Since 2013, AirSupply has offered a bridge between graduation and a professional arts career to young artists and QMUL alumni by providing them with a creative platform, networking opportunities and spaces for skill sharing and work experience.
Starting Wednesday 31 March we will be opening up the AirSupply Boarding Lounge from 6-7pm every Wednesday.
The Boarding Lounge is an easy going hang out session on Zoom. Aside from a general check-in conversation, we will share thoughts and concerns about our lives and livelihoods and flag any opportunities, events, or performances that we find interesting.
We will also start planning and talking about QMUL’s upcoming Peopling the Palaces Festival, 9-19 June 2021.
Join a student team and help a business or charity, solve a real-life business challenge The Student Consultancy Project Sprint (SCP Sprint) offers you the opportunity to collaborate in a team and tackle a real-life business challenge over one week. Whilst on the programme, you will benefit from training, coaching and the opportunity to interact with a business who will act as your client.
We will support you during the programme to develop work-related skills such as; – Commercial awareness – Problem solving – Project planning – Collaboration and teamwork – Presentation skills
Why take part? – Gain experience of working with a client on a real-life consultancy project. – Receive support, training and advice on a range of work-related skills. – Add the SCP to your digital transcript, the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).
Who can get involved? The programme is also open to all QMUL undergraduates from any academic school.
“It was quite invigorating and a refreshing experience because it helped me see into a profession that I didn’t previously know about thus having no experience in that field. Now, it has helped me to apply to several consultancy companies and secure a few places.” English and Drama, Autumn 2019
Find out more about The Student Consultancy Project here!
For further information and to apply, please click here. The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 25 April 2021.
To book an appointment to get your application checked before you apply, call 020 7882 8533 or visit the Careers & Enterprise Centre in the Queens’ Building, Room WG3.
A lunchtime celebration of William Shakespeare’s 457th birthday
Join us for an online celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday by joining a discussion with theatre practitioners and theatre historians.
Black Queer History events from University of Westminster
21 April 6pm, Chocolate Babies (dir. Stephen Winter, 1997) screening, introduced by filmmaker Rabz Lansiquot. Details and booking: https://bit.ly/30fItJW
29 April 5pm, ‘Black Queer Fictions and Selves’, a panel discussion with Paul Mendez (Rainbow Milk, 2020) and Michael Donkor (Hold, 2018). Details and booking for that event here: https://bit.ly/2OpaU5g.
Event Recommendations from our very own Cathie Kayakumar-Hazra
“I have a position to teach English for an excellent independent school in South Korea. The position would entail teaching English (Language and Literature) from Year 3 to Year 9.
Essential: An excellent academic background including an undergraduate degree in English.
Desired: A postgraduate degree in English or related discipline (or in the midst of completing one), a background tutoring, or any experience working with children would be a bonus, however, this is certainly not essential.
The successful candidate will be able to convey his/her own enthusiasm, encourage self-motivation, and a genuine love of learning and enquiry to students of all ages. The school is set on stunning surroundings with cutting edge, state of the art facilities available . A lucrative package is on offer for the chosen candidate including a very competitive salary (£30K-£45K, depending on experience), free flights, and free, furnished accommodation.
If you are enthusiastic about English and would like the opportunity to teach academic pupils overseas , please forward your CV asap to devra.farhi@harrishill.co.uk or please ask for Devra for an informal chat on: 020 7820 7308 or Mob: 07795 221266.” www.harrishill.co.uk
Further sources of interesting events, opportunities and jobs are…
The Department of Drama at Queen Mary University of London is honoured to announce the inaugural Annual Catherine Silverstone Lecture, held in memory of our dear friend and colleague, the late Professor Catherine Silverstone, who passed away on 4 October 2020.
The lecture will be presented by Professor Joshua Chambers-Letson. Prof Chambers-Letson will give a lecture titled Love Will Never Do: Black and Brown Love in a Queer Rhythm Nation.
The event will take place online on Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 6pm (GMT/UK).
All are welcome. Tickets are free and booking is essential.
As a part of Asian heratige month, Diaspora speaks are hosting an event open to all QM students from any department on the 31/03.
It is a show and tell event where students can showcase their culture, perform or share interesting artefacts or objects. At the end of the event there will even be a quiz to test their knowledge on Asia. Even if they do not participate in to perform or showcase they can till sign up.
It’ll be a great way to immerse themselves within the Asian culture and expand their their knowledge.
The Orion Publishing Group have re-opened applications for paid, remote work experience placements from June 2021. The scheme, which launched in September 2020 and designed to remove boundaries to access, has hosted six candidates and reached thousands more via Orion on Tour’s virtual events.
Over 1400 people applied for the scheme in 2020 and, in a bid to offer additional support and guidance to the 400 long-longlisted candidates, Orion staff provided a webinar session to share advice and guidance on the application process. In addition, Orion on Tour went virtual in November 2020 and offered webinars designed to demystify the publishing industry reaching over 500 people.
Whitney Southern, the inaugural work experience candidate said: ‘I think the scheme did a really good job of combining work experience and an internship. I got a great insight into publishing processes, Orion and Hachette and I also got to do substantial work. I had numerous opportunities to contribute and I truly -believe that my time at Orion has set me up well for applying to traineeships and entry-level positions in the industry.’
Open for applications via the Orionwebsite, the company will have the next placement active in June with pro-rata pay in line with the Hachette starting salary of £24,000 per annum and will run the monthly programme virtually until the end of 2021. The placement offers the chance to attend a variety of company meetings, as well as meet staff across the company and receive informal mentoring or career guidance.
