Can reinventing a folk custom be just as meaningful as preserving one? Artist, researcher and self-declared “hedge morris dancer” Lucy Wright thinks so,  and in this lively talk, she’ll share how folklore can be a powerful tool for connection, creativity and joy.

Drawing on more than a decade of research into overlooked and female-led folk traditions, Lucy will explore how customs old and new can help us live more grounded, communal lives. Her projects, including Dusking, an annual ritual of dancing the sun down, and hedge morris dancing, a freeform celebration of movement and joy, reimagine tradition in ways that are playful, welcoming and open to all.

A former BBC Folk Award-nominated musician turned academic, Lucy has exhibited her work across the UK, held research fellowships in folklore, and recently spoke at the British Academy.

Her writing, artwork and activism blend feminism, folklore and fun – all with a deep belief that participating in tradition, however you do it, is good for you.

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