Write Queer London Festival has landed
02 December 2011
Discovering gay histories across London museums
The Museum of London’s Write Queer London festival, which begins in December, brings together writers, poets and LGBT history in London museums for a fourth year. Curator talks, gallery tours, poetry commissions, a writing competition and creative writing workshops are all part of the mix. Scroll down for the full programme with links to each event entry for more information.
The Programme
Coming up in February:
Write Queer London at the National Maritime Museum
2nd February 2012, 14:00 – 16:30
Free, booking recommended: Babs@untoldLondon.org.uk
Poet and artist Nancy Campbell leads a writing workshop looking at aspects of the history of gay seafarers and pirates. Entry to the museum is free, explore the galleries and new Sammy Ofer wing.
Gay Domesticity: a Write Queer London workshop
4th February 2012
The Geffrye Museum
Just come for the talk, or stay for the writing workshop as well (places more limited for the workshop. Let us know if you are coming through bookings@geffrye-museum.org.uk
Historian Alison Oram talks about gay history on the domestic scene, followed by a poetry workshop with Cherry Smyth.
Write Queer London at St James Piccadilly
Weds 8th February 7 - 9pm
Free with a collection at the end to cover the evening opening of the building. Please email kate@untoldlondon.org.uk to book.
There is a long history of gay involvement in religious history and art. We will be looking at some of the objects and stories from across London museums that tell this story, and use them as a jumping off point for creating our own poems.
To keep up to date with all our news and add events to your profile, join Write Queer London - a Writing Competition group on Facebook
Pleasure Garden Ball
14 February 2012, 18:45 – 21:45
£6 (concs £5), advanced booking available now on the Museum of London's booking line: 020 7001 9844
Make a date for this night of dancing, drinking and decadence as we recreate Georgian London's quintessential pastime – strutting your stuff in the pleasure garden – with a flirty Valentine's twist. Learn to dance with an 18th-century girl band, hear saucy poetry by Write Queer London, discover fashion dandy-style, and design and wear your own alluring masquerade mask.
Objects of Love and Desire: Exploring the things we carry
16 February 2012, 19:00
Jewish Museum
£10 includes admission to the galleries, book through - admin@jewishmuseum.org.uk
Listen to famous writers telling stories about the objects that changed their lives and have a chance to tell your own story.
History of the gay world in three poems
Three new poems based on museum objects have also been commissioned for the festival. John McCullough is writing a poem based on an object at the British Museum, Rommi Smith is looking for inspiration at the Museum of London and Peter Daniels will be hunting through centuries of records at London Metropolitan Archives.
Daniels said: “searching the London Metropolitan Archives made me realise how much of the recorded history of LGBT people is about invisibility and getting on the wrong side of the law. Imagining what else went on is the creative part!”
All three poems will be unveiled at the festival finale party as part of the Museum of London’s Pleasure Garden Ball on Valentine’s Night.
Past events:
LGBT Tour of the British Museum
10 December 2011, 14:00
British Museum
Free, booking recommended: Babs@untoldLondon.org.uk
Get a free copy of the Untold London fold out guide to the British Museum's LGBT collections and follow guide Babs Guthrie as she leads you around the galleries.
LGBT Tour of the Museum of London
17 December 2011, 14:00
Museum of London
Free, booking recommended: Kate@untoldLondon.org.uk
Join us for an LGBT tour of the galleries - from the emperor Hadrian to the museum's modern collecting on gay activism.
Writing Joe Orton
14 January 2012, 19:00 – 21:30
Islington Museum
£7.50 (concs £5) Book through Kate@untoldLondon.org.uk
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 and Halliwell exhibition, ‘Malicious Damage’ - and try your own hand at writing a play scene.
Other Ways of Seeing
19 January 2012, 10:00 – 16:00 and 18:00 – 19:30
London Metropolitan Archives
Free, booking recommended: 020 7332 3851 / ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Rommi Smith leads a workshop for 16-24 year olds. Followed by an evening event bringing together song, poetry and stories from the LMA.
A Great Unrecorded History
19 January 2012, 13:15 – 16:00
British Museum
Free – no need to book
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.
Objects of Love and Desire: A Creative Writing Workshop
22 and 29 January 2012, 14:00 – 16:30
Jewish Museum
£30 for both weeks incl. admission, book through: admin@jewishmuseum.org.uk
Join writer Shaun Levin for a creative writing workshop inspired by the Jewish Museum's displays. Using private objects and documents as a starting point, you'll be encouraged explore your personal history and write short stories and poems.
Write Queer London at the National Maritime Museum
2nd February 2012, 14:00 – 16:30
Free, booking recommended: Babs@untoldLondon.org.uk
Poet and artist Nancy Campbell leads a writing workshop looking at aspects of the history of gay seafarers and pirates. Entry to the museum is free, explore the galleries and new Sammy Ofer wing.
Pleasure Garden Ball
14 February 2012, 18:45 – 21:45
£6 (concs £5), advanced booking available from January 2012
Make a date for this night of dancing, drinking and decadence as we recreate Georgian London's quintessential pastime – strutting your stuff in the pleasure garden – with a flirty Valentine's twist. Learn to dance with an 18th-century girl band, hear saucy poetry by Write Queer London, discover fashion dandy-style, and design and wear your own alluring masquerade mask.
Objects of Love and Desire: Exploring the things we carry
16 February 2012, 19:00
Jewish Museum
£10 includes admission to the galleries, book through - admin@jewishmuseum.org.uk
Listen to famous writers telling stories about the objects that changed their lives and have a chance to tell your own story.
The Geffrye Museum
Free, but places limited to 15, book through bookings@geffrye-museum.org.uk
Historian Alison Oram talks about gay history on the domestic scene, followed by a poetry workshop.
There is a long history of gay involvement in religious history and art. We will be looking at some of the objects and stories from across London museums that tell this story, and use them as a jumping off point for creating our own poems.
Contributed by: Babs Guthrie
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