York's 'six word' culture challenge entries make it to print

Earlier this year, Jenny Layfield, chief executive of Explore, the independent organisation which runs York’s libraries and archives issued a ‘six-word story’ challenge to the people of the city.

The aim was to describe what ‘culture’ means to them in half-a-dozen words and to share it with  her, Jenny said.

Some of the wooden typefaces on display at Thin Ice Press : The York Centre for Print (Image: Kevin Glenton) The test was similar to one supposedly undertaken by American novelist Ernest Hemingway, asked to write a six word piece of 'flash-fiction', so the story goes.

Jenny said around 30 stories were received and led to a conversation with Helen Smith, professor of renaissance literature from the University of York and director of Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print in Peasholme Green.

The hands-on workshop allowed participants to choose their own typefaces (Image: Kevin Glenton) A collaboration was begun and on Friday (November 22) participants had the chance to turn their stories into art at the centre's new permanent home in the historic venue of a former schoolhouse in the gardens of St Anthony’s Hall.

The hands-on workshop showed participants how their six word stories would be turned into print (Image: Kevin Glenton) An offer was made of converting the stories from the page, or screen, onto paper using recognised traditional printing methods.

Jenny said the partnership with Professor Smith exemplified what great engagement with the residents and communities of York is all about.

Ink being applied after the typeface is set and held using a variety of magnets (Image: Kevin Glenton) Participants were given a tour of some of the mechanised presses on display at Thin Ice Press via a workshop and then given license to use traditional letterheads in the collection, coloured inks and a bit of elbow grease to produce their finished stories.

Workshop guests included former reporters and journalists - who were said to have worked alongside the traditional presses used to print daily newspapers - a York Minster guide, and a member of the River Foss Society who all created their own six-word stories from their experiences in the city.

Explore and Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print will also be producing a display of the work created and sharing images of the posters online.

Inks rolled out and ready to be applied (Image: Kevin Glenton) On Sunday, December 15, Professor Smith will be giving a talk at York Explore Library and Archives in Museum Street, about the history of printing and York's first 500 years of involvement with the craft.

For more information visit www.tickettailor.com/events/exploreyorklibrariesandarchives/1478489?date=2024-12-15