Dates announced for exhibition of Jane Austen’s iconic travelling writing desk in a city-wide programme of events to mark her 250th anniversary year
The travelling writing desk of world-famous author Jane Austen will be on display at God’s House Tower this autumn, just a stone’s throw from where Austen lived during her time in Southampton.
The famous writing desk will return to Southampton for the first time since the author lived in the city over 200 years ago, as the centrepiece of a fascinating exhibition where fans will be able to see up-close the desk on which she penned early drafts of some of her now internationally famous novels.
The exhibition, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth next year, brings one of the most iconic writing desks in the world to God’s Tower from the 15th of November 2023 through to the 23rd of February 2024. It marks the start of a city-wide programme of events to mark the anniversary year, that will include opportunities for local communities to get involved through workshops, creative commissions and activities.
The writing desk is on loan from the British Library, with support from Art Fund’s Weston Loan Programme. God’s House Tower is an award-winning heritage and art venue in the heart of Southampton’s Old Town, owned by Southampton City Council and managed by Southampton-based charity ‘a space’ arts.
Lovers of history and literature will be able to see for themselves where Austen wrote or revised some of her most famous works, and ‘a space’ arts have commissioned local artist Jocelyn McGregor who is creating a new contemporary art installation that will accompany the exhibition of Austen’s desk. Jocelyn’s contemporary multi-media art installation will explore the often intense female relationships in Jane Austen’s letters and novels.
Dan Crow, Director of ‘a space’ arts, said: “We’re so pleased that we’ve been able to secure this amazing piece of cultural history for our celebration of Jane Austen’s life, working closely with Southampton Forward. This is the first time Jane’s writing desk, together with her reading glasses and inkwell, will be returning to Southampton since the famous author lived in the city between 1806 and 1809.
“It’s impossible to overstate the influence and impact of Jane Austen’s work. She was truly a pioneer in fiction. We are delighted to be able to celebrate her life and work in the city where she once lived.”
Claire Whitaker CBE, CEO of Southampton Forward, said: “It feels right that Jane Austen’s writing desk will be the centrepiece of Southampton’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of her birth. For many authors, and particularly women writers, finding the time and the privacy to write wasn’t easy. Jane lived her life in shared spaces, so we imagine this beautiful desk, a gift from her father when Jane was nineteen years old, must have been very precious to her.
“It is fascinating to think that she wrote or revised many of her now world-famous novels on this compact writing slope, which contains compartments for holding an ink pot, sealing wax, a knife and writing implements, plus an all-important lockable drawer. Exhibitions like this really do help make history come alive and opens them up to contemporary audiences to explore the continuing relevance today.”
Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council said:
“It is fantastic that we can highlight a nationally important female author with strong connections to Southampton and the region through the partnership of Southampton City Council, Southampton Forward, ‘a space arts’ and the Art Fund. This is an important step in developing our cultural tourism offer to attract regional, national and international visitors, by leveraging investment to grow the cultural experience alongside Southampton City Art Gallery, SeaCity Museum, Tudor House, Solent Sky Museum, John Hansard Gallery and many others to deliver economic growth and prosperity.”
For more information about the Jane Austen exhibition visit: godshousetower.co.uk
To check in on further plans for Jane Austen 250 visit: visitsouthampton.co.uk/
‘a space’ arts
‘a space’ arts is a visual arts organisation that supports and inspires artists, audiences and communities through an ambitious programme of exhibitions, artist resources, opportunities, and by culturally reanimating lost spaces with arts and heritage.
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