A moment of reconnection

June 1st, 2023

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Amidst the rescheduling and marketing for my remaining workshop, something small but hopeful happened. As I started flyering around town, I realised something important – the interested in this topic extended beyond the walls of the community organisation. There were people in other spaces, from artists to local residents, who were just as engaged with these questions of urban decay and regeneration. The community organisation wasn’t the only place where this conversation mattered. 

On Thursday, I visited an arts organisation, not with the intent to replace my community partner, but rather to explore new avenues for engagement. I had already come across other creative spaces doing incredible work,  and this visit reinforced the idea that my project didn’t have to be confined to a single setting. A conversation with one of the artists reignited something in me. From that moment, a new idea began to take shape: What if I diversified my engagement methods to reach more people?

Would a combination of a website, an Instagram platform, interviews and workshops allow for broader participation? I think so. Rather than relying solely on one partner, I could create multiple entry points into the conversation – offering people different ways to engage, depending on what resonated with them. Equally it would allow myself a way to engage more creatively with this topic, and feel like I could make a significant contribution to the work myself.