My Story takes your true stories and tells them in art for the whole community to enjoy. We are back in 2021 bigger and better than ever!
NEWS FLASH!
We are delighted to say bookings are now open for this autumn's programme of FREE Creator Days. Please scroll down for more details on each one.
Translating Stories: Into Music/Song
Saturday 25 September
Our first Creator Day is ideal for young people interested in a career in musical arts, or someone who would like to develop their existing skills.
We will be running two separate one day courses in Stevenage Library on Saturday 25 September.
Composition, Soundtrack and Production
Run by music producer Joseph Suddick, this ambitious session offers participants the opportunity to create a piece of music/soundscape/ sound art to tell 'My Story' using accessible music technology.
You will learn:
How to use a DAW on your computer to create a piece of music.
- How to create, texture and blend sounds to convey emotion in the story.
- Sampling and foley recording.
- How to blend narration into your soundscape.
Translating Stories: Into Song
Writing to Performance
Delivered by award winning singer Lizzy Hardingham, this session will encourage participants to look at the idea and structure of a song, and then begin to create a structure for the songs to be created.
You will:
- learn how music is language and, even without lyrics, can tell a story
- explore voices, instruments and sound effects
- dissect songs, lyrics and language
These one-day sessions are the starting point, there will be further opportunities to continue to develop your piece which will be part of the My Story Festivals and My Story Touring Exhibition in 2022.
Refreshments will be provided and discretionary travel expenses are available.
Translating Stories: Into Poetry/Spoken Word
Thursday 28 October
St Albans Library
From page to performance, poet Kate Walton’s session will look at the stories submitted through My Story, identifying and discussing key themes of each and how to translate them into performance-poetry, prose or monologue.
Spoken word poet Lateshia Howell will use a series of exercises to draw out the writer within the participants. Hot seating, writing letters to a loved one, vision boarding along with other activities will be used to explore truth, meaning and life’s goals.
These one-day sessions are the starting point, there will be further opportunities to continue to develop your piece which will be part of the My Story Festivals and My Story Touring Exhibition in 2022.
Refreshments will be provided and discretionary travel expenses are available.
Translating Stories: Into Mini Movies/Visual Art
Saturday 13 November
Hertfordshire Archive and Local Studies
Drawing from his experience working across art forms, Martin Renshaw’s session teaches participants how to bring stories to life through the media of collage building and video editing, building soundscapes and spoken narrative to create your very own My Story animation. No previous filming or editing experience required.
Join artist and lecturer Alex McIntyre for a process led workshop using drawing media, paper, cardboard and wire. Together we will respond to stories submitted to the Herts Memories archive and translate these amazing lived experiences into works of art.
These one-day sessions are the starting point, there will be further opportunities to continue to develop your piece which will be part of the My Story Festivals and My Story Touring Exhibition in 2022.
Refreshments will be provided and discretionary travel expenses are available.
Translating Stories: Into Film/Into Immersive Art
Saturday 4 December
Watford Library
From script to screen, award-winning puppeteer, Mark Crane’s session will be based on play, exploration and fun. Mark will look at different forms of puppetry and filmmaking to help produce distinctive stories that anyone can create using material and technology that is inexpensive and sometimes free.
Founder of Nysa Projects and Planet Munch Puppets, Kerry Lanigan will draw on her experience as a mixed media artist to explore event décor, art installations, public engagement and event storytelling. The stories submitted by Hertfordshire residents will be used as inspiration by the group as they design art and sessions for public events.
These one-day sessions are the starting point, there will be further opportunities to continue to develop your piece which will be part of the My Story Festivals and My Story Touring Exhibition in 2022.
Refreshments will be provided and discretionary travel expenses are available.
To book your place at any one or more of these days, or to find out more, please email mystory@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
Do you have a defining memory from your childhood or adolescence? Perhaps you can recall a time of great change in your life?
Writing and sharing stories can bring people together and we would love to share your stories for everyone to enjoy on this website. Please send your short stories (approximately 500 words) to mystory@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Please note:
Intellectual Property Rights & Copyright Laws. By submitting stories and artwork, you agree for My Story to display this work both online and /or within Hertfordshire Libraries. We (My Story), will always endeavour to seek owners permission before using images in any other way, but cannot be held responsible or liable in any way.
