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We are really pleased that Write Queer London is back for a fourth year.

The recipe goes like this:

- Take five or six London museums, with interesting LGBT collections or stories

- Add a knowledgeable curator to explain and answer questions

- Bring in excellent published writers and poets to lead creative writing workshops

Mix all the ingredients together and simmer gently until, amidst the cooking steam, you begin to see visions of the gay past - which might mean a trip to ancient Babylon - or 1960s Islington

Optional side dishes:

- Enter the Write Queer London competition with poetry, prose or a play scene

- Take a 'gay tour' of some of London's most popular museums

- Come to the Write Queer London party, at the Museum of London's hugely popular Valentine's Night, where history, wine and dance seamlessly mix.

This year we have events lined up at the British Museum, Jewish Museum, London Metropolitan Archive, National Maritime Museum and the Museum of London - details to be published very shortly.  Do join our Facebook group if you would like to be in the loop.

Poetry commissions

This year we are also asking three poets to write about LGBT objects from London museum collections.  We're very pleased that John McCullough - author of the Frost Fairs is going to the British Museum for us in search of inspiration.  Meanwhile Peter Daniels, winner of the Arvon Poetry Prize for Shoreditch Orchid will be writing a poem for London Metropolitan Archive and poet Rommi Smith will be posted at the Museum of London.

The programme

Explore the programme on our events pages - or see below for a whistlestop tour of what will be happening.

British Museum: A Great Unrecorded History.  Poet John McCullough and curator Richard Parkinson explore gay histories from ancient Egypt and Babylon to Maori and Japanese culture and modern times.  Followed by a poetry workshop.  19th January 2012, 1.15pm - 4pm.  No need to book, Free.

British Museum guided tour.  Get a free copy of untoldLondon fold out guide to the British Museum's LGBT collections and follow guide Babs Guthrie as she leads you around the galleries.
10th December 2012 - 2pm. FREE but please Email us to book.

London Metropolitan Archive: Poet with-a-blues-band Rommi Smith leads a workshop for 16- 24 year olds.  Followed by an evening event bringing together song, poetry and stories from the LMA.
19th January 2012 10am - 4pm and evening event 6pm - 7.30pm. FREE but please Book through the London Metropolitan Archives

Jewish Museum: Writer Shaun Levin leads three workshops: two for more serious writers, one event for everyone in February
22nd & 29th January 2012 2 - 4.30pm  Objects of Love and Desire creative writing workshop - £30, including free entry to the Jewish museum.  Book now.
16th February 2012 7pm Objects of Love and Desire: exploring the things we carry - Shaun Levin and invited artists and writers will bring and discuss objects associated with LGBT love and relationships.  - £10, including free entry to the Jewish museum.  Book now.
 

Islington Museum: Playwright and Joe Orton specialist Phil Setren leads an evening where acting and writing merge.  Watch Orton and Ortonesque scenes acted out, have a glass of wine, explore Islington Museum's acclaimed new Orton exhibition - and try your own hand at writing a play scene.
14th January 2012  7 - 9.30pm £7.50/£5 concessions.  Booking coming shortly: email us if you would like to reserve a ticket.

Museum of London - join us for an LGBT tour of the galleries - from the emperor Hadrian to the museum's modern collecting on gay activism
FREE - 17th December 2012.  Drop us a line if you would like to come.

Geffrye Museum - Learn about the 19th century aesthetic movement and Oscar Wilde's involvement in it, and explore the Geffrye museum aesthetic rooms. With a historical speaker and a chance to try your hand at writing a poem.
February 2012.  More details soon.

National Maritime Museum - poet and artist Nancy Campbell leads us through the world of gay sailors and pirates.
2nd February 2012 2 - 4.30pm.  Email us to book.

Museum of London with St James' Piccadilly.
Details to follow as we explore the history of gay spirituality. Email us to ask for more details when we have them.

All this has been made possible by the kind support of the Arts Council, the Poetry Society and Museum of London.