Our Community
Care, connection, and shared creative space
Community is central to the Smiddy.
The Smiddy was shaped not only as a place to learn skills or make objects, but as a place where people can spend time, feel welcome, and connect through making. Community work sits alongside learning, independent practice, residencies, and the gallery as part of the wider life of the space.
At the Smiddy, community is rooted in care, access, and social wellbeing. We recognise that working with materials in a calm, structured environment can be grounding and supportive. The space is held clearly, so people know what to expect and can engage without pressure.
An evolving way of working
Community work at the Smiddy is responsive rather than fixed.
Programmes develop gradually, shaped by listening to participants, partner organisations, and the wider context in which we operate. Some activity is long-running. Other work emerges in response to specific needs or moments in time.
What remains consistent is our commitment to clarity, responsibility, and care.
Creativity, wellbeing, and mental health
The Smiddy does not provide therapy or clinical mental health services.
What we do offer is time, space, and creative activity that can support wellbeing. For many people, making alongside others, working with hands and materials, and spending time in a calm environment can be grounding and restorative.
Our community programmes are designed to reduce pressure rather than create it. They allow people to engage at their own pace, without expectations around outcomes, conversation, or skill development.
Wellbeing is supported through:
Calm, structured environments
Clear boundaries and expectations
Gentle facilitation
Respect for different ways of participating
If you are seeking dedicated mental health support or clinical advice, we encourage you to contact a qualified organisation.
Who community activity is for
Community activity at the Smiddy is for people who want access to creative space without pressure.
This includes people who:
Are new to making
Are returning after time away
Are managing anxiety, stress, or low confidence
Are seeking connection without obligation
Prefer open-ended, supported activity
There is no single way to take part. Participation does not require explanation or justification.
How Community sits alongside the rest of the Smiddy
Community activity exists alongside learning, making, residencies, and the gallery.
It is not a pathway, a stepping stone, or a requirement. Some people engage only through community programmes. Others engage in multiple ways over time. Both are equally valid.
Community work helps shape the culture of the Smiddy as a whole, influencing how we teach, how we share space, and how we care for one another.
Community programmes
Current community programmes include:
This includes:
Making Space
Making Space (LGBTQ+ Edition)
Other community activity as it develops
Working with communities
We work with individuals, groups, and organisations in ways that prioritise respect, clarity, and care.
If you are interested in community collaboration, or want to discuss access needs or potential partnerships, you are welcome to get in touch.