Feb. 10, 2009 — A young wizard’s heroic journey of sorcery, adventure and personal enlightenment will be on the minds of hundreds of young St. Thomians this Friday at Big Read 2009.
As part of the kick-off event, copies of "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin have been given to students across the territory.
The Big Read is a nationwide initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.
Locally, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts will organize writers, storytellers and scholars to engage the community through literary arts residencies at community centers, libraries and schools. Big Read U.S. Virgin Islands 2009 will launch its initiative at 9 a.m. Friday at the Reichold Center for the Arts. The event will be duplicated on St. Croix Feb. 27.
“We had great success last year and this year we’re anticipating just as much people to come out,” Tasida Kelch, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts special projects coordinator, said.
“Our activities are over a six-month period. So this is just our kickoff. We are going to have lecture series’ and book club discussions and we’ll be at all major events with our paraphernalia, handing out Big Read stuff. So the community will see us throughout the grant cycles,” she said.
More than $2.8 million in grant money is available nationally to 208 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, and science organizations to host Big Read celebrations between Sept. 2008 and June 2009. Participants are eligible to receive between $2,500 and $20,000.
Kelch said the U.S. Virgin Islands received the maximum amount contingent upon VICA matching it.
“The community has been very giving towards this literacy program,” she said.
Every school in the territory has been invited to bring as many as 30 students to Big Read kick-off events and smaller schools have been permitted to bring a few more.
Friday’s event will include trivia games related to the novel, guest speakers, arts and crafts that incorporate science, arts education, face painting, and the announcement of the Fan Fiction contest winners.
Kelch said the contest was for students to create an alternate ending to the novel. The first place winners in both categories — 6- to 8- year olds and 9- to 12-year-olds — will receive laptop computers. Other prizes will include iPod’s, cameras, and gift certificates.
The Big Read U.S. Virgin Islands is presented in partnership with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Division of Libraries and Museums, the Department of Education and the Reichhold Center for the Arts, University of the Virgin Islands.
This is the second year the territory has participated in the event.
“We know there have been a couple reports that have come out concerning middle schools,” Kelch said. “The middle school [reading] scores are not as high as they should be. Next year the Big Read is emphasizing that we focus on middle school, especially middle school young men.”
Further information on the Big Read U.S. Virgin Islands kickoff events can be obtained by contacting Tasida Kelch, (340) 774-5984 or visit www.neabigread.org.
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