In 2017, within the framework of the city anti-Rumour strategy (ARS), a creative anti-rumour writing initiative has been developed to involve the local community in the implementation of the ARS strategy. In Bilbao, many people are fond of creative writing; this has been used to connect the interest of citizens with the ARS to raise awareness about diversity and coexistence. The activities implemented in this framework consist of writing training and workshops about diversity and coexistence as well as an annual contest of short novels.
An average of 25 participants are enrolled in the workshops per year. Seventy short novels are written per year to apply for the contest. The results showed that more people are now involved in the general antirumour Strategy taking part in other activities of the ARS project. A yearly publication of selected short Novels is also realised.
The cooperation appears on the local level with local writers, professors and writing schools. The local observatory of Immigration also cooperates as well as local associations.
