FANS of human bloodsuckers - and academics studying the cult TV show Buffy - will be sinking their teeth into the vampire myth at a Hampstead art gallery next month. The unholy alliance - fuelled by complimentary Bloody Marys - will stake out the Camden Arts Centre in Arkwright Road to discuss their macabre fascination. Gothics and weirdos from all over London are expected to dress the part for the vampire convention, with capes, fangs and fake blood.

Meanwhile, more straight-laced academics of film and cultural studies will discuss the subject from a cultural point of view, including Lorna Jowett, lecturer in American Studies at University College Northampton, who will give a talk on Buffy studies.

The May 15 event is part of a wider exhibition by world famous artist Nils Norman, who has a fascination with the American TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which has been such a worldwide success that universities have added Buffy studies to their cultural and media curriculum.

Oliver Sumner, head of education at the gallery, said: “It is meant to be fun and harmless but at the same time there is a sense of democracy about it.

“One of the things Nils is interested in is Buffy. It has a huge following of people who take the television series very seriously. Something that seems so superficial in America has people lecturing about its deeper philosophical meaning.”

David Farrant, chairman of the Highgate Vampire Society, which has 374 members and is named after legend of the ominous ghoul that supposedly haunts the grounds of Highgate cemetery, said he would be attending with a group of Society members.

“Everything started at Highgate cemetery,” he said. “The story of the Highgate vampire has been told worldwide. “As I was seen to be the instigator of that whole business, and I was invited to attend, I thought I would go. “There will be a lot of people turning up there. People from vampire clubs who dress up - and there will be some serious academics.”

Ms Jowett said there was a lot of interest in the fictional character of Buffy, a female vampire slayer, played by the actress Sarah Michelle Gellar.

“Academically it has been very popular. Nobody is sure why,” she said.

“The main focus of research has been gender and sexuality. I’m interested in the femininity and masculinity of the characters in a postmodern context.

“There is a lot of debate about feminist or post-feminist roles within the media.

“These are talked about a lot in terms of other shows. Scully’s role in the X-Files is a case in point.”