Learn about the Ghazal at St Albans Museum with Ankita Saxena

This South Asian Heritage Month we are proud to be supporting one of our wonderful community partners – Suman Gujral – with her ‘Third Space’ project. Suman is a local artist, poet and printmaker. Part of her work is about bringing arts and creative opportunities to all, and through the project, which is funded by Arts Council England, she has been able to organise a series of free poetry workshops. These will be delivered by Ankita Saxena:

‘There are some forms that have a special place in my writing, and have taught me not only about a different way of writing, but a way of connecting to my roots. The Ghazal form is one example. It is a form that originates in Arabic and Urdu writing, and is a core part of Eastern cultures’ poetic and musical history. In this poetry workshop, I’ll introduce you to some of my favourite ghazals – both traditional and contemporary, and guide you towards writing your own. The workshop is suitable for anyone with a love of words – be it poetry, fiction, songs or scripts. Just bring something to write on, and an open mind.’

The workshops are free but spaces are limited so do book early!

Sunday 11th August  –  Poetry workshops with Ankita Saxena

11am-1pm Poetry Workshop – adults

2pm-4pm Poetry Workshop – adults

St Albans Museum Gallery

Find out more about the Third Space project here https://thirdspacestories.com/

Ankita Saxena is a British-Indian writer and performer. Her debut poetry collection Mother | Line, was published by Verve Poetry Press in April 2023, and is the culmination of over a decade of writing, editing and performing. She is a former Barbican Young Poet, Foyle Young Poet and one half of the poetry duo, ORIGINS. Her poetry is published in Wasafiri, Modern Poetry in Translation and Bath Magg. She read English at the University of Oxford.