Mary Stewart, Lead Curator of Oral History and Director of National Life Stories writes…

The Oral History Festival needs you! Whether you have been involved in oral history for a month, a year, a decade or more, the Oral History Society in partnership with National Life Stories at the British Library extends a warm invitation to join us for a day of reflection, listening, conversation and networking.

Attendees at the Festival will have a rare chance to spend a day exploring a diverse range of ideas and experiences within oral history and memory work. Everyone will have the opportunity to reflect on their own practice in discussion with others, to network and – hopefully – to gain new perspectives and insights into oral history that they can apply to their work. The day is made up of peer-learning sessions, led by experienced oral historians, where participants are asked to reflect, collaborate and join in.

The Oral History Festival will be held on Saturday 6 July 2024 from 09.30-18.00 in the Knowledge Centre, British Library, London NW1 2DB. For more information and a detailed programme visit the Oral History Society’s Festival page: https://www.ohs.org.uk/events/oral-history-festival/

Participatory workshop topics include:

• oral history and its role in tracing climate change
• expectations when commissioning oral history work
• oral history and creative practice
• emotions and oral history
• playing with the future in oral history
• place and identity in oral history
• creative transcription
• ethical dilemmas in oral history
• family oral history
• oral history in the classroom

Book tickets here: https://thebritishlibraryculturalevents.seetickets.com/event/oral-history-festival-2024/pigott-theatre-knowledge-centre-british-library/3041571

Festival fee:

• £75 Standard
• £50 Oral History Society and British Library Members
• £50 Concessions

*Includes lunch and refreshments* The catering will be vegetarian. For other dietary needs please contact OHS Events Manager [email protected].

For more information on National Life Stories, see our collection on the British Library Research Repository. More detail on the Oral History Society is at www.ohs.org.uk.