Our Freedom: Then and Now

Thu 2 Oct – Sun 30 Nov 2025

Lighthouse is working with communities locally to reflect on what freedom means to them – in the context of the end of World War II and how it feels now.

Lighthouse will be delivering over 20 workshops across the locality, if you are interested in taking part the workshops will be listed here once they are confirmed. The workshops will be led by local artists either looking at words and writing or crafts and making.
Heidi Steller has been commissioned to create a ‘boat like’ installation that will incorporate words and crafts from the community. Lighthouse wants to create a space and symbol to allow for conversations for our communities about freedom.
The installation will be unveiled 7th November at Lighthouse and will be open to the public across the winter period.

 

Thursday 2nd October:

Drop-in workshop as part of Tank Museum ‘On Track’ event, 10am-4pm.

Join Tilly Ingram, writer and artist, for a drop-in session inspired by Freedom and what it means to us. Tilly will offer gentle and engaging exercises, empowering visitors to make new pieces of art using found materials. This is part of Poole Lighthouse’s ongoing Our Freedom: Then and Now project, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which culminates in a new installation that will be unveiled in early November. There is the potential for any work created on the day to be included.

Thursday 9th October:

Turn up and write workshop at Bournemouth Library, 1-3pm.

Writer and artist Antosh Wojcik will be leading a special workshop, alongside Words for Wellbeing, that is open to writers from across Bournemouth and Poole. Antosh is part of the Our Freedom: Then and Now project, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which culminates in a new installation that will be unveiled in early November. He will be inspiring writers to create stories, poems, and other pieces that consider what Freedom means to us personally, living in Dorset. There is the potential for any work created on the day to be included.

Words for Wellbeing is a fun and informal writing group, for anyone that’s looking to share inspiration and spark creativity. The group is organised and hosted by C.W. Blackburn, in association with Bournemouth Writing Festival’s writers havens initiative. The group is welcoming to all types of writers – poets, novelists, lyricists, playwrights, scriptwriters – even people that have never written before. Each session is self-contained, and the emphasis is on writing for enjoyment and self-realisation, so if you’re looking for a way to grow as a writer, or want to find somewhere to express yourself and connect with other writers, come along and join in (just bring whatever you like to write with!)

 

Workshops at BCP libraries for young people with Holly Spillar

All workshops must be booked HERE – see dates below.

Castlepoint Library – Monday 27 October 10am – 1pm

Christchurch Library – Tuesday 28 October 11am – 1pm

Poole Library – Wednesday 29 October 10.30am – 12.30pm

Kinson Library – Friday 31 October 9.30am – 11.30am

Rossmore Library – Friday 31 October 1.30pm – 3.30pm

 

Image credit : Dorset Morri’arty

 

ourfreedomthenandnow.org.uk