Sarah Benton, Deputy Managing Director said: ‘Orion are committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and it’s this that drives our desire to make real change in what we offer and contribute to the future of publishing. We have loved meeting the six candidates who have worked with us so far and are ready to meet more brilliant colleagues. Orion on Tour’s virtual events are an excellent and effective way to reach far beyond the number of candidates we can host each year and continue to smash all boundaries to access publishing.’
Applications are welcome and close on 1st April 2021. All information, including an overview of the departments within the company, is available on the Orion website: www.hachette.co.uk/careers
If any organisations would be interested in future Demystifying Publishing webinars with Orion staff please do be in touch with virginia.woolstencroft@orionbooks.co.uk.
Enni-Kukka Tuomala Solo Exhibition, Nunnery Gallery, Bow 21 May – 8 August 2021 | bowarts.org/nunnery
In March 2021 artist and designer Enni-Kukka Tuomala opens the world’s first “Empathy HQ” at 26 Bromley High Street in Bow, London. The Empathy HQ is a new creative space dedicated to empathy, acting as both a working art studio for Tuomala, as well as an open community space for local people, groups and organisations in the surrounding E3 area.
Taking over an old disused shop front on Bromley High Street, Tuomala has transformed the former beauty salon into a light and airy space filled with art and creativity. The facade of the Empathy HQ is a mirror, reflecting its surrounding environment and people. The mirror plays on the core principle of empathy to adopt different perspectives and points-of-view to better understand one another, and ourselves. By both blending into its context, and standing out and shining brightly in the ever changing London weather, the front to the Empathy HQ captures the attention of everyone passing by. Designed by Tuomala, and produced and installed by local East London Puck Studio, the facade invites passers by to consider their relationship to empathy by asking them “What does empathy mean to you?”. Enni-Kukka Tuomala has said:
“I have been dreaming of opening an HQ dedicated to Empathy for years. Today, it feels more relevant than ever. As an artist my empathy practice is built on collaboration, conversation and exchange, that’s why I want to explore what a creative studio space rooted in its surrounding environment and community could be. To launch a dedicated space for empathy in London, hopefully the first of many around the world, at a time when we are redefining what physical closeness means, how we can create meaningfulconnections with one another in a post-Covid world, and what public and private space stands for feels important. In the first few months of renovating the space I have already met so many friendly, curious and generous local people. I cannot wait to have the opportunity to work together and get to know one another.”
The Empathy HQ project is generously supported by Bow Arts, the Connecting People & Places Fund by the Foundation for Future London and City of London, as well as Poplar HARCA. On 21 May 2021 Bow Arts will also open Tuomala’s first solo art exhibition in their Nunnery Gallery, located across the road from the Empathy HQ on Bow Road. Sophie Hill, Director of Arts & Events, Bow Arts, has said:
“Enni-Kukka Tuomala’s empathy-centred practice is more relevant now than ever; her unique approach of exploring and inspiring empathy through the open-reaching arms of art has proven transformative in previous projects – and right now is sorely needed. The pandemic has left many feeling isolated and scared; empathy will be key in bringing communities together once again. Art has a huge role to play – the World Health Organisation just announced a $15m initiative to support artist-led projects to improve mental, social and environmental health in the wake of the pandemic. After a four-month long closure, we can’t wait to reopen the Nunnery Gallery with Tuomala’s exhibition, inviting our audiences to experience a physical installation of empathy after many months of feeling apart.”
Enni-Kukka Tuomala will be running free empathy related activities and creative workshops throughout the spring and summer. Respecting Government Covid-19 guidelines, all initial activities will take place remotely, and / or outdoors. Please follow #empathyHQ on Twitter and Instagram, as well as www.empathyheadquarters.com for updates.
This programme is honour of British Bengali heritage, the impact and legacy of the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence. Whilst inspired by and honouring this heritage, the programme has been design for ALL communities and people living in East London (with focus on Tower Hamlets & City Of London)
To honour this heritage, we are accepting story submissions that explore the general theme of ‘life in 1971, liberation, resistance and home.’ Your story can be rooted in memory, history or completely fictional.
We are accepting written stories (up to 750 words) and spoken word (up to 3 minutes long). We also welcome stories in other languages such as Sylheti, Bangla, Somali, Arabic, Spanish and many more….
Submitted stories will be judged on how original, interesting and engaging they are. We are looking for stories that capture the reader and hold their attention.
The stories will be judged anonymously with 3 selected to win a £100 voucher. The winning pieces will be included in a Story & Musical walking tour that will be developed with the local communities later on in the year.
All submitted stories will be published in a digital anthology.
Deadline: Thursday 8th April 2021
How to enter: Complete the entry form and submit the story via email: whenwespeak@toynbeehall.org.uk or whatsapp: 07398 294110
For more details, please see flyer and guidelines attached.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
Don’t miss these paid opportunities – email today:
Role Players needed for Medical Students: The School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary want to work with Drama students to help to train their own students in issues of diversity, empathy, and motivation to make positive health changes. Email Bridget: b.m.escolme@qmul.ac.uk for more details.
The Mending Room – 40th anniversary of the Brixton Uprising in 1981: 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance. Project Workers: Open to all QMUL students from 2nd, 3rd and postgrad years who share an African Heritage, including a Black British one. This unique project is with the legendary theatre arts activist Tony Cealy. More info here. Email Ali Campbell for more info a.m.campbell@qmul.ac.uk
Outreach film opportunity: Dr Maggie Inchley is seeking students for a short educational film for use in schools to help teachers and students try to catch up. Email her to get more info: m.inchley@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
Fighting Talk: creative workshops on boxing and storytelling with Jake Boston
All workshops will be online and are free. Contact Bibi – bibif@projectphakama.org to book a place and get involved in Fighting Talk.
