CHARLESTON in Firle is the Sussex home of Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. It is steeped in queer history, alternative lifestyles and free-thinking – as well as fabulous art and political thought!
Charleston are very keen to work with local and regional LGBT+ communities to find ways in which they can be useful as an established museum and arts organisation.
To begin this process, they are running a participatory arts project that is linked into their 2018 Small Wonder short story festival to find people interested in becoming involved with Charleston in new and exciting ways.
Charleston see this as the starting point for ongoing involvement that will be decided by those who want to work with them on this project.
About Unexpected Delights
♦ They are looking to recruit a group of around 12 people of any age who identify as being part of the LGBT+ communities
♦ Together, as a group they will explore Charleston – the Gardens and the surrounding down-land. They will take digital photos of things they feel inspire them with “something to write home about” – anything at all!
♦ They will use these images to help re-interpret or create new stories using words and/or our digital photos, with a writer (or two!) from the 2018 Small Wonder Festival, who explore issues around gender fluidity in their books or poems
♦ They will also use the Charleston exhibition Orlando – at the present time to inform what we do
♦ During the time spent together they will creatively combine their words and images to create a series of pages for a scrapbook style book – a zine – that they can share with others
♦ They will have discussions about how Charleston can be useful to LGBT+ communities and start to plan ways they can work together in the future
About you
♦ You will be somebody who identifies as LGBT+ and interested in being involved in working together with others as a group to create a short scrapbook (zine)
♦ The project will involve coming to Charleston (they might be able to help with transport to get to them)
♦ Talking to others, writing some words and taking some photos
♦ You do not need to have any experience of writing or photography (but it’s OK if you do!) – all you need really is a willingness to join in and try something creative
Project Times and Dates
Currently, they have enough funding to run one day of working together. They have applied for funding for a further three days, and hope to know if they have those funds soon:
1. Monday September, 10, 11 am until 3 pm
2. Monday September, 17, 11 am until 3 pm (to be confirmed)
3. Monday September, 24, 11 am until 3 pm (to be confirmed)
4. Monday October, 8, 11 am until 3 pm (to be confirmed)
Project facilitators
The project will be coordinated and facilitated by Charleston’s Community Engagement Officer, Mark Richardson. The writers will join in for parts of the project to inspire and entertain everyone.
Cost
The project will be free to participants.
Food and drinks
Take a lunch with you as the Charleston Café will be closed. Free drinks and biscuits will be provided for participants.
Venue
The project will be held at Charleston, Firle, Near Lewes, BN8 6LL, the venue has flat access and accessible toilets.
To book a place
For a booking form email Mark Richardson, Community Engagement Officer at Charleston:
OR Telephone: 01323 815142
OR Write to: Mark Richardson, Community Engagement Officer, The Charleston Trust, Charleston, Firle, Near Lewes, BN8 6LL
