Back to Books was an eight‑month creative programme delivered in partnership with Leicester Libraries, designed to inspire young people to reconnect with reading and discover the joy of storytelling. Guided by the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge theme Read to the Beat, the project brought together music, art, digital media and creative writing to help young people explore books in fresh and exciting ways.

Working with professional artists, participants created original music, lyrics, spoken word, digital artwork and printmaking inspired by stories they discovered in their local libraries. The project placed equal value on all forms of text — poems, prose, letters, beat‑boxing, spoken word and more — giving every young person a meaningful way to express themselves.

Throughout the programme, workshops took place in libraries, schools, community settings, Leicester Print Workshop and at Pedestrian’s city centre base. These sessions explored themes of reading for pleasure, the environment, modern urban life and activism, resulting in a rich body of creative work shaped by young people’s ideas and experiences.

In early August, the project culminated in a relaxed outdoor performance at Leicester Cathedral Gardens. Young people shared their original music and spoken word live, accompanied by digital projections created by MBD. A professional mural was also installed at Leicester Central Library, leaving a lasting visual legacy for future visitors.