“Mendoza’s contribution to fighting was to transform it […] he brought grace and skill into a sport where neither had been much valued” — Magriel, East End boxer, Daniel Mendoza’s biographer
What do boxing and storytelling have in common? How can your experiences and connection to boxing tell your story? Come and find out in this series of creative workshops in which you will explore and develop techniques to shape and perform your own story, using the art of boxing in the East End as our inspiration.
The workshops will start by looking at the life of the celebrated East End prizefighter Daniel Mendoza, whose technique revolutionised boxing in the late 18th century. As a Jewish boxer, Mendoza experienced and challenged antisemitism throughout his life. Mendoza’s body was buried in QMUL’s Jewish cemetery and there is a plaque on campus commemorating his life. With Mendoza in the ring with us, we will explore the craft of writing and performing your own story in solo form.
By the end of the workshops, you will have the beginnings of a new creative piece coming out of your own personal experience.
The workshops will be led by actor and writer Jake Boston, whose acclaimed solo performance Bare Knuckle recently toured to New York, Edinburgh and London. In Bare Knuckle Jake takes us into the world of bare-knuckle fighting through stories of his childhood growing up the son of a champion fighter, his father’s desire to pass the title of champion on to him, and Jake’s ongoing journey to find himself.
All are welcome and no prior experience of boxing or performance is necessary!
Based at the QM campus, Phakama are a small yet highly ambitious participatory arts company who have storytelling and collaboration at the heart. Our executive team is supported by a diverse group of Associate Artists (such as Jake Boston), Young Creatives, Youth Board and Board. We are all driven by the common desire to make high quality work that is fuelled by the diversity of those involved.
Dates of workshops (all take place 6.30-7.45pm) 29 March / 6 April / 13 April
All workshops will be online and are free. Contact Bibi – bibif@projectphakama.org to book a place and get involved in Fighting Talk.
This webinar brings together artists, policy makers, and campaigning organisations to consider how arts practices can inform the recovery and transformation of the prison service during and beyond COVID19. Speakers from National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, The Prison Reform Trust, and Arts Council England will contribute to a panel, which will be followed by a participatory discussion with attendees.
This session emerges from the Sounding Out project, a collaboration between the University of Reading, Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation, and The Prison Reform Trust that explores how creative sound and audio practices might bring the voices of incarcerated people into policy making conversations. We hope to share some of the sound pieces made as part of this project at the event.
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye with Thelma Golden Free TATE event on 29 March: Join artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye for this exclusive live online event. As Tate Britain presents the first major survey of the work of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, this is a unique opportunity to hear the artist discuss her practice. Yiadom-Boakye will be in conversation with Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City. The event will be introduced by Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate. Sign up
Youthscapes Project: Sign up by Mar. 23rd to become your neighbourhood’s storyteller 📣
⏱ Are you 16-20 years old? 📍 Living in London? 🧩 Interested in learning new creative skills, experimenting with storytelling and keen on some urban exploration?
Join @youthscapesldn to turn your urban experience in London during Covid-19 into a powerful story. Your story will become part of a unique collection of urban perspectives that can help influence future urban and youth policy. At the moment, youth voices are often overlooked in city-making processes, let’s change this!
Free to participate & no prior knowledge needed, only enthusiasm. What’s in it for you?
In partnership with Youtube Music, gal-dem are rounding off Women’s Month with a celebration of the incredible Black women in music. As much as we love , support and appreciate the artists delivering the music, it’s time to shine a light on the black women making it all happen behind the scenes.
In a round table style digital panel, we’ll be discussing everything from our panels career journeys, major milestones, and what they’re doing to create legacy within their fields.
Please see more details on the panel below, and don’t forget to get your tickets!
KAMILLE – a former stockbroker turned singer, songwriter, and producer, and also a label, studio and publisher owner; KAMILLE has worked with artists including Little Mix, Mabel and Dua Lipa.
LIL C – an international DJ (live and radio) who has graced the stages of Red Bull’s soundsystem at Notting Hill Carnival, Hackney Carnival, Afropunk, Glastonbury, Lovebox, Parklife and more.
SHENIECE CHARWAY – A&R manager at YouTube Music, with much success under her belt having worked with the likes of Columbia Records, Rick Ross and Jorja smith and many more.
TINA FARRIS – A well respected tour manager and one of the only Black women in this field, Tina has run tours for like Lauryn Hill, Roots, Anderson .Paak, Drake, Solange, The Internet and more.
MYVANWY EVANS – Founder at Louder than words PR, Myvanwy has led music, arts and culture campaigns at Global, Viacom, Tate and Red Bull and developed music programmes for BPI The BRITs Trust and the major record labels. She founded the non profit cultural communications agency, Louder Than Words which is seeing ever-growing success!
Further sources of interesting events, opportunities and jobs are…
Hannah Fox is from the UK and is currently a postgraduate student of English Literature here at Queen Mary University of London. She lived in Jerusalem as a child and hopes to live in the MENA region again in the future. She has recently been involved with some poetry translations that have been published on ‘Rusted Radishes: Beirut Literary and Art Journal’ (published by the American University of Beirut, Lebanon). She was the co-translator working with a Kurdish translator to translate three haiku poems from Kurdish to English.
This is the link to the journal page where the three poems are:
Actually it’s a cool website anyway with art and literature from the Middle East, more like a magazine than a journal really, so you might find other things on there that you like if you are bored and want to read something!
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
Community Connections Funding: The Centre for Public Engagement (CPE) is pleased to share details of a new funding opportunity we hope you will be interested in – the Community Connections grant scheme.
