Our Access and Engagement Project

Wordsmithery are delighted to announce that we have received funding from Arts Council England enabling us to develop Medway River Lit to become a nationally distinctive, locally rooted literary festival where disabled, D/deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, blind or visually impaired, learning disabled and physically disabled writers, audiences and participants are central to the programme. We are working with Square Pegs Arts and various other partners, to carry out an access review of venues, digital content, communication, signage and audience experience.

This is a yearlong project starting with the festival in 2026. The programme will bring together poetry, live literature, playwriting, storytelling, workshops, digital poetry and youth writing. It will place disabled and neurodivergent writers at the core of our festival. We will commission three local disabled creatives (including those with invisible and long-term illness) through production bursaries, which will culminate in a performance during the next year.

We will pilot a number of access interventions to see what works and what doesn't. These include programming disabled writers within the festival, and delivering accessible online poetry for people who face barriers to live events during the year, and presenting Man or Bear by Medway playwright Sarah Hehir with a touch tour, BSL & a school performance. There will also be a pilot of creative wellbeing workshops.

We are delighted to be bringing Puffing and Wooling to the festival, where hosts, Tilley & Del bring you a fully inclusive, interactive and relaxing, mindful experience that welcomes people of all ages/abilities, most especially Autistic/Neurodiverse people.

Tilley & Del say "Join us for Den Building, Mindful Looking at Art/Stuff, Poetry, Songs, Story Time, Jokes, etc. Just listening/chatting, not doing anything at all, Napping/Sleeping is also an option. PLEASE JUST COME, RELAX, HAVE FUN, UNWIND ~ BE YOURSELF ~ REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR PRECIOUS TIME & SPACE."

We'll also be able to expand our Youth Laureate Programme to work with at least 4 Medway schools.

We would like to thank Arts Council England and Medway Council for their support.

Information about the full Medway River Lit Access and Engagement Project and production bursaries will be available shortly.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.