Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk Anthology - Book Launch

Celebrate the launch of our latest publication, Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk Anthology: Writing and artwork from the South Downs, and hear directly from the contributors.

Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk weaves together poetry, prose and art that celebrate place, community and resilience. From the rolling chalk grasslands of the South Downs to the hidden corners of personal memory, this anthology brings together the work of thirty-six Black, Asian and ethnically diverse (BPOC) creators, capturing four years of collaborative storytelling in settings from peaceful farmyards to vibrant, multisensory workshops.

Backed by a £2.23 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, Changing Chalk, a National Trust-led programme, restored habitats, sparked climate action and opened the countryside to new, diverse audiences.

Within these pages, you’ll discover:

• Stories that echo the wind over Devil’s Dyke, the chalk grassland at Seven Sisters, birdsong at Saddlescombe Farm and the quiet longing of diaspora.

• Creative journeys of walking talks, yoga sessions and fireside gatherings blended into a living tapestry of heritage.

• The power of art-led partnership—showcasing how BPOC writers, artists, environment organisations and their staff and volunteers brought about a greener, more inclusive future for the South Downs.

This anthology is an invitation to walk, look, listen and belong— whether you’re already familiar with the landscape or experiencing it for the first time.

Anthology Contributors:

Adriana Lord, Aisha Dupont-Joshua, Akila M Richards, Alinah Azadeh, Anita J McKenzie, Bo Phoenix, Dhanusha Ranapurwala, Dulani Kulasinghe, Elaine Chiew, Georgina Aboud, Georgina Parke, Hazera Forth, Heather Pearson, Janice M Whyne, Jasmine Sharif, Jenny Arach, Jess Bond, Jose Hall, Joshua Omeke, Joyoti Grech Cato, Kevan Anthony Cameron, Lu-Hai Liang, Nicola Brooks-Williamson, Nina Thaddeus, Parveen. S. Khan, Ronny Flynn, S.D. Chatterjee, Saira Niazi, Sense Turner, Shirini Heerah, ShonaBeechey, Sophoenixx, Sunita Crowley, Ümit Öztürk, Yvonne Greaves and Zita Holbourne FRSA.

With a foreword by Sam Page and introduction by Amy Z. Glass.

Front cover photo ©Anita McKenzie

Date: Thursday 23 July 2026,

Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm

Location: Bar, 30 Cheapside, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4GD

Tickets are free, and you can prebook a copy of the book for £10 along with your ticket. All proceeds from the book will be used to print more copies.

Ironworks Studios is a multipurpose space across two areas with wheelchair entry. The studio is flat and the flooring is a mixture between polished concreate and laminate wood.

Wheelchair accessible toilets are available at the Studio

This publication is supported by the Changing Chalk Programme, led by National Trust and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Arts Council England. Writing Our Legacy is an ACE National Portfolio Organisation for 2023-2027.