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Workshop: An intro to oral history and collecting our own stories of migration with Kay Stephens

Wednesday 9th August 2023 , 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Discover how to capture, share, and pass on your stories through the methodology of oral history and leave with the knowledge to start creating your own audio archives and sound stories. 
Photography – Guillaume Valli

What is oral history? What makes it distinctive? And why is it so important for marginalised communities in particular?  

Join Kay Stephens as they demystify the fundamentals of oral history, what it is, its pros and cons, and what makes it such a crucial tool for the documentation and archiving of stories, voices, and histories – particularly those of communities who are marginalised or have been actively erased from conventional historical narratives. 

Kay will home in on the notion of storytelling through voice and what it means to archive stories and memories through a sonic medium of expression, before breaking down some top tips and tricks when it comes to carrying out interviews. There will be plenty of time for you to pair up and put all these learnings into practice! 

No prior experience or knowledge of oral history is necessary! All materials are provided. 

£7 £5 concessions

Concessions rate applies to Bow Arts artists, students, over 65s, under 18s, National Art Pass members, and key workers

183 Bow Road
London, E3 2SJ
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More about Kay Stephens 

Kay Stephens is a cultural and youth worker. They have worked on a number of community heritage and arts projects, including the Tsunagu/Connect oral history project with New Earth Theatre, the Our Place is Here campaign led by a coalition of domestic workers’ organisations, and the Hear Our Voices zine-making project with Kanlungan Filipino Consortium. They are currently the lead youth worker for Project Indigo, an LGBTQIA+ youth group based in Hackney. 

Access information  

The Bow Arts courtyard room has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site but blue badge parking can be found 500m away on Fairfield Road.  

If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)  

Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!

Transport Information  

Opening hours: Mon-Friday, 9am to 5pm  
Address: Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ  
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.  
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.  
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.