Small Bells Ring launches a floating short-story library on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
24 May 2021
The RF Furor Scribendi is a fully functioning canal boat which hosts the UK's largest collection of short stories. Launching on 26th May 2021, it will be moored near Accrington in June, before heading to Coventry City of Culture for the summer, and returning to Lancashire thereafter.
Small Bells Ring is an artwork created by artists, Heather Peak and Ivan Morison of Studio Morison, centred on The RV Furor Scribendi, a fully functioning sculptural narrowboat which operates as a living research vessel, housing a floating library of short stories for community use and a retreat for writers and readers.
Co-commissioned by Super Slow Way in collaboration with Lancashire Libraries, Coventry City of Culture, Canal & River Trust and British Council, and the community of Hyndburn, this narrowboat is currently moored on the Hyndburn stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
A river adventure awaits
At the end of June, the RV Furor Scribendi will voyage along the waterways of Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool and Stoke-On-Trent, to spend the summer in Coventry as part of its City of Culture year.
The canal boat will return to Pennine Lancashire in October, where it will remain for several months. During the Autumn and Winter it will be linked with our libraries to create a whole programme of engaging activities for communities to spend time on the boat and enjoy short stories.
Small Bells Ring exists in real and digital life with a programme of events for communities along the Canal in East Lancashire. During June you are invited to take virtual and real tours of the boat, come on board to read or write for the afternoon and as the world slowly begins to unfold again, just drop in to read, day dream and float.
The launch event is being held on Wednesday 26th May with limited physical tours at set times between 12 and 2pm.
There will also be a virtual boat tour shared live on Instagram at 6pm on Wednesday 26th May.
Families and small groups who live local to Accrington, Clayton-le-Moors, Altham West, Church, Rishton and Scaitcliffe are invited to come aboard over the next few weeks to explore and read, and to meet artist Heather Peake Morison. There will be boat trips offered between Rishton and Church each Saturday.
Find out more:
Read more about Small Bells Ring here.
To express your interest in attending and get tour times, email uzma@superslowway.org.uk
To keep in touch with events and news related to Small Bells Ring, sign up to the Super Slow Way mailing list or follow them on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.