Once again, the Brontë Parsonage Museum organizes a series of events celebrating Emily Brontë's birthday:
Creative Writing and Nature Art WorkshopDate: Saturday 29 July, 11am – 1pmCreate your own unique artwork and poetry that celebrate the joy of summerLocal poet and environmental artist Winston Plowes will guide you through a 2-hour workshop exploring the connection between writing and art, creating work using materials lifted from the land. Together we will learn simple yet rewarding techniques, drawing inspiration from natural materials found in our surroundings.The workshop takes place in the Brontë Event Space at the Old School Room, with a short walk in the surrounding area. We will go ahead whatever the weather, so come prepared!No experience is necessary, just a willingness to take part and share.Guided Walk with Obscura TheatreDate: Saturday 29 July, 4pmJoin the creators of ‘Soundlandscape: A Dream of Death’ for a talk and audio walk up to Penistone HillTo celebrate the launch of 'Soundlandscape: A Dream of Death', audio theatre company Obscura Theatre give a personal introduction to their exciting new co-commission with Ilkley Literature Festival, offering insight into their process and the inspiration behind their haunting sonic experience.The event begin outside the Brontë Parsonage Museum in the atmospheric surroundings of Church Street, before we pull on our headphones and make our way to the top of Penistone Hill for a powerful and haunting shared audio experience.By Candlelight with Obscura TheatreSaturday 29 July, 7pm – 9pm with an intervalThe Old School Room at the Brontë Parsonage Museum (TBC)Join the creators of ‘Soundlandscape: A Dream of Death’ for an evening of ghost storiesEveryone's got a story to tell...Gather for an evening of spectral storytelling with Obscura Theatre. Local storytellers are invited to take to the stage for an open mic night celebrating all things supernatural. It could be a piece of folklore, a self-penned tale, or even a remarkable historic account of the local area.Nature Writing MasterclassSunday 30 July, 10am - 1pmCelebrate Emily Brontë’s birthday with nature poet Zakiya MckenzeIn this nature writing workshop, renowned poet Zakiya McKenzie will guide you in exploring the symbiotic relationship between literature and the natural environment through investigation of the works of the Brontë sisters.From windswept moors to far-flung shores, we will explore deep-rooted themes of solitude, passion, and spirituality as told through the diverse landscapes that shaped the Brontës' writings.We will delve into depictions of the wild moorlands such as in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, as well as the mesmerizing landscapes of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. We will also look at the influence of the Caribbean on Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, a narrative that intertwines the English countryside with the West Indies, to better understand how we too can find connections between different environments in writng them together.Watercolours in Brontë CountrySunday 30 July, 2pm-4pmPaint the moors in watercolour with Julia OgdenEmily Brontë was a gifted writer, artist and painter who was deeply inspired by the moors. In this workshop with Hebden Bridge-based artist Julia Ogden, you too can while away an afternoon sketching in the beautiful Haworth landscape.Julia will guide you through various watercolour techniques to try out in a sketchbook, before painting a small watercolour to take home, just as the Brontë sisters did.No previous experience necessary. All abilities welcome.
