
33 live audiences
2064 engaged online
3 new commissions
16 days of employment for artists
5 exhibitions/performance days
42 staff training days
30 children achieved an Arts Awards Discover
A detailed painting of an astronaut in a space suit lying on a starry background, holding an open book and surrounded by space-themed items.
Close-up of a page from a publication, featuring an illustration of a green tree on an orange background, a photograph of a smiling woman with glasses and red hair, and a map outline of Dorset with a quote about a last night meeting in Gillington. There is also a blue section with white and orange text about creating and developing the library community.
Close-up of a blue printed sheet of paper with white graphic of an open book and stars, placed on green and red papers, with some text visible.

Participant Reviews

“I didn’t think my boys would enjoy it, but I have been really surprised at how engaged they were. We all enjoyed it so much we returned to do it all again and sign up for other events.”

Mother of two autistic boys who had never set foot in a library before.

“Grace was great at helping me to think creatively (not something I am used to doing). I enjoyed using the mandala to bring back memories of my life.”

Feedback from Totems: Your Story Matters, Gillingham Library.

“The support from the rest of the group and their perspective
… has been incredibly liberating and therapeutic. And the teaching which has been extraordinarily stimulating, it has changed so much of my perspective in an amazing way.”

Feedback from Rewriting Your Script, Weymouth Library
A brochure titled 'Impact of Libraries as Cultural Hubs' surrounded by books and pamphlets on a vibrant green, blue, orange, and yellow background.
Infographic titled 'Libraries as Cultural Hubs Achievements' showing statistics such as artists employed, participants at events, staff training days, new commissions, days of employment for artists, exhibitions/performance days, live audience, children achieved or working towards awards, and children achieved awards. The infographic uses icons and numbers to present the achievements.
An open booklet on a orange surface with colorful illustrations and text. The right page has a section titled 'Next steps' with text about local cultural and community programs. The left page displays images related to creative events, with colorful star and tree illustrations underneath.

WHAT WE DELIVERED

Due to the success of the project, this initiative ran for two years, rather than one, and opened the library door to many who would have never experience this type of community space before. It was only the restrictions of covid that prevented the project running for a third year.

posters
programme
leaflets
postcards
animation
social media assets
An artistic depiction of a rocket launching from a fiery exhaust into outer space, with planets, stars, and galaxy background, including a quote from Dr. Seuss about exploring new worlds.
A brochure page with quotes in colored speech bubbles, a star illustration, and a drawing of a spaceship with flames, discussing library events and activities.
Quotation marks on a yellow background

Handing our comms to L&F was an easy decision, they are so easy to work with and always deliver. We loved how our static brand assets were brought to life and how lively our programme was, whilst remaining easy to navigate and use. A marketing really did have an impact on the success of the project, attracting a new audience to our library spaces.

Katherine Hudson
Service Development & Engagement, Dorset Council