Welcome to “The Art of Fiction” project
Here, discover how the creativity of late Victorian Britain has inspired investigation into the connections between women’s writing and the decorative arts in the second half of the nineteenth century. Learn more about our project, which considers how judgements of literary, aesthetic, and professional value affect women’s creative identities, and in doing so, investigates forms of artistic production that were neglected or considered inferior because associated with the feminine, the popular, and the everyday.
The Busy Bee
The Busy Bee was a handmade “little magazine” created between 1877 and 1886. It is largely composed of handwritten articles, including poetry, prose, fiction, and non-fiction, though it also includes illustrations, magazine cuttings, and photographs. The Busy Bee has been digitised and made openly accessible for the first time.
Patchwork Object
We invite you to contribute to a collaboratively made work of art that explores stories about women’s creative identities. Participants from around the world will send patches to us that will be put together by artist Ruth Broadway into a single patchwork object. Use the hashtag #patchworkobjectproject to follow along on Instagram and Threads.
Banner image credit: Penlee House Gallery & Museum