Southampton’s Young Creatives Take The Lead in Jane Austen’s 250th Year

A youth-led celebration inspired by Jane Austen’s 250th year will take place on Tuesday 16th December 2025 from 2–5pm at Southampton Central Library, where all are welcome to drop in to Jane’s Big Birthday Bash.

The event is part of a wider public showcase of work from the ‘Your Stories’ programme – a series of free, youth-led and designed creative workshops delivered by Artswork in partnership with In Focus.

The afternoon will feature a range of creative activities for all ages, including making blackout poetry from Jane’s words, badge-making, bookmark designing, Jane-themed party games and of course, birthday cake. Cake cutting will take place at 3pm, followed by spoken word performances at 4pm.

Though led by young creatives, the ‘Your Stories’ programme welcomed participants of all ages to explore their own creativity through workshops in blackout poetry, collage, fashion, cartoons, poetry, abstract painting, textiles and more. Taking place between August and October 2025, the sessions drew inspiration from Austen’s wit, her keen social observations, and her enduring cultural legacy.

The programme forms part of Southampton Forward’s Jane Austen 250 celebrations – a two-year citywide initiative exploring Austen’s impact through culture and creativity. Work created during the workshops is currently on public display as part of the ‘Your Stories’ exhibition at Southampton Central Library, open until Friday 19th December.

Louise Govier, Chief Executive of Artswork said: “Your Stories’ has given young people the space to lead and get creative, all through the lens of Jane Austen’s themes of identity, humour, observation and belonging. It has been brilliant to see how they have reinterpreted Austen for today, and how the city has responded to their ideas with such enthusiasm.”

Jasmine Matthews, Community Engagement Manager for Southampton Forward added: “Jane Austen’s 250th year has been a major moment for Southampton. Projects like Your Stories capture exactly what we hoped to achieve – celebrating Austen’s connection to the city not only historically, but in inclusive, contemporary ways that invite creative participation across our communities.”

Austen lived in Southampton between 1806 and 1809, and her time in the city remains a valued chapter of her life. The Jane Austen 250 programme, led by Southampton Forward and supported by partners across the city, has celebrated her legacy through festivals, performances, workshops, exhibitions and community projects throughout 2024 and 2025.

‘Your Stories’ is delivered by Artswork in partnership with In Focus Education & Development and is supported by Southampton Forward, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Foyle Foundation as part of Jane Austen 250.

Find out more about Artwork: https://artswork.org.uk/

Read more about Southampton’s Jane Austen 250 programme: https://southamptonforward.org.uk/jane-austen-250-3/

ENDS

For further information, please contact Becky Lewis, email becky@leepeckmedia.com.

Southampton Forward works in partnership across culture, festivals, events, tourism and cultural regeneration. Through collaboration across the city and wider region, we deliver creative, community-led programmes that build connection, pride and opportunity.