Cultural criticism with Lyn Gardner and Claire Armitstead

Learn how to establish a distinctive voice, critical authority and a trustworthy reputation

Quality criticism remains one of the best ways for talented writers to make a name for themselves. This illuminating course presents unique insights into the craft of cultural criticism from a heavyweight panel including some of the Guardian's most experienced writers. Leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner, art critic Brian Dillon and literary editor Claire Armitstead show how the best critics share their passions, enlighten their audience and make the cultural world a better place.

Offering practical advice on how to write about the arts, as well as an overview of the industry, you'll learn how to make your voice heard among the clamour of online opinion, as well as how to tell stories that give your work critical authority and genuine purpose. You'll also learn about the realities of turning pro, how top writers make it pay, and how to carve out your own niche to discuss a subject you love. Whether you're an outspoken blogger, a working journalist, or simply an opinionated culture vulture, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the theory behind criticism and how to put it into practice.

This course is for you if...

• You're a blogger who wants to add more critical authority to your writing
• You're an aspiring journalist who wants to get into cultural criticism
• You're a journalist who wants to move from news or features into writing about culture
• You want to graduate from social media commentator to professional critic

Course description

This large-scale, seminar-style event introduces the essentials of writing about contemporary culture, with specific sessions focusing on art, theatre and how to write good quality criticism. Topics covered on the day include:

• Constructive criticism: how to tell a story with a review
• What distinguishes good arts writing from bad
• How a well-written description can be more powerful than a fiery polemic
• Translating visual arts into readable copy
• Theatre criticism in the digital era: how the digital landscape is transforming the critic's job
• The realities of turning pro: how to make criticism pay
• Q&A with each speaker

Tutor profiles

Lyn Gardner is a British theatre critic, writer and journalist who works for the Guardian. She also writes children's novels, including Into the Woods (2006) and Out of the Woods (2010), both illustrated by Mini Grey and published by David Fickling Books. Lyn is also the author of the Stage School Series, based around a young girl named Olivia attending stage school. Before joining the Guardian, Lyn was a founder member of the City Limits cooperative where she edited the theatre section.

Claire Armitstead is the Guardian's literary editor. She was previously arts editor, having worked as a theatre critic for the Financial Times and the Guardian. As a published author, she has contributed essays to New Performance (Macmillan, 1994) and Women: A Cultural Review (Oxford University Press, 1996). She makes regular appearances on radio and television as a cultural commentator on literature and the arts. She also presents the weekly Guardian books podcast, and is a regular speaker on the UK festival circuit.

Brian Dillon is a writer and critic whose work appears regularly in the Guardian, the London Review of Books, Artforum and frieze. His books include Objects in This Mirror: Essays (2014), Sanctuary (2011), Tormented Hope: Nine Hypochondriac Lives (2009) and In the Dark Room (2005). He is reader in critical writing at the Royal College of Art and UK editor of Cabinet magazine.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website