Charleston in Firle has just unveiled its exciting Autumn and Winter programme for 2024, and there is a lot that will interest a queer audience. There will be talks from acclaimed authors, including Matt Haig and Jeanette Winterson, as well as the annual winter edition of the Designer and Maker Fair.
Audiences will enjoy discussions with literary icons
Those attending include Matt Haig, who will discuss his eagerly awaited new novel ‘The Life Impossible’ at Charleston – a story of wild adventure and the transformative power of new experiences. Jeanette Winterson will take the audience on a winter’s night journey with ghost stories of the past and present, and she will explore the unconventional queer relationship of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, with granddaughter of the couple, Juliet Nicolson.
From Sappho and Suffragettes to t-shirts and TikTok, audience members can journey through the history and politics of lesbian clothing with historian Eleanor Medhurst and winner of the Polari Prize for LGBTQ+ literature Joelle Taylor.
Live music, poetry, performance and talks at Charleston
In two exciting events that feature live music, Charleston brings an evening of music and words that conjure up the passion and physicality of dance with celebrated pianist Melvyn Tan and legendary actor Simon Callow.
Visitors will also be able to delve into the lyrical world of poet Dylan Thomas with award-winning songwriter and broadcaster Cerys Matthews, featuring discussion, readings and live music from multi-instrumentalist Arun Ghosh.
Talks and performances will occur in the atmospheric Hay Barn at Charleston, the former modernist home and studio of Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. True to its long history as a creative haven for the Bloomsbury group, Charleston continues to be a hub of artistic expression and literary dialogue.
Winter Designer and Maker Fair
Charleston’s winter Designer and Maker Fair will again see local artisans and makers setting up stalls in the Hay Barn. Visitors can expect handcrafted goods from independent artists, ceramicists, designers and makers, who will also be on hand to discuss their work, influences and ideas. Christmas trees will be on sale in The Yard, and the opportunity to participate in wreath-making workshops with Sarah Whiting of Nettlewood Flowers.
Charleston is a place that fosters connections and encourages engagement with art and ideas
The modernist home and studio of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston served as a meeting place for some of the 20th century’s most innovative artists, writers, and thinkers, collectively known as the Bloomsbury group.
It was a space where they gathered to envision a different society and has always been a hub where art and experimental thinking take center stage in everyday life. Presently, they have two locations – the house, garden, and galleries at Firle, and our new space in Lewes. They offer a vibrant year-round program of exhibitions, events, and festivals.
Charleston, West Firle, Lewes BN8 6LL, United Kingdom. https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXXes7gZ85Z4TfmRA
