LECTURERS at Worcester University are running a series of workshops in historic settings to inspire residents’ creative side.
Dr Lucy Arnold, senior lecturer in English Literature, and Dr Jack McGowan, principal lecturer in Creative Writing, have teamed up to provide literary and creative writing sessions that reflect on and are inspired by historic or heritage buildings in the city.
This is part of their wider project, called ‘Can These Stones Speak’, which researches and develops the best ways to give people a sense of connection with local history using literary approaches.
Dr Arnold said: “The project’s aims are twofold – to collaborate with heritage organisations to inspire new ways of working using our experience from literary studies and creative writing to engage audiences. Secondly, to use these strategies to engage audiences and invite them to create meaningful engagement with the historic past. It’s about opening up spaces where people can make relationships with the past of Worcester and what’s important to them, rather than a one size fits all history of Worcester. It’s having a sense of ownership of the place where you live.”
A workshop called ‘Dark Archives: Gothic Adventures in the Museum’ will take place at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday October 19. Running between 11am and 3pm, Dr Arnold will give a talk about poisons, potions and chemicals in literature, crime fiction and spooky tales.
Dr McGowan will then encourage attendees to create their own gothic narratives using the museum and gallery as inspiration. Due to popularity, this workshop will be repeated on Saturday October 26 from 11am until 3pm.
Another session, titled ‘Phantom Narratives: Heritage Spaces and the Ghost Story’, takes place in
The Commandery, on Wednesday November 13 from 6pm until 7.30pm.
Dr McGowan and Dr Arnold will explore how heritage spaces and historical architecture have a unique relationship to the ghost story genre. Participants will produce written work in response to this historical setting, with a chance to walk around the building after hours.
For more information visit https://www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk/events/
