• National Saturday Club – Writing & Talking

    Anglia Ruskin University Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford

    Our new Writing and Talking National Saturday Club which will be taking place every Saturday 10am-1pm from March to July. Open to all 13-16 year olds living in and around the Chelmsford area who are passionate about writing and talking. Explore zine-making, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, blogging, spoken word poetry, podcasting and more.

    Free
  • Essex – A County of Contrasts

    Metal at Chalkwell Hall Chalkwell Avenue, Southend-on-Sea

    A fast moving programme not to be missed - Author talks,interviews,video shorts and poetry readings. Part of Essex Writers House.

    £3
  • Blythe Spirit

    Colchester Town Hall High Street, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom

    Ronald Blythe (1922-2023) lived all his life in East Anglia and is considered one of the greatest writers on the English countryside. Drawing on unparalleled access to letters, notebooks, published works, drafts, and conversations from decades of friendship, he tells the full story of Ronald Blythe for the first time.

    £8
  • Tattoos

    Firstsite Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester

    EA Festival, Essex Book Festival and Firstsite are excited to present a talk with Matt Lodder, author of a new book entitled, Tattoos, published by Yale University Press. This important book is the first to examine the history of tattoo in the west as both a serious profession and an art form.

    £15
  • Manifesto For Essex Climate Action Youth Summit 2025

    Headgate Theatre 14 Chapel St North, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom

    Aimed primarily at 13-25 year olds, this is your chance to engage in thought-provoking discussions, participate in interactive creative workshops and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for climate action, culture, and nature.

    Free
  • Gilbert & George and the Communists

    The Minories 74 High Street, Colchester

    To inaugurate the series of art-themed talks, James Birch, the curator, gallerist and art impresario with many ties to East Anglia, will introduce his newest book, Gilbert & George and the Communists.

    £15
  • Wild Swim + Write: Sense the Estuary

    Saltwater Beach Cafe 111 Chalkwell Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom

    Join us for a unique experience of wild swimming and creative writing by the estuary with artist and swimmer Angenita Teekens!

    £20
  • Liquid Reflections

    The Minories 74 High Street, Colchester

    Join us for an evening with trail-blazing contemporary artist, Liliane Lijn, whose seminal kinetic artworks redefined the possibilities of creative and artistic expression. Don’t miss this chance to hear, in her own words, the story of an artist who refused to be categorised.

    £15
  • Rags & Ruins:

    The Minories 74 High Street, Colchester

    A rare opportunity to hear two internationally acclaimed artists in dialogue, reflecting on inheritance, identity, and the role of art and language in navigating a world shaped by history, violence, and renewal. Expect a thought-provoking evening that moves between the personal and the universal, rooted in deep cultural knowledge.

    £15
  • Humanising Climate Change – EA Sustain

    Firstsite Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester

    Abi Daré, the winner of the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize (2025) for And So I Roar explores why fiction can be such an effective way of opening dialogue around climate change.

    £12