Paperchains and Story Machine Productions

These are unprecedented times. The history of the 2020 Lockdown is being written every day, in every action. Paperchains ensures that the voices and experiences of the marginalised are prominent in its telling.

Paperchains invites people with experience of prison, armed services, homelessness, and other marginalised groups, to share their experiences of lockdown. It could be in the form of a journal entry, a short story, a poem, a drawing, sketch, or painting. All submissions will be curated for an exhibition in 2021, an accompanying book, and a Story Machine Productions touring show.

Paperchains was founded by author and inspirational prison librarian A.G. Smith. The idea for Paperchains came from author A.G. Smith, His work in prisons across Staffordshire has been highlighted by C4’s Secret Millionaire and BBC Radio 4’s PM. Story Machine Productions was fortunate to be able to tour LOWBORN (Down the Chipper) to two of his prisons in January this year.

Sam Ruddock, Director of Story Machine Productions says:

This lockdown is a universal event, but it has effected everyone differently. Prisonsers and the homeless have often been excluded from news coverage. Paperchains is an important venture to ensure that we embrace, understand, validate, and can be influenced by all of these stories.

Story Machine Productions is delighted to be a founding supporter. Other partners include The Big Issue, Hay Festival, BBFC, Inside Time, SSAFA, Help for Heroes, Armed Forces Online, Transforming Communities Together, Scragends Literary Agency, Loud & Clear. Bestselling authors such as Martina Cole, Stephen Kelman and Anthony Horowtiz also support the venture.

Get Involved

You can follow Paperchains on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paperchains5

Please share content and help spread the callout as widely as possible.

Postal submissions should be sent to Paperchains, PO Box 7482, Stourbridge, DY89H.
Email entries should be sent to paperchains20@outlook.com
The entry deadline is 5 July 2020.

For more information contact: A.G. Smith 07732127367 @WordsBank paperchains20@outlook.com

Logo credit: Alan Birch @WeepingBank