With the decision not to hold the Festival of Communities in 2021, this alternative provides Queen Mary staff and students the opportunity to apply for up to £500 to develop and sustain relationships with local residents and community groups. The scheme is looking for activities that bring people together – generating conversations in person or remotely around shared experiences within our east London communities. These could be (but aren’t limited to) providing activity packs for local families to complete at home, a desire to bring neighbours in a building/street together to share an experience, planning for a celebratory event when COVID-19 restrictions allow or responding to practical community needs.
On Wednesday 17 March, 5.30-7pm, we are holding a live online panel discussion of Drama alumni working in the theatre. This event will give you the opportunity to hear about the career journey and experiences of our brilliant panellists, how they have adapted in the past year, and gain their advice about actions you can take now to build your career during the pandemic.
This session will not be recorded – please come along with your questions to the live event! Book your place here!
Panellists:
Beth Watton – Artistic Director at Poplar Union. Graduated from Queen Mary with MA Theatre and Performance, 2018.
Charlotte Potter, Freelance Producer; Marketing and Production Manager at COLAB Theatre Productions; Social Media Manager at Jury Games; Manager at Escape Rooms. Graduated Queen Mary with MA Theatre and Performance 2019.
Ellie Simpson, Producer at Pleasance Theatre. Graduated from Queen Mary with BA English and Drama 2009.
Lucy Dear – Applied Theatre Practitioner, currently working with Young Vic Theatre and Southwark Playhouse. Graduated from Queen Mary with BA Applied Drama, 2006.
Tower Hamlets x National Portrait Gallery: Bangladesh 50 Years exhibition & events: 2011 English alumna Sabiya Khatun is a Citizen Researcher on the project. National Portrait Gallery and Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archive are commemorating 50 years of Bangladesh independence. The project remembers the activism and action of citizens from across Tower Hamlets in 1971 and the legacy of that significant event on the communities that came after. Citizen researchers, from the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets, will delve into both archives and select material that speaks to them and the events of 1971. Supported by artist Ruhul Abdin, they will create a new artwork that will be shown locally, and eventually will come to the National Portrait Gallery when we re-open our doors. Ruhul founded participatory design and architecture studio Paraa and is based between Dhaka in Bangladesh and Bow in Tower Hamlets. He is also a portrait artist and has created works sensitively representing Bengali people and capturing events as they take place. Bangladesh 50 Years will be documented by Digital Producers Rainbow Collective. They will produce short films, images and interviews and share them as the project evolves.
Writing Retreat with Daniel Oliver for all Drama students Wed 17 March from 1.30-3.30pm. Get motivated with a dedicated space to write and meet others. Email d.oliver@qmul.ac.uk to join.
Arcola Conversations provides a chance to reconnect with the community, explore big ideas and imagine the future together at this time of historic upheaval.
Each hour-long conversation on Zoom grapples with a big and vital issue. We’ll be joined by guest speakers, before opening up the sessions for a discussion. Join us and contribute your thoughts, or just to listen in. Topics include:
THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS / YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN: OUR FUTURE, OUR HANDS / LETTERS TO THE EARTH / OUR (DIS)UNITED KINGDOM / A FAIR SHARE? / BLACK LIVES MATTER: HAVE ACTIONS MATCHED WORDS? / ACCESS DENIED? / MENTAL HEALTH DURING RECOVERY / IS COVID TAKING WOMEN BACK TO THE 1950s?
Comedy & Mental Health Panel Discussion – 8pm, Tuesday 23rd March, Free (PWYC) part of The Best Medicine Festival The panel will feature comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax, comedian Kemah Bob, psychiatrist and comedian Dr Benji Waterhouse, comedian Ahir Shah and Angel Comedy co-founder and psychotherapist Sarah Pearce. Chaired by comedian and producer Martin Willis, these mental health professionals and comedians will be discussing the impact of the last year, what needs to change in the industry to support mental health and how we can contribute, as well as the impact and expectations of ‘sad clowns’ and soul-baring solo shows.
Free online events announced, including Drag and Feminism with RuPaul’s Drag Race superstars
Explore all the events here We are thrilled to announce three free online events for March as an extension of our Covid-safe 2021 festival.
These online events are three special panel talks.
Drag and Feminism panel talk Monday 29th March, 6 – 7pm A one-of-a-kind panel discussion including five of the UK’s most exciting drag queens, exploring the relationship between Drag and Feminism. Featuring Jacob Mallinson Bird aka Dinah Lux, Bimini Bon Boulash, Asttina Mandella, Ginny Lemon and Tete Bang.
Is it good for you? panel talk about sexual empowerment Monday 22nd March, 6 – 7pm This panel talk will be hosted by sex educator Ruby Rare, with Almaz Ohene, Lindsey Mendick and Rukiat Ashawe. This talk for all genders will explore agency, self pleasure and owning your orgasms.
How do we heal global trauma? panel talk Monday 15th March, 6 – 7pm A year on from the first appearance of Covid-19 in the world, this talk will explore the emotional and physical impact of social distancing, and how something that has changed the whole world can be healed. Featuring Clarissa Renee, Jo Miller, Lena Chen, Megan Bradley, and Sivani Mata.
Producer Gathering: Marlborough Productions are very excited to announce Producer Gathering, a new online space for the sharing of resources, bursaries, training and discussions about the art of Producing in the UK Arts sector. www.producergathering.com #ProducerGathering
Staging the Future – Conference – 30 March, Free Online A one-day online symposium organised by Professor Jane Collins and Dr Sophie Jump, Wimbledon College of Arts, with UAL Professor Emerita, Eileen Hogan, Staging the Future will reflect on the experiences over the past year of those working in the field of theatre and performance design and speculate about the future.
