Memory Maps is about people and their relationship with place. It is about objects that are associated with particular areas as well as prints and paintings of named locations. But most importantly it is about writing about place. The Memory Maps project is a collaboration between Marina Warner, Professor of Creative Writing and her department at the University of Essex and the V&A. For this reason we have started by focusing on Essex.

Thumbnail of Memory Maps: 'A13, Trunk Road to the Sea' by Billy Bragg

Memory Maps: 'A13, Trunk Road to the Sea' by Billy Bragg

For as long as I can remember, whenever my father and uncles spoke lovingly of their motorbikes, of speed and the wind in their hair, the road they spoke most of was the A127, the Southend Arterial, with its three-mile straights, out beyond Gallows Corner. It was where they could push their Nortons and Triumphs up to 100mph, ‘doing the ton’ down to the Halfway House roundabout and back.

Thumbnail of Memory Maps: 'Clouds of Memory' by Lisa Appignanesi

Memory Maps: 'Clouds of Memory' by Lisa Appignanesi

Sometime in the spring of 1971, I travelled to Essex. It was a long journey. I came from New York, from dank east village streets where the young runaways clad the oily pavements like strange blossoms and gave off a heady whiff of decay.

Thumbnail of Creative writing project reading list

Creative writing project reading list

Reading list to accompany the creative writing project.

Thumbnail of 24th Annual Conference of Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property in Whitehouse, Yukon, 27-29 May 1998

24th Annual Conference of Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property in Whitehouse, Yukon, 27-29 May 1998

The adventurer in me combined with the conservator when the Canadian Association for Conservation announced that they would be holding their annual conference in Yukon.

Thumbnail of Interview with the knit designer Patricia Roberts

Interview with the knit designer Patricia Roberts

Interview with the knit designer Patricia Roberts whose books inspired many of the UK hand-knitters of the early 1980s.

British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

31 March–12 August 2012

Showcasing over 300 British design objects, this exhibition celebrates the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘Austerity Games' to the summer of 2012.

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U.K. and Ireland Scratch Map Poster - To Pre-order only, due May

U.K. and Ireland Scratch Map Poster - To Pre-order only, due May

This fun U.K. and Ireland Edition Scratch Map Scratch Map comes beautifully packaged in a printed card tube.

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Event - From A to B: Artists' Books

Wed 06 June 2012 10:30

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP:
Wednesday 6 - Thursday 7 June, 10.30-16.30
Take a closer look at the V&A’s extraordinary collection of artists’ books before exploring contemporary approaches to book art.

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