Latest news with #OpenBookFestival
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cape Town Libraries launch exciting writing competition for young authors
Cape Town libraries invite young writers to explore their imaginations in exciting new competition Image: Supplied The City of Cape Town's Library and Information Services is excited to announce the return of its much-anticipated writing competition for children aged nine to 13. Following the success of last year's competition, which focused on environmental awareness and received entries from over 100 talented young writers, the City is once again inviting primary schools, book clubs, and aspiring authors to participate. This year, the winners will be celebrated at the Open Book Festival on 6 September 2025. The theme for this year's competition promises to spark curiosity and creativity among participants. Entrants are asked to imagine a scenario where they stumble upon a mysterious box hidden between the shelves of their school or local library. This box, adorned with strange symbols and emitting a faint humming sound, is the starting point for a magical adventure that contestants will describe in their short stories. Participants will be challenged to explore what happens when they finally open this enigmatic box, allowing their imaginations to run wild. "Writing provides a creative outlet and helps children to organise their thoughts and emotions," said Francine Higham, the Mayco Member for Community Services and Health. "By putting pen to paper, they learn a new way to communicate and express themselves. Our children are creative, with vivid imaginations, and I'm sure the judges will have a hard time picking a winner. I want to encourage all our learners to participate, as they could very well write their way to a future as authors." Entries will be open from Monday, 5 May until Friday, 8 August 2025. Competition submissions must adhere to a set of criteria designed to inspire originality and creativity: Word limit: Between 500 and 1,500 words Must be an original story—no AI-generated stories will be accepted Entries must be submitted in handwritten form. Stories can take the form of a picture book, short/long story, or graphic novel Encouragement for drawings and illustrations throughout the work Key elements to include in the stories are: A mysterious box in a library setting A magical adventure A relatable main character or object Entrants are reminded to unleash their imagination and creativity while keeping their work original. Points will be awarded for artistic presentations, including illustrations and drawings. 'Most importantly—have fun.' Higham said, adding a supportive nudge to budding writers. Students interested in participating can submit their stories via email to or drop them off at their nearest library. As young authors prepare to embark on this literary journey, the City of Cape Town is eager to witness the incredible imaginations that will unfold through their words.
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Open Book Festival 2025: a week of creative workshops in Cape Town
Siphokazi Jonas is a multi-award-winning poet, playwright, actor, and producer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She holds an MA in English Literature as well as an undergraduate degree in Drama and English. The Open Book Festival is set to enrich the literary landscape of Cape Town with its highly anticipated Workshop Week from 2nd to 7th June 2025, primarily hosted at the picturesque Bertha House in Mowbray. This year's programme boasts an impressive array of acclaimed writers and industry professionals, offering an eclectic mix of hands-on workshops designed to ignite creativity and hone writing skills. As festival curator Frankie Murrey said, 'Our Workshop Week has become an essential part of Cape Town's literary calendar. We've created a programme that not only celebrates the craft of writing but also provides practical tools and knowledge for writers at every stage of their journey.' Murrey adds that the overwhelming enthusiasm from the community serves as a testament to the event's significance.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Showcase your talent: Enter the City's annual writing competition for young writers
Children aged 9-13 are invited to showcase their storytelling skills in the City of Cape Town's annual writing competition, focusing on environmental awareness. With a theme of discovering a mysterious box, young writers can submit original stories in English, Afrikaans, or isiXhosa. Entries open on May 5 and close on August 8. Children between the ages of nine and 13 can explore their storytelling talent and imagination through the City of Cape Town's annual writing competition, hosted by the City's libraries. The winners will be announced at the Open Book Festival later this year. In 2024, the competition focused on environmental awareness and attracted 100 entries from young writers. The City's library and information services have decided to hold the competition again after its success. Primary schools, book clubs and children within the age group are encouraged to enter. Entries open on Monday May 5, and close on Friday August 8. This year's theme invites participants to imagine discovering a mysterious box while exploring their school or local library. The box is described as having strange symbols and a faint humming sound, and writers are asked to create a short story about what happens when the box is opened. Stories can be written in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa. Stories must be original and handwritten, and fall within a word count of 500 to 1 500 words. Submissions can take the form of a picture book, short or long story, or graphic novel. Illustrations and drawings are encouraged and will be taken into account by the judges. "Writing provides a creative outlet and also helps children to organise their thoughts and emotions. By putting pen to paper, they learn a new way to communicate and use the written language to express themselves. Our children are creative with vivid imaginations, and I'm sure the judges will have a hard time picking a winner. I want to encourage all our learners to participate as they could very well write their way to a future as authors," said the City's mayoral committee member for community services and health, Francine Higham. The prize-giving will be held at the Open Book Festival on Saturday, September 6. Stories can be submitted via email to or handed in at the nearest library. Cape Argus