Write Moves Weekend Digital Retreat with Rakhee Jasani & Vanio Papadelli on 21-22 March – Pay What you feel. Write Moves is back with a 2-day online course (4 sessions over one weekend) as part of our Women in Focus series celebrating International Women’s Day. The workshop is run by practitioners, Rakhee Jasani and Vanio Papadelli. Women of all ages (and anyone identifying as female) are invited to come together and through mindful movement, yoga and writing, explore roots, kinship and belonging.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
Mental Health First Aid 1-2-1 with Rupert: Rupert is happy to speak to you in a 1-2-1 on Teams to help in a crisis or get information about where to find the best help. You can book here.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! BL PsychSoc are proud to present a thrilling talk on personality disorders in Film and TV by expert psychologist Dr Mark Freestone, who will be taking us though the portrayal of personality disorder in media in How to Write a Psychopath.
Dr Freestone is not only a Lecturer in Psychology at QMUL, not only a leading researcher in forensic psychology, but is also involved in hit BBC America show Killing Eve as psychological consultant. His work on the show helped forge the iconic character Villanelle, who has captivated viewers across the world. Dr Freestone will be breaking down performances throughout Film and Television, allowing us to understand the decisions made by writers and directors to accurately display Personality Disorder in all its forms. What makes Norman Bates so merciless in American Psycho? What leads to Kevin’s horrific murder spree in We Need to Talk About Kevin? And why do we all love Villanelle despite all the evil acts she does? Get the answers to all this and more in our event at 6:30 on Thursday 16th March, you don’t want to miss it.
Call for Papers: Books on Screen University of Leeds and Anglia Ruskin University Wednesday, 3 November 2021 booksonscreen.symposium@gmail.com
New Suns – 5-7 March The feminist literary festival returns to explore the legacy of science-fiction author Octavia Butler and her prophetic Earthseed series. With online panel discussions, workshops and a film screening.
As museums, archives, and libraries adapt to a series of lockdowns, we have a stronger sense than ever of the challenges involved in providing access to the objects that carry our collective memories. While one-way routes and Perspex shields may be new, the complexities around acquiring, preserving, finding, and using collections are not. How can the hidden histories of collections be shown? What tools are emerging for recording and sharing cultural heritage? How can writers and researchers engage with, and make innovative use of, collections?
The event will feature poets Linda Anderson, John Challis, and Theresa Muñoz. They will each give a reading of their poetry, followed by a discussion, co-chaired by Clare Lees, Director of the IES and Bill Sherman, Director of the Warburg.
GET FEEDBACK Spread the Word will be accepting submissions from writers under-represented in publishing for short feedback sessions from the editorial team at One More Chapter – a division of HarperCollins Publishers from 1 – 31 March 2021.
We’re looking for four students who share a Black British, Caribbean or African Heritage, to support and document a unique project with the legendary theatre arts activist Tony Cealy. Led by him you will work over ten Saturday mornings, starting 10th April and culminating in a share event on 5 June. Here’s some context on the website:
If are in Second/Third Year or are a postgraduate, please contact Ali Campbell now at: a.m.campbell@qmul.ac.uk
The project focusses on the creation by community participants of possible futures for Brixton, through storytelling, performance and visual practice. A good ear for story, a keen eye for visuals and a sharp instinct for documentation will all be most welcome! You will be led by Tony Cealy and mentored by Ali Campbell and Maggie Inchley (Drama).
The share event in mixed media will target an audience of policy makers, community members and others who have influence in the real life of Brixton today. You will play an important supporting role in facilitating this.
If you have friends across HSS who might be interested, do encourage them to apply. A short statement of interest, listing the skills you might bring to this work, should reach Ali by Thursday 8 April: a.m.campbell@qmul.ac.uk
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
English at Work: SED English Alumni Careers Panel
Wednesday 3 March, 5.30-7pm
A live online panel discussion of English alumni working in publishing, marketing, charity, journalism and content creation, this event will give you the opportunity to hear their journey and experiences across a broad range of careers, as well as advice and tips for entering their sectors.
This is a great opportunity to learn, make connections, and have your questions answered, in an informal online setting.
Panellists include:
Zoe Rutland – Editor, DK Eyewitness. Graduated from Queen Mary in BA English Literature, 2016.
Sumit Sharma – Head of Digital, Prezzo Ltd; Co-Founder, Breaking Atoms. Graduated from Queen Mary in BA English Language and Literature, 2006.
Josh Lee – Commissioning Editor, The Guardian Labs. Graduated from Queen Mary in BA English and Drama, 2012.
Chrissie Reed – Corporate Partnerships Lead, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Graduated from Queen Mary in BA English Literature, 2013.
More panellists will be added closer to the date as confirmed.
How Are You Really Feeling? Let’s Talk About Mental Health – 4 March. ‘Join us on ‘University Mental Health Day’ 4 March 2021 as we bring together a Queen Mary University of London mental health community-led panel openly discussing and exploring mental health from various perspectives, and most importantly to see mental health as a university-wide priority to benefit you and the future of student mental health. Come along and be inspired to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination, start conversations, take action and create and be the change for today for a better future. The panel will consist of different members of the Queen Mary community including Sandeep Saib – Co-Director of Happy Heads, Niall Morissey – Queen Mary Head of Advice and Counselling, Dr Dominic Hurst – Senior Clinical Lecturer in Primary Dental Careand Head of Student Support – and more TBC.
Mental Health First Aid 1-2-1 with Rupert: Rupert is happy to speak to you in a 1-2-1 on Teams to help in a crisis or get information about where to find the best help. You can book here.
