Curious Histories Ageing Well Festival Special 2026
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Curator of the Royal Pavilion, Alexandra Loske, and Brighton University's Fiona Ponikwer, star in our Ageing Well Festival double-bill.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curious-histories-festival-special-2026-tickets-1995076425294
We are delighted that our Curious Histories lecture programme is returning to the city's vibrant Ageing Well Festival, which provides opportunities for people aged 50 and over to explore new experiences and meet new people. But do please note that you don't have to be over 50 to attend our show: we're open to all!
This double-bill of unusual talks features two terrific speakers, both of whom are returning to our programme. The show will be held at St. John's church in Hove. Ample refreshment will be provided at our bar, serving both alcoholic and soft drinks, which takes cash and cards. Doors and bar open at 7pm and the talks begin at 7.15pm. There will be an interval between the talks and we should finish by 9pm.
Our talks:
Finding Miss Gartside: A visionary Shropshire Lad(y)
Dr Alexandra Loske, curator of the Royal Pavilion, returns to Curious Histories with the story of an unique personal pilgrimage. For many years, she had been researching, writing and lecturing about a certain Miss Gartside (c.1754-1819), the first known woman in Western culture to have published an illustrated treatise on colour. Like many creative women in history, Gartside had been overlooked or marginalised, but Alexandra made it her mission to bring this groun-breaking painter out of the darkness of history. This talk tells the story of finding Miss Gartside.
The Vampiric Victorian City
Some unusual cultural and artistic histories of the nineteenth century take centre stage in Dr Fiona Ponikwer's talk. She looks at how, long before Bram Stoker, ideas of vampirism were utilised in literature and art to show apprehension and horror at the phenomenon of rapid, uncontrollable urbanisation in the Victorian age.
Our speakers:
Alexandra Loske is curator of the Royal Pavilion and a colour historian. She is the author of several books on colour and other topics, including the substantial Book of Colour Concepts (TASCHEN) and The Artist's Palette (Thames & Hudson). Her research on Gartside and other women in colour history is supported by the Centre for Life History and Life Writing Research at the University of Sussex and the V&A Museum, London.
Fiona Ponikwer recently retired from the University of Brighton as a senior lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, but she started her academic career in a very different area. This talk returns to her first passion and the subject of her doctorate: how vampirism as a metaphor in late 19th century art and literature reflected the fears and concerns of the time.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curious-histories-festival-special-2026-tickets-1995076425294
We are delighted that our Curious Histories lecture programme is returning to the city's vibrant Ageing Well Festival, which provides opportunities for people aged 50 and over to explore new experiences and meet new people. But do please note that you don't have to be over 50 to attend our show: we're open to all!
This double-bill of unusual talks features two terrific speakers, both of whom are returning to our programme. The show will be held at St. John's church in Hove. Ample refreshment will be provided at our bar, serving both alcoholic and soft drinks, which takes cash and cards. Doors and bar open at 7pm and the talks begin at 7.15pm. There will be an interval between the talks and we should finish by 9pm.
Our talks:
Finding Miss Gartside: A visionary Shropshire Lad(y)
Dr Alexandra Loske, curator of the Royal Pavilion, returns to Curious Histories with the story of an unique personal pilgrimage. For many years, she had been researching, writing and lecturing about a certain Miss Gartside (c.1754-1819), the first known woman in Western culture to have published an illustrated treatise on colour. Like many creative women in history, Gartside had been overlooked or marginalised, but Alexandra made it her mission to bring this groun-breaking painter out of the darkness of history. This talk tells the story of finding Miss Gartside.
The Vampiric Victorian City
Some unusual cultural and artistic histories of the nineteenth century take centre stage in Dr Fiona Ponikwer's talk. She looks at how, long before Bram Stoker, ideas of vampirism were utilised in literature and art to show apprehension and horror at the phenomenon of rapid, uncontrollable urbanisation in the Victorian age.
Our speakers:
Alexandra Loske is curator of the Royal Pavilion and a colour historian. She is the author of several books on colour and other topics, including the substantial Book of Colour Concepts (TASCHEN) and The Artist's Palette (Thames & Hudson). Her research on Gartside and other women in colour history is supported by the Centre for Life History and Life Writing Research at the University of Sussex and the V&A Museum, London.
Fiona Ponikwer recently retired from the University of Brighton as a senior lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, but she started her academic career in a very different area. This talk returns to her first passion and the subject of her doctorate: how vampirism as a metaphor in late 19th century art and literature reflected the fears and concerns of the time.
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Where is it happening?
St John the Baptist's Church, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Brighton, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherCurious Histories - Public Talks Programme
