A workshop in using storytelling and indigenous knowledge to explore our own perspectives of place, survival, and belonging

This participatory workshop with Maya Chowdhry uses counter-mapping techniques to subversively map the spaces we exist in. You will explore how to create an interactive map that uses storytelling and indigenous knowledge, not just geographical data, and which can encompass our own perspectives of place, survival, and belonging.

We will use creative writing and image making to explore a location of significance to us, for example ‘places of achievement’ or ‘best eateries’, and create story-markers using text, image and video to represent our stories. Suitable for 16+.

To make a digital countermap you will need a phone/tablet/laptop and a google account. It is best to make the map on one device, and be in the workshop on another, but if you don’t have this it is still possible to participate. If you don’t have a google account you can make a paper map - you’ll need an A4 sheet of paper and a pencil

This event is part of THIS IS WHO WE ARE, a project by and for women of colour as part of the British Council's UK-Australia Season 2021-2022.

Places are available at £30 full price, £20 concessions.

Free bursaries available: We are offering up to five bursaries for artists and creatives who are out of work, low-waged or unable to afford the full/concession cost so that they can attend. This is so the event can be accessible to everyone. To apply, email a short letter to hq[at]renaissanceone.co.uk a week before the event including the subject header "TIWWA Maya Chowdhry Workshop" outlining how and why you would benefit from taking part in the workshop and receiving a bursary and including information on you and your practice, and any information that would be useful to know.

We kindly ask that you support the facilitators and Organisation fittingly and only apply for a free place if you can't afford it so we are able to continue to provide this kind of service for as long as possible.

Tickets are non-refundable.

Bio

Maya Chowdhry is a multidisciplinary artist and writer. She creates immersive and democratic live art experiences for participants, drawing from creating work in Installation, radio, video and poetry. Her work examines issues such as seed sovereignty and climate justice. Recent work utilises the online space for transmedia storytelling and augmented reality artworks. ‘Galvanising Change’, an interactive audio Installation which utilises sensors to examine ecoanxiety, was exhibited in 2021 with Digital Art Studios and The British Council. She is digital artist on ‘Walk With Us’ an augmented reality walking app which launches with The National Oceanography Centre in 2022.