HTML - Writer commission to create audio content for Agatha Christie 2026

Who we are:

Nottingham City Libraries is operated by Nottingham City Council, delivering the public library service across the city, including the Nottingham Central Library.

nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk

Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries is a charitable community benefit society delivering cultural and learning services across the county of Nottinghamshire. Our mission is: “To inspire people to read, learn and enjoy culture”. 

inspireculture.org.uk

We are members of the British Library Living Knowledge Network (LKN). LKN is a UK-wide partnership of national and public libraries. Together we share ideas and spark connections between libraries, their collections and their people.

Created by the British Library to explore new ways for libraries across the country to work as one, the network currently includes over 20 public libraries, the British Library itself, the National Library of Scotland and the National Library of Wales.

The Living Knowledge Network is the only network of its kind in the UK and is centred on exchanging knowledge and developing memorable experiences for public library users, from simultaneous UK-wide exhibitions to leadership and development.

living-knowledge-network.co.uk

Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery Exhibition, touring libraries from 30/10/2026 - 29/06/2027

Delve into the remarkable life and legacy of the bestselling novelist of all time, Agatha Christie, at an exhibition opening at the British Library and Living Knowledge Network partner libraries in October 2026. From her best-loved characters including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, to her impact on crime writers today, unravel the secrets behind the Queen of Crime’s enduring appeal.

Events.bl.uk/exhibitions/agathachristie

We are establishing a city/county partnership model across neighbouring library services. The commission will reach communities in the following Libraries:

Nottingham Central, Strelley Road, Hyson Green, St Ann’s

Mansfield Central, Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton in Ashfield, Hucknall.

This opportunity is funded by Arts Council England.

What we want:

We are looking for a creatively curious writer(s) who enjoys working collaboratively and is able to creatively engage groups of adult readers.  

We are open to creative approaches to writing, encouraging applications from established and emerging writers, working in all corners of the industry, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, audio and theatre.

Our aims are to:

Support and enhance engagement with the national tour of the British Library Living Knowledge Network exhibition Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery

Actively engage with adult readers through creative workshops

Create a body of audio recorded content, to enhance the exhibition

Our writer(s) will:

Design a workshop that values the expertise of adult readers, and explores and captures what makes crime fiction compelling to read

Record recommendations for someone getting into reading crime

Deliver the workshop in 2 or more of the library settings named above

Create a body of audio recorded content to enhance the exhibition (suitable for sharing through Museum in a Box, Audio Frame listening post and/or podcast

Travel around Nottingham and Nottinghamshire between venues with materials/equipment needed

Nottingham City Libraries and Inspire will:

Work collaboratively with the writer(s) and support them to deliver the project

Contact the targeted groups, including crime café and reading groups in both services

Curate the library exhibitions

Programme the public workshops in libraries

Manage the bookings for the public workshops

Promote through our respective Communications and Marketing teams

Record the project through photography, film and an evaluation process

Provide an audio editor for the final content

Use the work that has been created in the exhibition and online

Timeline:

Workshop development June 2026

Workshop delivery July – August 2026

Editing September 2026

Fee: up to £1200

You might choose to:

Develop a short workshop to deliver in all 8 libraries

Visit less settings and deliver an extended workshop offer

NB. No additional budget for travel and accommodation.

Application process:

Submissions should be made by 9am on Monday 1 June 2026 to culture@inspireculture.org.uk  

What we need from you:

Your creative response. 

Below are some prompts to help you think about what you might tell/show us:

How will you engage the audience? 

What could you do?

How will you deliver it?

What will you need?

What could it produce?

Your credentials in the form of past work. 

We want to work with new and/or established writers but would like to see some examples of your work that will help us know more about your practice. This might be: 

Weblinks

Photos

Social Media account links

Book titles

Podcasts

Something else…?

We will accept any form of application:

Written (Max one side of A4)

Audio (Max 2 mins)

Drawn (Max A2)

Filmed (Max 2 mins)

Something else…?

And finally:

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates and welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

If you require us to make any reasonable adjustments to the process of receiving your ideas and make it more accessible for you, please contact: culture@inspireculture.org.uk    

Thank you for taking the time to review this brief.