Speaking Out Poetry Workshop

As part of the Speaking Out: Recalling Women’s Aid in Scotland exhibition events programme (full details here) we held a creative writing workshop in late November facilitated by the very talented feminist poet Nadine Aisha (@nadineaishaj, website). It was an incredible afternoon of exploring what writing can mean for women, how it allows us to open up about struggles and experiences it may be difficult to articulate, how it connects us to others and promotes an honest and intimate dialogue, and, ultimately, how poetry, both the writing and reading of, offers us comfort, reassurance and the inspiration of hope.

Below you will find a selection of material written on the day – poems and more general thoughts and notations. After reading, if you feel inspired to take part we are holding a second creative writing workshop at the Museum of Edinburgh on Saturday, 28 January and would love to have you join us! Details here.

Image from the Scottish Women’s Aid archive at Glasgow Women’s Library. Workshop participants responded to this image to create the poems below inspired by the brevity and power of poets such as Rupi Kaur (www.rupikaur.com).

Edinburgh and Lothian Women’s Aid poster displayed in Edinburgh bus station advertising services for women, c. 1977. Courtesy of Scottish Women’s Aid.

Blank card printed by Moss Side Community Press, a women’s co-operative in Manchester, c. 1983. Courtesy of Morna Burdon.