Ellen Stewart is an audience development specialist currently working as Head of Platforms at PinkNews — the world’s leading LGBT+ publisher — where she heads up an ever-growing news and production team.  Ellen has been successful in launching PinkNews as the first ever LGBT+ partner on Snapchat Discover, reaching an audience of up to 30 million people a month. She has worked in social and SEO roles at the Evening Standard, Independent, DMGT, TI Media, and HuffPost.  Ellen is a PPA New Talent 30 Under 30 award winner and has spoken at Facebook, Twitter, Reuters, Digiday, and more.

Ekow Eshun is a writer and curator. He is Chairman of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, and Creative Director of Calvert 22 Foundation, a leading arts space dedicated to the contemporary culture of Eastern Europe. Eshun is the former Director of the ICA, London, a position he held from 2005-10. He has contributed texts to catalogues for artists including Chris Ofili, Kehinde Wiley, Wangechi Mutu, John Akomfrah and Hassan Hajjaj. Eshun’s writing has appeared in publications including the New York Times, the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Observer, Granta, Vogue, New Statesman and Wired. He is the author of Black Gold of the Sun: searching for home in England and Africa,nominated for the Orwell prize, and the editor of Africa Modern: creating the contemporary art of a continent. Eshun is a trustee of the Free Word Centre and a former board member of Arts Council England, University of the Arts, London and Tate Members.

Athena Paginton is a cruelty-free makeup artist, and illustrator living in London, represented worldwide by Bryant Artists. Paginton uses her my work as a platform to raise awareness for subjects that need more attention brought to them: animal rights, diversity, the environment and sustainability and Mental Health.

Robin McNicholas, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Marshmallow Laserfeast. Marshmallow Laser Feast is a London-based experiential studio working at the intersection of technology, art and science. Always looking to create experiences that immerse and amaze in unexpected ways, MLF employs a wealth of creative disciplines – from photo-real virtual reality to robotic performance and realtime mapping – to push boundaries, redefine expectations and excite audiences worldwide.

What I will learn:

How storytelling can allow you to connect with individuals on an emotional level; the various mediums and channels that can be used to craft and share stories; how to immerse people in another world through a visual narrative; and how to plan and create your own stories.

How will I learn:

Through a mixture of presentations and Q&A, live demonstrations and interactive workshop, all led by inspiring industry professionals.

Who should attend:

The Masterclass is suitable for all levels and disciplines, however it is aimed at participants who want to be inspired with regard to sharing stories; who want to harness creative storytelling techniques; and who want to engage and connect with individuals and audiences on an emotional level through the stories they tell and the channels they use to distribute them.

The Masterclass has been created with the whole spectrum of the creative industries in mind; from art to fashion, interiors, cultural experiences, graphic design, architecture, photography and beyond. We work with a cross-industry approach as we believe it is important to look beyond your discipline to inspire and support your creative growth.

Spaces are limited for this masterclass  

SCHEDULE

11:00
Introduction

Ekow Eshun, Writer, Critic & Curator

11:15
The storyteller exposed: An unstable speaker position and the unreliable narrator

45 minute keynote presentation 

Storytelling is more than just delivering a plot line; it can convey the character, biases, pretentions and culture of the teller. Narrative takes place on multiple tiers simultaneously: between the story told and the story implied; and between what is said and how it is said.

Patrick Goddard, Artist

12:00
A New Canvas: Creating A Visual Narrative for Awareness 

45 minute presentation/live makeup demo

Captivating audiences through inspiring visual forms of storytelling; and using the storytelling process as a means to raise awareness of issues from diversity to mental health.

Athena Paginton, Make-Up Artist

12:45
Strategy session: Creative storytelling 101 

45 minute interactive workshop – mix of presentation with audience participation Q&A

Delving into the secrets behind great storytelling and how to weave captivating story content into your strategy and DNA.

Ekow Eshun, Writer, Critic & Curator

1:30
Lunch

2:30
Sensorial storytelling: Creating alternative realities 

45 minute presentation

Stories that pull you in and make you join the journey. Exploring the creative skills of semi-reality storytelling from inspirational artists.

Robin McNicholas, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Marshmallow Laser Feast

3:30
Social Media Spotlight: Storytelling Through Snaps

45 minute presentation + Q&A

How do you tell a story on crowded, fast-moving, ephemeral social platforms? Keeping up with the pace and expectations of audiences today and telling (visual) stories that engage and connect.

Ellen Stewart, Head of Platforms, Pink News