Writing Support: Drama with Daniel Oliver – Wednesdays from 12:45-2.45. Sign up to a slot. ‘Although the set up on QM+ is for 30 minute 1-2-1 sessions, students can email me if they want to meet as a group or for a series of shorter sessions. It’s very flexible and can be for any concerns or questions relating to writing – academic in the first instance but not exclusively so. I am going to run a very informal ‘writing retreat’ for students on the Monday of reading week, from 6-9pm. It will be hosted on TEAMS and be an opportunity for students to write at the same time as each other, and to discuss that writing and their general writing practices.
“Hi all we’re three SED students who love to write! But we want to know who else loves to write, we’re starting a small group that will be here to work on all things writing. Whether fiction or fact, beginner or expert we’re here to see what you’ve done. So if you want to share poems, plays, novels, or even a DnD campaign we’d love it if we could hear them.
So if you want to share your work, or help others with theirs, or even just listen to some stories, please email any of us we’ll be happy to tell you more!”
The Anthony Davis Book Collecting Prize awards its winner a £600 cash prize, the chance to work with UCL Special Collections staff to purchase a new item for our printed and archive collections, and the opportunity to publicly display or present their own book collection. To enter, applicants must put together a collection of at least 8 books or other printed or archival items, and write a short, 500-word piece about their collection. We are looking for both creativity and enthusiasm. Applications close on 30 April 2021.
We know that many students are book-lovers, but don’t think of themselves as book collectors, so we’ve written some advice on how to be a student book collector. We want to highlight collections that have been put together with intention but are not particularly expensive or rare. Collections of all types of printed or archival works are eligible, including, for instance, playbills, music scores, magazines, etc., : the importance is the intentionality and purpose of the collection.
Celebrating Andrea Levy – Thursday 4 March, 18.30, FREE Part of Leeds Lit Fest, join our lively panel discussion celebrating the life and work of prize-winning Small Island novelist and QMUL fellow Andrea Levy as we mark our acquisition of her archive.
The company also has a Research Assistant post to work closely with Clod Ensemble Co-Artistic Director Suzy Willson. Research will include assisting in the review and curation of the Clod Ensemble archive. Apply by 3 March.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR MAGAZINE A MOVEMENT -Tuesday March 2 -3PM GMT London-based publishers AZEEMA are joined by Dazed’s Head of Content Ahmad Swaid to discuss the importance of representing your community in publishing, how to tell authentic stories of womxn from the MENASA region and diaspora, and why inclusive media is the future.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR MAGAZINE FUN – Tuesday March 2 5PM GMT Ivan Ruberto and Paolo Zerbini of Italian publication Bellissimo are joined by Claire Marie Healy to discuss how they make their magazine unique, go deep into their references, explore the power of 90s teen mags, and talk about their reaction to the seriousness they have been seeing in publishing.. Tuesday March 2 5PM GMT
My Story, My Way | Free Workshop | 06 Mar 2021: a new workshop series exploring different artistic methods of story-telling. The first workshop will be hosted by @shivaraichandani, @freddielewiss, @alexnoblezine and @benpechey, who will each take you through their own unique creative process. You’ll be looking at song-writing, photography, dance and fashion, each as means of expressing our complex personal narratives and as powerful tools for self-enquiry.
Paid Publishing Internship: Comma Press – Deadline 14 March. Do you have the ability to work to tight deadlines, write social media copy and confidently communicate with partners and colleagues? Don’t miss this six-month internship with this leading independent publisher…
ShakesQueer – Free event – 27 Feb – Get ready to be transported to a queer closet to hear the shocking stories that circle the Shakespeare legend. Performance artist Tom Marshman elegantly intertwines his personal experience of Shakespeare with queer voices of the past in this fun, energetic multi-artform show ShakesQueer.Book a free ticket.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
ACT is a new campaign that aims to empower students to lead conversations about issues affecting student wellbeing such as sexual and gender-based violence, microaggressions, mental health and more. As part of the campaign, the Students’ Union is running training sessions throughout the semester on consent and being an active bystander. Find out more about the Active Bystander and Consent training available.
LIBRARY LOVE: New features of the library at QMUL include:
STORIES FROM HOMEA film screening event with a collection of folk tales, journeys and stories narrated by grandparents and retold and illustrated by their grandchildren. Register here
Outside QMUL
ART TRAINEE PROGRAMME at Bold Tendencies – Deadline 1 March ‘The core commitment of the Art Trainee Programme is to a balanced experience of working, learning, training and peer-networking. The ATP aims to offer a healthy and inclusive environment for young people of all backgrounds and life experience at the beginning of their career path.’
CELEBRATE GAMBIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY at Mboka Festival on 18 Feb. An evening of music, storytelling, poetry, film, and song with artists from Africa and the African Diaspora. Headlined by award winning GamBrit artists: Rapper, Pa Salieu and Performance Poet, Sophia Thakur.
CLEAN BREAK: ‘Do you know an AMAZING early career artist working in participation? We’d love them to apply for our Participation Associate role! Find out more: http://ow.ly/uLLF50DAAjk‘
Looking for an internship in theatre production or marketing? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production company the Really Useful Group is offering two paid internships to Black, Asian or ethnically diverse 18 to 25-year-olds.
Deadline: 26 February
I AM NO BIRD: QUEERING THE BRONTES – 21 Feb: A queer reading of the Brontes, their lives, works and characters. Expect feminist punk, gender-bending, and moorland Gothicism. Tune in BCB 106.6fm on Sunday 21 Feb from 1-2pm UK time.
STANZA – Scotland’s International Poetry Festival 2021. One of the top poetry festivals in the UK, StAnza is famous for its friendly atmosphere and international focus, the place to hear favourite poets, discover new voices and – in happier times – to enjoy the beautiful town of St Andrews and StAnza’s lively festival hub.
