Curate Your Own Poetry Playlist Workshop & Heritage Trainee Info Session 🎓🎶

Today, I attended three inspiring events that enhanced my understanding of archiving and heritage: the first of a three-part Collections Trust series with Museum Development England and Arts Council England (I’ll reflect on all three in March). Followed by the Curate Your Own Poetry Playlist Workshop with The Poetry Archive, and the Heritage Trainee 2026 Recruitment Information Session with the Heritage Network.

The Curate Your Own Poetry Playlist Workshop with The Poetry Archive 📝

🗂️ What the Session Covered

Meet the Curators

The workshop was led by Poetry Archive curators Maggie Sullivan and Oakley Flanagan, The poetry Archive employees and poets who shared their creative insights. Their passion for poetry and archives set a warm and inspiring tone, making the session both welcoming and energising.

Creative Curation in Practice

The session included a detailed demonstration of how to sequence poems and create thematic connections within a playlist. It became clear that curation goes beyond preservation; it’s about storytelling and emotional engagement. The curators emphasized playlists as a vibrant way to keep archives alive and accessible, reflecting identity and memory.

Digital Archives and Accessibility

We also discussed how digital archives like The Poetry Archive democratize poetry. By breaking traditional barriers, they invite diverse audiences to engage with poetry interactively, transforming archives into dynamic cultural spaces. While using features such as transcriptions for each recorded poem and a feature that blurs the surrounding materials while listening to a poem.

Collection Building at The Poetry Archive

The collection-building process is driven by love, academic interest, and specific projects. Participants learned about the different access levels on the Poetry Archive website—from free access to “Insider,” “Explorer,” and “Collector” tiers—which offer various tools and features for playlist creation.

Practical Tools: My Archive Section

A highlight was discovering the “My Archive” section on the Poetry Archive website, where users can curate their own playlists. Whether public or private, this feature allows anyone to build a personal collection of poems easily—even with the free account option!

Rights and Ethics at the Core

A crucial takeaway was the importance of rights and ethics in curating creative collections. Balancing access with permissions, consent, and long-term stewardship is essential, especially when working with living artists and their work.

🥡 Takeaways I’m Bringing Forward

Building on insights from the earlier Archiving 101 workshop, this session deepened my understanding of the curatorial process, especially for audio-based collections. Key lessons include:

• The unique challenges and opportunities of curating audio versus physical collections like paper or pottery.

• The central role of rights, permissions, and ethical considerations in managing creative works.

• Practical skills for using digital tools on The Poetry Archive platform to create meaningful, accessible playlists.

---

Heritage Trainee 2026 Recruitment Information Session with the Heritage Network 🏛️

🗂️ What the Session Covered

Meet the Presenters

The session was led by representatives from the Heritage Network, including Beverly Gormley (UK outreach), Charlotte Tomlinson (England outreach), Sarah Pearce (Scotland outreach), and current Scotland trainee Samya Kelly. Their combined insights painted a comprehensive picture of the Heritage Trainee 2026 programme and what it offers emerging heritage professionals.

Introduction to the Programme

The Heritage Trainee 2026 programme offers paid traineeships across England’s heritage sector, designed as a gateway for emerging professionals to develop their careers. The scheme emphasizes three core pillars: Buildings – Support – People, reflecting a holistic approach to heritage work.

Meet the Trainees and Managers

Current trainee Samya Kelly shared her experience from Scotland, highlighting the programme’s supportive environment, mostly remote working, and valuable site visits and committee involvement. Managers emphasized the strong mentorship, regular training, and collaborative partnerships that underpin the scheme.

Roles and Opportunities

The programme spans diverse roles including conservation, curation, education, community engagement, project and events management, and digital communications. Opportunities like the Youth Forum, Digital Heroes, and Step on Board initiatives provide trainees with hands-on experience in youth engagement, digital skills, and governance.

Application Guidance and Reflection

We received practical advice on eligibility, application tips, and what qualities heritage organisations value most: passion, adaptability, and a commitment to learning. The session left me motivated to prepare a thoughtful application that reflects my enthusiasm for heritage work.

Development and Outreach

Beverly, Charlotte, and Sarah outlined outreach activities including online and in-person events, youth forums, and case studies that showcase trainee impact. The network actively supports trainees through newsletters, answering inquiries, and connecting them with heritage organisations and partners.

Application Guidance and Reflection

The session highlighted the importance of aligning your application with the organisation’s mission and demonstrating relevant experience clearly. Travel and accommodation support is available, and flexible working arrangements, including part-time options, are possible. There’s no age limit, and applicants can apply for multiple roles but will be interviewed for only one.

🥡 Takeaways I’m Bringing Forward

This session gave me valuable insights into the Heritage Trainee programme’s structure and opportunities. I’m pleased to confirm my eligibility and am motivated to apply for the UK position.

---

Final Thoughts ✨

Attending these workshops back-to-back gave me a richer, more connected perspective on heritage work. They reminded me that heritage isn’t just about preserving objects or records—it’s about storytelling, creativity, and building communities.

I’m excited to carry these insights forward on my journey, blending creativity, curation, and connection in my heritage practice.

---

📝 Check out The Poetry Archive's Website

🏛️ Check out Heritage Network's Website

---

💡 Enjoyed this post? Subscribe!

✨ Learn more about my work and aspirations here: My Portfolio