The second round of applications for our #ACEFunded Microgrants programme opens on 1 October. Public #Libraries can apply for grants of £1-5k to support small-scale projects or the early stages of larger initiatives. librariesconnected.org.uk/microgrants

I’m running this Creative Writing class ACLEssex starting next Tuesday 1 Oct 1-3pm. Join us at Wilson Marriage Centre or online Essex folks ✍️ Pls share? Wivenhoe Bookshop Postgrads_Essex #WritingCommunity #colchester courses.aclessex.com/CourseDetailsV…

Have you wondered about this artwork on Southend-on-Sea high street? This is a site-specific work created by photographer Nico Smith, and represents his practice over the last 5 years. Find out more here: zurl.co/4eWK

❤️ Dolly Parton announces she’s chipping in $1 MILLION of her own money to recovery efforts, plus another $1 MILLION from her businesses and foundation.

'The Dutch are much more aware that a stay in prison does more harm than good.' Important piece on how the Labour Government could learn from the Dutch and Norwegian attitudes to imprisonment theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

It's the last week to view the Railway Bridge Commission by Essex based photographer Nico Smith. This year’s commission was selected by Johny Pitts to accompany 'After the End of History: British working class photography 1989–2024'. More here: zurl.co/28Q9

This is really sad: a cat who has lived at & been looked after by paramedics of Walthamstow Ambulance Station for 16 years getting evicted in his old age 😢. Sign their petition to try & save him! chng.it/J4MskX8GDm

A number of FREE tickets for this event are available from The Forum reception desk (our online allocation of tickets have been reserved). If you would like to attend, please visit The Forum reception, or call: 01702 534111.

There are many great things about being Director, Libraries Arts Council England. Getting to see the joyful PlaygroundKent in action at Kent Libraries Ashford Library then visiting the beautiful The Amelia is pretty high on that list! Louisa Arts Council England, South East

We're excited for a new series of workshops for Children's Art Club, starting November 6, with Hayley Summers, to create a tea set! Children's Art Club is for ages 7 to 12 to create, explore, and have fun. Find out more and book your ticket here: zurl.co/StAY

Worth a visit if you're in the area - it's a great exhibition! #Subbuteo The Amelia

Harper Collins paid £2 million for Boris Johnson's memoirs. Booksellers are left with piles and piles of unsold books. When are they going to learn to invest in real writing talent rather than throwing ridiculous amounts of cash on politicians and celebrities?

It's #NationalBlackCatDay - these rescued beauties are the gentlest creatures despite the terrible neglect they suffered in the first few years of their lives 🥰 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ #AdoptDontShop

Really interesting day - great speakers and lots to think about. Oh, and playing with the tech was lots of fun too!

Coming soon: first institutional show by Rafał Zajko 'The Spin Off' opening Saturday 22 March, 6pm to 8pm! Made possible by @JerwoodF with additional support from Henry Moore Foundation . More info: zurl.co/038f

Thanks Paintings of London for sharing this impactful painting in our collection. Both the subject Gillian 'Bobbie' Tanner & the artist Mary Pitcairn were Auxiliary Firewomen. They had bravely volunteered to join the Auxiliary Fire Service in #WWII to protect London & Londoners.

The NHS might be struggling right now, but thank goodness no one in the UK will be asked to pay $807.96 for insulin. We must never stop fighting to keep it that way.

Are you aged 13 to 18 years old and are passionate about creativity, want to learn more about art or find a community of people with similar interests to you? Why not join our new monthly group Blank Slate, find out more here: zurl.co/sN80

These are libraries busting a gut to put reading at the heart of what they do and, as a consequence, improve the lives of their patrons, says Philip Jones✨ See the thread for our wonderful Library of the Year Finalists👇#BritishBookAwards #Nibbies

Or borrow them from your local library- free of charge!