First Gathering for Connection, Creativity & Change

Sara Downham-Lotto 2026

The Winter Gathering for Connection, Creativity and Change was the first event hosted by the Arts Lab Rural Peace Hub. Artists, activists, academics and community leaders gathered for a twelve-hour day of dialogue, creativity and collaboration, exploring responses to conflict, inequality and the climate crisis.

SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR SOME GREAT IMAGES & SHORT FILM

About the Gathering

The event brought together changemakers from across disciplines to connect, reflect and share ideas. A  programme* of creative workshops, presentations and discussions, alongside shared meals, informal conversation, and art displays, created space for meaningful dialogue and collaborative thinking.

Participants – mainly women – came from diverse fields including climate activism, coaching, community building, education, farming, medicine, participatory art, peacebuilding and poetry.

Why It Matters

The gathering highlighted a strong need for spaces where people can connect across differences, create together and engage in challenging but important conversations about the issues shaping our world.

What’s Next

Arts Lab plans to build on this experience by hosting more gatherings for its new home in the north east in the future. These will include themed events that allow participants to explore specific topics in greater depth and develop practical, collaborative responses.

Interdisciplinary exchange, creative practice, hospitality and connection with nature will remain central to these events.

Highlights

• 12-hour interdisciplinary gathering
• Artists, activists, academics and community leaders
• Workshops, presentations and discussions
• Shared meals and informal conversation
• Focus on conflict, inequality and the climate crisis

Impact

The Winter Gathering created a supportive space for meaningful connection across disciplines and perspectives. Participants shared knowledge, creative practice and lived experience while engaging in open conversations about conflict, inequality and the climate crisis.

The gathering strengthened relationships between participants from wide-ranging professions, encouraging collaboration and new ways of working across sectors. It also highlighted the importance of creating spaces where creativity, dialogue and reflection can support collective responses to complex global challenges.

Importantly, the event demonstrated a clear appetite for more gatherings of this kind. Participants expressed a strong interest in continuing to connect, collaborate and explore creative approaches to social and environmental change.

Finally, the event helped build and strengthen connections in the North East with dynamic and inspiring artists and changemakers, many of whom have now joined the Arts Lab team for future events.

Participant Feedback

An extraordinary collective of thinkers and artists. Thank you for such kindness and inspiration. (Allison – teacher, academic, poet).

There was so much potential at this first event. I have left with a head full of possibilities.  (Cath – social entrepreneur).

It was absolutely brilliant. Inspiring, positive, and fun. (Katie – climate activist, writer).

A really enjoyable and thought-provoking day with interesting people both leading sessions and taking part in them. (Andy – creative wellbeing facilitator).

The Shared meals were great! Hospitality is missing from so many of our arts spaces and it’s so important for building meaningful connection. (Suzie – educator, participatory artist).

The feeling, energy and enthusiasm from the well prepared presenters were tangible and inspiring. (Caroline – Newcastle Quakers).

The day was intellectually and culturally nourishing. I spoke with people I’d never normally have had the chance to meet. (Rebecca – entrepreneurship & start-up consultant).

Exchanges and interactions that happened whilst participating in the art workshops were really interesting. (Emma – Paediatric Surgeon).

I loved listening to diverse voices, the creativity, the delicious food, the location, just everything. Most of all, I found the participatory art work we did to be such an antidote to individualism and the wank in the art world.(Ann – educator, editor, eco designer).

Emotionally nourishing. Uplifting. Valuable in conversation and sparking new thinking through diverse dialogues. (Allie – teacher, academic, poet).

What a great day we all had! Am even inspired to try my hand at drawing, something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time! (Helen – environment planning officer, parish council clerk).

I really valued the intersectionality that became apparent between very different sessions with common themes emerging. This feels a good way to try to create strategies to address issues by bringing a different perspective or approach. (Emma – paediatric surgeon).

Possible Future Outcomes

• New collaborations across arts, activism and community work
• Deeper dialogue on climate justice, peacebuilding and social change
• Development of themed gatherings exploring specific issues
• Expanded networks of creative practitioners and changemakers

* Event Programme

The Big Picture – collaborative painting with Sara Downham-Lotto

Values in Action – taster coaching session with Rebecca Innes

Finding Composition in the Everyday – drawing from photographs with Anthony Downie

Does Art Play a Role in Addressing Social Determinants of Health? – presentation and Q&A with Emma Sidebotham

Wild Roots Community Garden: Stories of Connection, Community, Growth & Care with Marianne Sice

“The situation is hopeless. We must take the next step” (Pablo Cassals) – collage taster with Adrian Sinclair

Imagining Futures – reflective poetry-writing with Susanna McGuinness

Adapting to Climate Change on the Farm – presentation and Q&A with Robert Philipson

Peacebuildings – What Could Peaceful Communities Look Like? – 3D art workshop with Sara Downham-Lotto

Ukraine: Stories of Resilience from a War-torn Country – with Nataliia Petryk

Mandala Rangoli – Traditional South Asian Rice Decoration – with Jayamini de Silva

Exhibitors

Anthony Downie – urban scenes prints

Ruth Thompson – willow display

Sara Downham-Lotto – paintings and 3D installations

Feedback Consolidated into a poem by S.D-L

Days like this ….

                         bring hope

                         help us to stay positive

                         open up possibility

                         nourish our souls

                         build connection

                         spark new thinking

Days like this … 

                         are full of learning

                         inspiring

                         fascinating

                         thought-provoking

                         heartwarming

                         enjoyable and fun

                         uplifting

Days like this …

                         instil a sense of community and unity –

                         a feeling of momentum and motivation for change

The formula:

                   food

                   infectious enthusiasm

                   warmth and hospitality

                   kindness and generosity

                   integrity

                   wonderful space in beautiful location

                   energetic, like-minded individuals

                   extraordinary collective of interesting thinkers and artists

                   creativity

                   diverse voices 

                   sharing personal stories

                   making art together

                   exchanging ideas

Click on the link here >> to see the short film by Elana Purkins, 1st Year Fine Art student – Arts Lab’s first intern from Newcastle University.