Creativity by the Thames

October 16, 2006 3:07 PM

Where can I go to get involved with regular creative workshops and/or discussion in London? A little bit

Having moved to London a couple of years ago, I find myself hankering for creative feedback, inspiration and contact. I was part of a very successful creative writing group that organised pub readings, workshops and all sorts of cross-genre participation (readings mixed with gallery displays mixed with live music) back in Scotland, and I'd like to get involved with something similar down here. So, my question is, does anyone know of a gallery, workshop, artspace, cafe, intermittent travelling circus or any other kind of social grouping in London that might do this sort of thing? Googling fails me I'm afraid.

posted by Happy Dave to media & arts (4 answers total)

Dorkbot London! Dorkbot is broadly creativity-oriented rather than writing-oriented, but you're bound to meet interesting people there who like cross-genre adventures.
posted by allterrainbrain at 6:29 PM on October 16, 2006

I would look for fliers (or post one yourself) in any of the bookshops you frequent. I found a very strong poetry writing and critique group that way (in the mid-90s). These days I imagine there's a London version of craigslist, no?
posted by cocoagirl at 7:13 PM on October 16, 2006

Book Slam, last thursday of the month at Cherry Jam
Book Slam is the brainchild of Ben Watt and Patrick Neate. As one half of Everything But The Girl, Ben is a sometime pop superstar, full time DJ-producer and occasional mogul. Patrick is a prize-winning author, poet and all-round renaissance bloke. Their intention was simple: create a regular literary event in London that doesn't make sane people want to stab themselves with rusty cutlery. Hence the Book Slam recipe of novelists, poets, singer-songwriters and the like doing their thing in bite-sized canapés of taste punctuated by mujik and dlinking. Book Slam is the capital's best literary nightclub. Book Slam is the capital's only literary nightclub. Book Slam has attracted writers of the caliber of Patrick's friend Yasmine and other lesser lights including Nick Hornby, Monica Ali, Hari Kunzru and Jake Arnott.

You might also like Pecha Kucha though the emphasis is visual and you need to book tickets as soon as they're on sale 'cause it always sells out straight away.
The Japanese term 'Pecha Kucha' roughly translates as 'chit-chat.' Up to fourteen participants get to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each, meaning the audience experiences an exhilarating range of speakers and images over the course of the evening. There's also music, drinking and the inevitable exchange of ideas that occurs when you get so many architects, designers, artists and so on together in the same room.
posted by boudicca at 2:20 AM on October 17, 2006

Thanks for the answers folks, I'll be sure to check them out.
posted by Happy Dave at 8:15 AM on October 17, 2006