- 28 May -28 June 2026
- FREE
- In partnership
- Workshop
- Young Essex
National Saturday Club – Writing & Talking
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. Read more
- In partnership
- Memoir
Blythe Spirit
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. Read more
- In partnership
Tattoos
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. Read more
- FREE
- In partnership
- Manifesto For Essex
Manifesto For Essex Climate Action Youth Summit 2025
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. Read more
- In Conversation
- In partnership
Gilbert & George and the Communists
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. Read more
- Art
- In Conversation
- In partnership
- Memoir
Liquid Reflections
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. Read more
- Art
- In Conversation
- In partnership
Rags & Ruins:
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. Read more