Background – A Creative Education

Nottingham City Libraries secured grant funding from Libraries Connected and Arts Council England Microgrants programme to support Nottingham residents in getting access to a creative education that they otherwise wouldn’t have. With this they devised a six-month program called Creators in Residence.

From August to January 2025-26, the Library hosted 3 two-month residencies taken up by innovative local partners and creatives. During their residencies the artists and experts will provided three workshops in their chosen medium/discipline, with a final, large-scale event to finish.

These workshops were aimed at adults and young people across Nottingham, for those with anything from a passing interest to a blazing passion that they may not normally have a chance to celebrate or engage with.

Nottingham City Library approached Nottingham City of Literature to nominate a writer – Kate MacAllister so she could develop her creative practice and reach new audiences.

Kate MacAlister

Kate MacAlister

Kate MacAlister is a poet, award winning film maker and feminist activist.

She has studied Creative Writing (M.A.) at the Manchester Writing School under the tutelage of Carol Ann Duffy and Kim Moore and graduated with distinction. She is currently pursuing a Creative Writing PhD at the University of Nottingham working on a collection of poetry focusing on the female body as antipatriarchal resistance, inspired by the activist poet Diane Di Prima.

Kate’s work has been  widely published in magazines all over the world.  Her two full-length collections of feminist poetry are available at  and Sunday Mornings at the River Publishing.  She is also part of the poetry film collective  and has produced, written and directed two multi-award winning poetry films. Watch them 

Kate is the founder of the multilingual community arts and literature project Stimmen der Rebellion/Dengê Berxwedane/Voices of Rebellion. She has been leading poetry workshops for women and genderqueer persons for over 5 years and is the Editor-in-Chief for the project’s literary magazine.

‘Coven’ Zine launch and open mic night for International Women’s Day

The final residency in the Creators in Residence program came to an end with a celebration of the Feminist Folklore and Poetry magic. Resident poet and activist Kate MacAlister, hosted the evening, showcasing the launch of ‘Coven’, a brand-new feminist folklore zine, created by the writers who joined the sessions, to mark 2026 International Women’s Day. The night featured special readings from featured poets, an open mic slot for guests and a featured set from Hag Stone author and Nottingham’s first young poet laureate Georgina Wilding.

Photo Credit: Moritz @nopresspassing

Read the poetry collection

Feminist Folklore and Poetry

Kate MacAlister presented three workshops on themes of women and folklore, with a final event to wrap up her residency. Find the details for her workshops below.

This opportunity will support Kate to develop her creative practice and reach new audiences and we are delighted to be supporting such creative talent.

	Workshop 1 – “Wise Women, Witches and Hags: Magical Writing”Saturday 17 January | 11am to 2pmOnce upon a time, in the deep dark forest…Come gather for stories of wise women, witches, and hags waiting to be discovered. We will read and share tales from folklore and history, then use writing exercises and prompts to create your own work inspired by these legends. Suitable for all levels, the workshop offers a supportive, inclusive space to explore, experiment, and share your creativity.
	Workshop 2 – “Spells for Change; Poems for Witches”Saturday 31 January | 11am to 2pm “Spells are poems; poetry is spelling. Spell-poems are vehicles of change that can take us beyond the borders of the rational into a place where the right words can influence the universe.”   – So Mayer Gather round and step into the world of witches and explore how their stories have inspired resistance and social change. You’ll read and think about poetry about witches, then try out simple writing exercises to create your own poems about issues you care about, like equality, activism, and protecting the environment. This workshop is for all levels and offers a welcoming, inclusive space to write, share, and experiment.
	Workshop 3 – “WitchCRAFT: Collage Poems & Conjurings”Saturday 21 February | 11am to 2pmMeet the witches of Nottingham! Explore the rebellious voices of Notts through crafty, hands-on collage with material from the Feminist Archive East Midlands. Don’t worry if writing isn’t your thing! This workshop is about reclaiming your own voice by creating collage poems that mix words, images, and other clippings, reflecting on the stories of witches and women challenging the status quo. Open to all levels, it’s a playful, inclusive space to experiment, reflect critically, and see your creativity come alive!