If you’ve ever thought about putting pen to paper to share your stories but didn’t know where to start, a series of four free creative writing workshops are taking place over two months in Prescot, led by ‘The Scribblers’ a creative writing group who work out of Kirkby Gallery.
2022 is Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture and theme for the year is storytelling, these workshops are and opportunity for participants to share their own lived experiences, explore their memories and tell their stories.
The Story Makers project has been made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project received funding for towns and villages across Knowsley to tell their story.
Each workshop has a heritage theme and at the end of the four sessions a special online exhibition will be produced showcasing the work created from the Story Makers project.
On Tuesday the 25th January the session is ‘Memories of Food’ BOOK HERE
In this first Story Makers session led by Scribbler Margaret, your creative writing muscles will be warmed up through talking and writing about your memories of food. We will explore taste and smell, taking you back to memories from childhood, from wafts of freshly baked bread from the bakers to sea-side holiday foods and favourite sweet treats.
On Tuesday 8th February the session is ‘Memories of School’ BOOK HERE
In this second Story Makers session led by Scribbler Rita, we will be talking and writing about your memories of school. School days, love them, hate them. We’ve all got a story to tell. Who can forget their favourite teacher, the dinner lady who held your hand on the yard, the ominous smell coming from the dining hall, or the fearful footsteps of the approaching head teacher?
On Tuesday 22nd February the session is ‘High Street Memories BOOK HERE
To jog our memories, we will look at photographs through the years from Knowsley Archives of Prescot High Street, Market square and the surrounding area, as-well as Huyton Village, Derby Road and Sherborne Square. We will practice describing the high street, its buildings, shops, houses, churches, the town hall, the people and faces you remember, the entertainment venues, and the cafes. We will imagine the atmosphere at the time, the smells, the sights, the sounds, the conversations we might overhear.
On Tuesday 8th March the session is ‘Events and Celebrations’ BOOK HERE
As 2022 is Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, in this final session we will be discussing and writing about our memories of attending and taking part in community events and celebrations in Knowsley.
The events will all take place at Prescot Town Council, 1 Warrington Road, Prescot, L345QX Booking is essential. If you have any queries, please contact erin.cluskey@knowsley.gov.uk
About Borough of Culture
The Borough of Culture title was introduced by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It is awarded annually on a rotational basis to one of the six local authorities that make up the Liverpool City Region.
The Borough of Culture is part of the 1% for Culture initiative which commits at least 1% of the Liverpool City Region’s annual gain share (£300k) to cultural projects/activities. Established as an annual award rotating around the boroughs, the Borough of Culture helps to celebrate, amplify and strengthen the existing cultural offer, develop new ideas and initiatives that will underpin future development and legacy.
Liverpool City Region is the first Combined Authority to have control over culture in its devolution deal, utilising many of the region’s existing assets and talent to stimulate cultural and creative opportunities.
The Borough of Culture was first launched in St Helens in 2018, followed by Wirral 2019, Sefton 2020, Halton in 2021 and is currently held by Knowsley for 2022. The programme rotation will recommence in 2023 back in St Helens.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