Further sources of interesting events, opportunities and jobs are…
International Student Careers Week is coming from 22 February 2021 and is a great chance to discover how to get ahead in work in UK when you’re an international student.
If you are an international student looking for UK work experience, be that an internship, part time work, volunteering or any other kind of work experience, then join this webinar to find out more. You will discover what opportunities are available in the UK, how to identify opportunities and tactics for maximising your chance of success. This webinar is part of International Students week.
Would you like to set up a LinkedIn profile? Do you have a LinkedIn profile but don’t know how to use it effectively for your job search? Do you feel LinkedIn can offer more than you are using it for?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, or have any other interest in getting to grips with LinkedIn then come along to this webinar. In it you will learn how to set up a LinkedIn profile and use it to help your search for work experience and graduate jobs. This webinar is designed specifically to support international students, as part of International Students Careers week.
One of the International Student Advisers from the Advice and Counselling Service will tell you the information we know so far about the Graduate (Post Study Work) Route, they will give an overview of the new Skilled Worker Route (previously Tier 2), and let you know about some other visa options for working after studies, plus remind students of the Student visa requirements during study relating to working.
This workshop is for international students and will outline how you write a CV and cover letter for use in the UK. You will find out the key components of a CV and cover letter, how to make your application stand out to an employer and how to tailor your CV and cover letter to a particular opportunity. Come along if you want to prepare yourself for using a CV and cover letter to get part time work, work experience or a graduate job. This workshop is part of international student careers week.
The Start-up visa is for early-stage but high potential entrepreneurs who are starting a business in the UK for the first time. To qualify for a visa, applicants must first obtain an endorsement from an approved endorsing body such as Queen Mary.
How do you start your own business in the UK? Are innovation, viability and scalability important when applying for endorsement? How can I improve the quality of my endorsement application?
If you are interested in hearing answers to these questions, join us for at least 2 of the following workshops before submitting your application:
Workshop 1: Learn more about the Start-up visa and Queen Mary endorsement schemes.
Workshop 2: Innovation – how to generate ideas and an introduction to the lean canvas.
Workshop 3: Viability – what makes a business more likely to succeed?
Workshop 4: Scalability and financials – how to grow your business and understand the money side of your business.
The workshops will be hosted by Enterprise Advisor, Miriam Irungu, from the Queen Mary Careers and Enterprise Team. The Queen Mary Enterprise Team are dedicated to supporting students and graduates who have a keen interest in entrepreneurship. They offer a variety of programmes, events and funding opportunities which help bring ideas to life.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
Blog Manager Wanted!
Are you interested in travel and culture? Do you have an editorial eye and creative mind?
ESN QMUL are looking for someone to take charge of our new blog, acting as part of the 2021/22 society committee. This is a great opportunity to network internationally and present relevant skills for your CV to boost your career engagement. The ESN society is aimed at supporting students on their study abroad, and is part of a larger network spanning 42 countries! We also have other committee positions open for application.
CUB Journalism and Media 101 workshop will focus on blogging and social media. If you would like to take part in this workshop be sure to sign up via the sign up sheet: https://forms.gle/DFPWufsLdy9omrHL6
“We will be looking at how it is caused, its effects and consequences, and how we can better understand the impact it has on us as people in the workplace, but also on us as humans. We will also be exploring tips and advice on how to manage the experience, and how we can recognise and celebrate our achievements.”
QHack applications are now open! QHack is a high-energy, fun, intensive boot camp that gives you opportunities to learn how to get businesses off the ground! Find out more and apply
QMUL Education Awards – Nominations close 15 Feb!
It’s been a tough year but the QMUL Education Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the staff and students who have committed to improving the Queen Mary learning experience, despite the challenges so please nominate as soon as possible. The Education Awards include the Course Rep Awards are awarded to Course Reps who have made a huge difference to students and their courses. The Teaching Awards are awarded to teaching and support staff that have made an outstanding contribution to the student experience. There are 12 awards up for grabs, including Teacher of the Year, Support Staff Member of the Year, Online Learning Champion and many more.
HOW TO CREATE A SOLO CLOWN SHOW – 28 Feb Join award winning comedian, QMUL alumna and clown teacher Elf Lyons as she leads a workshop on how to develop your own solo clown show.
Two hundred years to the day after Keats’ death, The Poetry Society welcomes a circle of poets and Keats scholars to reflect on his enduring place in our literary imaginations in an evening of poetry, thought and discussion.
In this talk, Simon Sladen explores the many adaptations of Carroll’s tale, from 1886’s inaugural stage production Alice in Wonderland to 2020’s Alice in Streamingland created during lockdown. Key films will also be considered as he seeks to analyse the books’ enduring legacy and significant relationship with the performing arts. Book here
Performance in an Age of Precarity Digital launch 18 Feb of a new book written by Maddy Costa and Andy Field. The book is is a new anthology of 40 short essays, each on the work of a different artist, through which Andy and Maddy sketch a map of the contemporary performance landscape in the UK in the period between the financial crisis of 2008 and the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020. It is available from most of the places where books are available. To coincide with publication, Andy and Maddy are bringing together a collection of the artists they write about in the book to talk about performances they themselves have seen and loved in the past decade. In doing so they hope the event will be not just a book launch but a celebration of the effect live performance has on us, and continues to have, even when theatres are closed.
The event is being hosted online by Artsadmin and will happen on Thursday 18 February, from 7.30pm. It will feature contributions from Alexandrina Hemsley, Augusto Corrieri, Ellice Stevens (Breach Theatre), Jemima Yong, Rachel Mars, Rachel Porter (Figs in Wigs), Sheila Ghelani and Tim Crouch.
