WOLVERHAMPTON DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARITY INVITES PEOPLE TO CREATIVELY SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES AT WOLVERHAMPTON LITERATURE FESTIVAL
A survivor-led creative project, ARTiculating HerStory, by The Haven Wolverhampton, creates space for lived experience, expression and voice at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Wolverhampton’s leading domestic abuse charity supporting women and children, The Haven Wolverhampton, is inviting contributors who feel they have a story to share to take part in the ARTiculating HerStory open mic event at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
ARTiculating HerStory is a survivor-led creative project that forms part of The Haven’s wider commitment to centring lived experience and creating spaces where voices can be shared, heard and witnessed with dignity and care. The open mic event inspired by the project takes place at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in February.
The open mic has been intentionally designed to prioritise authenticity over performance. Rather than focusing on technical ability or artistic credentials, the event creates an opportunity for contributors to share work in a form that feels accessible to them, including poetry, spoken word, song or spoken reflection.
While inspired by a survivor-led project rooted in domestic abuse support, the content shared during the event is not limited to experiences of abuse. Contributors may explore a wide range of themes, including recovery, resilience, loss, joy, transition and hope, reflecting the breadth and complexity of lived experience.
Alongside community contributions, audiences will encounter an anonymous showcase of poetry written by women supported through the Women’s Aid organisation, The Haven Wolverhampton. These pieces have been shared with consent and sensitivity, safeguarding privacy while allowing creative expression to be presented publicly with dignity and respect.
ARTiculating HerStory originated from The Haven’s belief that creative expression can offer a meaningful language when conventional forms of communication feel insufficient. Reflections from the original project highlighted how poetry and art supported participants to reconnect with their voices, articulate complex emotions and re-establish a sense of authorship over their own narratives.
Pamilerin Beckley, Lived Experience Lead at The Haven Wolverhampton, said:
“ARTiculating HerStory was created to honour lived experience and give people permission to speak in their own words, on their own terms.
“The healing work happens earlier, within closed and supported project spaces where creativity is developed. This event represents what comes after that, the moment of expression, release and empowerment that comes from being seen and heard. Listening is positioned as equally important as speaking, with an emphasis on respect, care and collective presence. The event will prioritise voice over performance, creating space for expression without requiring people to conform or perform.”
The Haven Wolverhampton is a specialist domestic abuse charity supporting women and children both in safe accommodation and in the community. On average, the charity supports around 450 women and children each quarter*, with up to 75 children living in refuge accommodation every day as their mothers navigate life after leaving abusive situations. Alongside refuge provision, The Haven also delivers community-based support for women who may still be living with perpetrators or who are not ready or able to leave, offering advocacy, guidance and practical help at different stages of their journey.
Attendance at the event is open to the public, whether to contribute, observe or engage as part of the wider festival programme.
Event Details
Event: ARTiculating HerStory – Open Mic
Date: 5 February 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Venue: Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Festival: Wolverhampton Literature Festival
Tickets: Available via https://wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173671265
Participation:
Those interested in contributing are invited to contact The Haven Wolverhampton in advance. Please contact Pamilerin Beckley: pamilerin.beckley@havenrefuge.org.uk