As part of Emily Ryalls’ Divine Archives, The Art House (TAH) will host an exciting programme of workshops that welcome shared creative processes to spark conversation and connection, and to celebrate female friendship.
The programme will be released in two parts, with the first phase of workshops available to book now, followed by a second release of workshops leading up to 2026’s International Women’s Day.
Taking place inside TAH’s gallery itself, the workshops will invite participants to explore, connect and create alongside the objects from the exhibition, including performance, sculpture and photography. The immersive environment will become a space for curiosity, reflection and exchange, encouraging participants to respond to the work, share stories, and connect with one another in meaningful ways.
The workshops are for those who identify as women, and are designed to create a supportive space where participants can feel comfortable, empowered and free to celebrate their lived experiences.
Spaces are limited, so you will need to book in advance to secure your place.
Feminist Reading Group Led by Emily Ryalls
Join The Art House’s Feminist Reading Group, in response to Divine Archives. Hosted by the artist Emily Ryalls, this bi-weekly reading group celebrates voices in feminist literature, and creates space for shared reading, discussion and reflection.
Each session invites open conversation and critical thinking around a selected text, encouraging participants to connect ideas to their own experiences and the themes of the exhibition.
With TAH’s late night bar open, these evening sessions offer a space for new ideas and empowerment as we begin the new year.
Ahead of the first session, participants are invited to listen to Audre Lorde’s Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power. Lorde’s words will act as a grounding point for the series, with discussions returning to this spoken essay throughout the programme.
All readings are short texts or essays, each no longer than 100 pages. Use code DIVINEARCHIVES for free delivery on reading group books from The Art House Shop.
Wednesday 14 January, 18:30-20:30
Sick Woman Theory by Johanna Hedva – Free text available here | Book a place
Wednesday 28 January, 18:30-20:30
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman | Book a place
Wednesday 11 February, 18:30-20:30
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde – Book available in TAH shop | Book a place
Wednesday 25 February, 18:30-20:30
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Wolf – Book available in TAH shop | Book a place
Knit Social with Sophie Houghton
This session will exist as a space for women to gather, create, and think together. Recognising knitting as a practice historically carried by women, often undervalued and dismissed, yet capable of holding deep intention, political meaning, and collective strength.
Bring along your current knit project or use this as an opportunity to start a new one as we gather in the gallery with a drink surrounded by the work of Divine Archives, making room for reflection, conversation, and connection. The space will be a place for mutual respect, understanding and shared purpose to celebrate knitting as a multi-generational grounding feminist practice.
Wednesday 21 January, 18:00-19:30
Radical Quilting with Lucy Juniper
Honouring the labour and creativity of women before us, participants will discover how quilting has long been a powerful act of quiet rebellion. We’ll explore the feminist and radical roots of traditional quilt block patterns including the coded symbols of solidarity and how women in history were honoured through design.
Through discussion around the significance of reclaiming traditional crafts, you’ll learn how quilts became both art and activism, shaping cultures and amplifying voices often left out of the historical record.
During the workshop, participants will be invited to design and make their own quilt patch, learning sewing techniques and capturing their own story in textiles. No prior sewing or quilting experience is necessary.
Wednesday 4 February, 18:00-20:30
Self Portraiture with Emily Ryalls
Join artist Emily Ryalls for an intimate self-portraiture workshop that invites women to explore the powerful act of reclaiming their image. Through conversation and hands-on making, this session creates space to reflect on identity, visibility and self-representation.
Working in a relaxed and supportive environment, participants will be encouraged to experiment, share experiences and connect with others, discovering photography as a creative and quietly radical tool for storytelling.
Participants are encouraged to bring a mobile phone for documentation, and are provided with a medium format film camera to work with during the session.
Saturday 14 February, 10:30-12:30