Our Common Ground Project brought people from across Exeter together to create, connect and build new friendships through the power of art.
Working alongside Wellbeing Exeter, CoLab, Inclusive Exeter and the Community Builder team, we delivered four free creative workshops designed to be welcoming, accessible and open to everyone. By carefully considering barriers such as childcare, cultural commitments and transport, we created opportunities for people from diverse and underrepresented communities to take part.
Across two Saturdays, 14 participants explored a range of creative techniques including clay, collage, fabric art and cardboard relief, producing an incredible 43 unique artworks. These were later proudly displayed at Exeter Central Library as part of the Magic Carpet April Art Trail.
The workshops offered far more than an opportunity to make art. They became spaces where people could relax, share stories, discover new skills and form meaningful connections.
One participant, who had originally planned to attend just one workshop, enjoyed the experience so much that she returned for all four sessions and later shared that taking part had significantly improved her wellbeing and happiness.
Another heartwarming moment came when two women discovered they had been neighbours for five years but had never met until they sat together at one of the workshops. Their new friendship is a wonderful reminder of the connections that can grow when communities come together.
For some, creativity also became a way to express personal experiences and cultural identity. One participant became emotional while creating her artwork, later saying she had discovered a creative side of herself she never knew existed.
As Community Builder Maisaa Sweid reflected:
“The sessions support not only creativity and wellbeing, but also practical support, relationship-building, and community resilience. Many individuals in the community are experiencing isolation, and spaces like Common Ground offer an accessible and meaningful way to reconnect.”
The success of Common Ground has shown how simple, inclusive creative activities can make a real difference—improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and helping people feel more connected to both their community and each other.
Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the project such a success. We look forward to creating more opportunities for people across Exeter to come together through creativity.
