Writing Cultures Group

The Writing Cultures Group unites writers, researchers and creatives across disciplines to celebrate the cultural and artistic significance of the written word. Members include poets, literary critics, designers, artists, journalists and architects. Together, they explore writing in all forms. From text and symbols, to art and communication.

Each year, the group hosts research seminars and networking events designed to inspire collaboration and spark new ideas. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Writing Cultures examines writing’s role in shaping, challenging and liberating societal narratives.

Latest theme: Para-ability – focusing on disability, neurodiversity, mental health and chronic illness, while celebrating the creativity these topics inspire.

Writers’ Kingston, led by Steven Fowler, is a literary cultural centre dedicated to creative writing. With an annual programme of events, workshops and festivals, it brings together celebrated writers, academics, and the wider community in unique venues like The Rose Theatre and Dorich House Museum.

Events cover diverse themes such as Living to Dying and Loving to Hating, with a mission to make writing accessible, innovative and inclusive. Writers’ Kingston is where students, local writers and literary enthusiasts connect to celebrate the written word.

Discover more on the official Writers’ Kingston website.

Life Narratives Research supports projects that spotlight life storytelling across genres and media. This includes written, visual and virtual narratives, with partnerships spanning academic, humanitarian and industry sectors.

Key themes include:

• Chronicling diverse human experiences
• Exploring innovative storytelling methods
• Building understanding through shared narratives

Led by Dr Meg Jensen, Life Narratives bridges research with real-world impact.

Led by Meg Jensen, Kate Scott and Brian Brivati, this initiative uses professional writing to help local charities, small businesses and Kingston staff. Through workshops and toolkits, participants gain valuable skills in bid writing, storytelling and community engagement.

The network offers resources to unlock creative potential and build stronger connections between academia and industry.

Activities and achievements

• Networking Events: Hosted collaborative knowledge exchange events with Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA).
• Workshops for SMEs: Supported local small businesses through the South London Partnership’s BIG Innovation Networks initiative.
• Bid Writing Workshops: Delivered tailored sessions for Kingston School of Art staff.

Building a community of practice

Rooted in nine months of consultations and network building, the project addressed key challenges like:

• Complex grant application processes.
• Limited local resources.
• The need for academic research to address community problems.

By establishing a Community of Practice — a collaborative model inspired by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, the project inspired mutual learning and innovation, emphasising egalitarian knowledge sharing.

Tackling shared challenges

The network identified overlapping issues for local organisations and the Higher Education (HE) sector, such as:

• For Local Organisations: Scarce resources, competition and insufficient professional writing expertise.
• For HE: The need for employability-focused courses and meaningful community engagement.

This aligns with Kingston University’s goals of connecting academic programmes with practical skills and diversifying educational offerings through initiatives like short courses.

Future objectives

• Expand the network with more community members and organisations.
• Facilitate partnerships between academics, students and local entities.
• Develop meaningful research projects focusing on underrepresented groups.
• Incorporate bid writing into undergraduate courses and create short CPD courses for professionals.
• Launch consultancy initiatives for collaborative work involving BA, MA and PhD students.
• Map and refine methodologies to share across disciplines and institutions.

Key partners

Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA): Supports local charities and community groups with advice, training and networking opportunities.

BIG South London: Helps local businesses and charities grow through support programs and funding, backed by the South London Partnership.

Kingston University Partnerships and Business Engagement Team: Facilitates collaboration and innovation through the Creative Industries Network.

For Project Details:

Dr Kate Scott, Associate Professor
Dr Meg Jensen, Professor

For Events:

• Kingston Voluntary Action: https://kva.org.uk 
• BIG South London: https://big-knowledge.co.uk 
• Kingston University Partnerships