I Am A Reader: The Exhibition at Mansfield Central Library

The I Am A Reader exhibition is revisiting Mansfield Central Library! Featuring beautiful artwork inspired by the words and thoughts of real readers, this exhibition reflects and celebrates everything that happens when we open a book, and poses the question: is reading creative in itself?

In 2023, six writers worked with six groups of adult readers to create a short story anthology, while sharing their individual experiences of being a reader. Notes from these sessions were shared with artist Carol Adlam who chose insights which inspired her as the basis for a series of illustrations.

From what different readers see or hear when they read a book, to what reading means to them, the resulting 22 beautiful illustrations in this exhibition are a striking, poignant and often moving visual interpretation of the reading experience.

Illustration © Carol Adlam