Queerate TateQueerate Tate is a series of personal responses to Tate artworks, looked at through a queer lens – and we want you to take part too! Write about a work, read along or support the writers. A selection of your queer-ated written pieces will appear on our Instagram and website for all to enjoy, this month and beyond! Find out how to submit
This virtual conference is timely, set against the backdrop of a critical global moment that is beginning to acknowledge the significance, reality and legacy of imperial history for understanding current politics, the significance of colonial monuments and street names and the toxic legacies of discriminatory legislation and colonial administration. The aim of this two-day conference will be to reflect on the historiographical opportunities offered by the performance and representation of various empires throughout history, and the impact they have had on the cultural and political practices of ex-colonies and ex-metropoles.
Further sources of interesting events, opportunities and jobs are…
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for next week via sed-web@qmul.ac.uk
From QMUL
Book Launch 11 Feb: The Network Turn: Changing Perspectives in the Humanitiesco-edited by our very own Ruth Ahnert. Book Here
New Student Writing Group – Join here. Details below…
Hi all we’re three SED students who love to write! But we want to know who else loves to write, we’re starting a small group that will be here to work on all things writing. Whether fiction or fact, beginner or expert we’re here to see what you’ve done. So if you want to share poems, plays, novels, or even a DnD campaign we’d love it if we could hear them. So if you want to share your work, or help others with theirs, or even just listen to some stories, please email any of us we’ll be happy to tell you more! l.s.lammin@hss19.qmul.ac.uk / t.lafferty@hss19.qmul.ac.uk / isaacsurf01@gmail.com
Online Seminar: Religion, Populism and the Crisis of SecularismInstitute for the Humanities and Social Sciences Wednesday 10 February 14:00 [Details]
Online Seminar: Fred Cooper on Family Carers, Loneliness, and Covid-19: Preliminary Findings from ‘Caring Through Coronavirus’ Pathologies of Solitude Tuesday 16 February 17:00 [Details]
Online Seminar: Happy Together? The Intimate Publics of Gay Liberation in 1970s West GermanyCentre for the History of the Emotions Wednesday 24 February 13:00 [Details]
Online Seminar: Race as a Sentencing Factor School of Law Wednesday 24 February 16:00 [Details]
BFI Future Film Festival The BFI Future Film Festival is the UK’s largest festival for young, emerging filmmakers. Join us for 4 days of free virtual events and screenings, all focused on helping filmmakers aged 16 to 25 break into the screen industry.
Diaspora Speaks x QM ProBono Soc present Anti-Racism and Decolonisation in the workplace on 10 Feb Panelists include Dr Sadhvi Dar, Saywah Mahmoud and Nic Patmore. More details in tweet below…
Free Event 19 Feb:Poems, plays and politics: queer lives in the ancient world Join the Museum of London online for an evening extravaganza exploring queer identities in the ancient Classical worlds of Greece and Rome. We will discover how the politics of passion and power were played out in the realms of literature and performance, and how scholarship and interpretation have influenced how we understand these relationships today.
GLITS-e Submissions Open GLITS-e is an annual online journal of literary and cultural criticism published within the English and Creative Writing department at Goldsmiths. It is run and peer-reviewed by postgraduate students and it welcomes submissions of research articles and creative writing.
Our Call for Papers is now extended to the 22nd of February 2021. We welcome all postgraduate students and staff members who would like to write on the theme of ‘tension’ to submit your work to glits@gold.ac.uk.
History Acts 27: LGBTIQ+ resilience ACTIVISM & MUTUAL AID IN THE PANDEMIC Thursday 11 February 6:30-8:30pm To register visit www.historyacts.org
FaithAction are working with East London Mosque on a London Borough of Tower Hamlets project that aims to supply Covid-19 infection prevention items to faith settings in the borough. Are you interested in the joining the project as a part time Faith Engagement Officer?
Please contact jenny.hadgraft@faithaction.net if you would like to apply – please be aware that the closing date for applications is Tuesday 9 February and the successful applicant must be available to start immediately. More details about the project can be found here.
“Join Liverpool Arab Arts Festival and Comma Press for a journey to Ramallah, as we reflect on the latest title in Comma’s series on ‘Reading the City’. Edited by Beirut-born, Palestinian novelist, who lives in Jerusalem and works in Ramallah, this anthology explores the city in all its countless contradictions. The Book of Ramallah features stories from ten established and emerging Palestinian writers, including Anas Abu Rahma, Liana Badr, Khaled Hourani and Ahmad Jaber.”
SKY: Skills, Knowledge in Youth Join our programme to strengthen your employability skills and boost your confidence in applying for jobs. A FREE programme for 16 – 24yr olds! Sign up here
SKY ARTS ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES Theatre Royal Stratford East is looking to appoint two Artistic Associates to join the Stratford East team for 12 months. The roles are designed for early-mid career creative individuals, from any creative discipline, with links for East London, as an opportunity to advance a career in theatre. At least one of these roles is for an Associate who self-identifies as D/deaf or disabled. Apply here by 22 Feb
Further sources of interesting events, opportunities and jobs are…
Hi, I’m Kamana, a final year QM student studying English with Creative Writing. I am a writer/poet hoping to publish more of my poetry this year. This poem is about hope, renewal and the beauty of nature. It is inspired by Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, an Asian-American poet. I have come to really admire her work. She writes beautiful poetry that I think is one of a kind.
These awards are for any student, and are based on financial need
If you have lost your job; you are unable to work due to Covid-19; you are unable to find part-time work due to the current circumstances; your hours of employment have been reduced
Help with additional accommodation or living costs, such as moving home and having to contribute to costs while still paying full rental accommodation costs in London
Support towards a laptop if you need to purchase one to support remote learning
Support towards any additional peripheral IT costs; such as internet to support remote learning
