Could you be the next Cathedral Riddler? (expired)

Aly Stoneman - Screenshot

Exeter Cathedral is advertising a unique position - that of Riddler in Residence.

It welcomes applications from writers, performance poets, storytellers, spoken word artists and lyricists, to become the next Riddler.

The Riddler will aim to inspire local people to connect creatively with their heritage. Ideally, they will have a literary and performance track record and a desire to develop their practice and engage with heritage buildings and collections.

In particular, the Riddler will work with the various people who use the Cathedral Green during the summer but rarely engage with the cathedral itself.

They will also work with community groups, young people, families, schools and colleges and homeless people.

The role involves working with others to make a literary response to the heritage of Exeter Cathedral and its library and archives collections. They will also be able to create their own response to the building and treasures, including the 10th-century poems and riddles of The Exeter Book. The Exeter Book has UNESCO Memory of the World status, having "outstanding significance" to British and world history.

The cathedral was founded in 1050. The building was significantly developed between the 12th to 14th centuries and is the most complete example of a first-rank church in the English Decorated architectural style. Its collections consist of more than 20,000 library titles, and 325 linear metres of archives, objects and pictures.

Exeter Cathedral's most recent Riddler was Aly Stoneman in 2023. Among her work were activities to create nature-themed postcards and homeless people telling their their stories in ways including poetry, recording and doodling. She also ran poetry workshops inspired by the Cathedral's green spaces (which became part of an anthology and a map) and on the climate at the Exeter Science Centre.

The Riddler in Residence project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Application deadline: Wednesday 27 March 2024.

For more information see: www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/