First screenwriting workshop for kids at Fredericton Public Library a resounding success

From March 20 to April 24, the Fredericton Public Library hosted its first “Cine-Kids Screenwriting Club” for children aged 10 to 13 years old. This six week program was the newest offering from the extremely popular “Cine-Kids Program” which started in April of 2024. Michelle Lovegrove-Thomson, the Children’s Librarian at the Fredericton Public Library, explained that the initial Cine-Kids program in 2024 was supported by a GLAM (Galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) Incubator grant out of the University of Toronto. The Cine-Kids program continued through the summer and fall of 2024 offering a foley (sound design) workshop and a Super 8 film workshop. After covering several topics in 2024, this newest workshop focuses on screenwriting specifically. Michelle noted that she chose screenwriting because of her own expertise, and because it meant she did not have to hire an outside expert—keeping the workshop free for families to enjoy. The workshop series was so successful that Michelle is now figuring out how to create a package to share the program with other libraries in New Brunswick and the rest of Canada.