Step inside The Imaginarium, a two-day creative playground at the heart of the Swadlincote Festival of Words. Throughout the weekend, Sharpe’s Pottery Museum will be transformed into a lively hub of free word-inspired activities, crafts and performances for visitors of all ages.

Ask the Poet in Residence to draft a poem just for you, cut and stick to create your own verse, make a miniature model, or design your own handmade book. Families can enjoy Story Time, help build a Collaborative Story, or strike a pose in the Book Character Photo Booth. A joyful celebration of imagination, creativity and community – where everyone is invited to make, play and create!

Poet in Residence, Jonathan Sellars

Have a poem created just for you as Jonathan turns your ideas and stories into spontaneous poetry on the spot.

Model Making with Jo Litchfield

Make your own clay character with illustrator and modelmaker Jo Litchfield and take it home at the end of the session.

Tiny Books, Big Ideas with Attie Lime

Design and decorate your own one of a kind mini book to fill with pictures, words or poetry.

Cut Up Poetry with Emily Pallett

Create your own poem using words and images from different sources in this hands on art and poetry workshop.

Spoken Word in the Courtyard

Join Jay Sandhu, Jayacus and the Swad Scribes as they perform poetry, prose and original writing full of humour, heart and with community spirit.

Write The Next Line

Add your own line or paragraph to a story that grows and changes throughout the day.

Story Time

Enjoy stories read aloud by local authors and guest readers all day long.

Local Author Showcae

Discover books, stories and new writing from local authors and meet the people behind the words.

Book Character Photo Booth

Dress up as your favourite storybook characters and snap a photo to take away.

The Story Trail @ Sharpe's

Follow the clues around the Museum, complete the trail and enter the prize draw.

Imagination Display

See the Imagination Display created by local schools, with each letter decorated to celebrate stories, creativity and colour.

This project is part-funded by the UK government