Creative retreats in the city

In collaboration with poet and writer Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, we offer free creative retreats that invite a return to the joy of making — beyond the pressures of productivity, profit, or performance. Taking place in the beautiful Bethnal Green Nature Reserve in East London, these retreats are rooted in accessibility and care. Hosting them within the city makes participation possible for those who may be balancing childcare, work, or other responsibilities, and removes barriers like long-distance travel or overnight stays. By keeping the retreats local, free of charge, and open to all disciplines and experience levels, we create space for a wider range of people — especially those from marginalised backgrounds — to take part in creative exploration.

These retreats are an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature, and engage in playful, pressure-free creativity alongside others. Whether you're early in your creative journey, returning to it after a break, or simply seeking space to experiment without expectation, the retreats offer a grounding, nourishing environment for connection and expression in all its forms — from writing and visual art to sound, storytelling, and more.

Previously supported by V&A East and the University of Kent, we’re now working to expand the programme — both in length and location — with the aim of offering similar retreats in other UK cities. If you're interested in collaborating or supporting this work, we’d love to connect.

Nourishing Ourselves Zine

Nourishing Ourselves is a zine born from the first iteration of our creative retreat. It invited activists and artists to use creativity not as a tool for output, but as a form of self-care and connection. Rather than producing counter-narratives or polished work, participants explored play, rest, and expression without pressure.

Curated by Alaa Alsaraji and Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan and commissioned by Dr Suhraiya Jivraj (University of Kent), the project asks: what if we created simply to nourish ourselves and each other? In doing so, it reimagines creativity as a path to collective wellbeing.

A diverse group of people sitting in a circle in a wooded outdoor area, engaging in a discussion and meditation.
Various small clay and stone sculptures on a red wooden surface, including a skull, a cone-shaped object, a tree-like form, and other abstract shapes.
Three people sitting on a bench in a garden, viewing lush green trees and plants.
A brown notebook with the title 'Reconnecting to my creativity' and 'Reconnect Retreat 2023' on the cover, placed on a weathered wooden bench outdoor, with three markers resting on top, partially in shadow and partially in sunlight, with fallen leave
A woman sitting on a bench in a lush, green space with various flowers and plants.
A group of women, some wearing hijabs, gathered around a wooden table outdoors, working on pottery in a lush green forest setting.
A woman sitting on a wooden bench in a lush garden, holding a notebook and pen, surrounded by green plants and trees.
A group of women gathered outdoors around a table under a canopy, participating in a workshop or demonstration with tools and natural materials, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A woman sitting on a tree stump in a lush green forest, writing in a notepad.
A collage of nature-inspired artwork, including leaves, pressed plants, and painted designs on paper, along with handwritten notes and sketches, displayed on a wooden table with markers, scissors, and writing tools nearby.
A woman with a colorful scarf on her head, wearing a light-colored shirt with floral embroidery, sitting among orange flowers in a lush garden, looking down at her hands.
Person holding a small clay object, using tools to work on its surface.
A person with purple dreadlocks reading a book outdoors amidst green foliage.
Table with an open notebook, a bundle of green and purple wildflowers, and a partially hidden person wearing a floral patterned shirt. The scene is illuminated with soft sunlight.
A woman with long, dark, curly hair sitting on the ground in a leafy, outdoor setting, writing or drawing on a notepad.
Group of seven diverse people sitting at a table outdoors, engaged in a discussion or collaborative activity, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Artist Alaa Alsaraji and poet Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan sitting on a bench outdoors surrounded by green foliage, engaged in a discussion or listening, with notebooks and cups nearby.
People working with clay, creating small round clay objects and other shapes on a wooden table, with sculpting tools and other clay pieces scattered around.
A group of women gathered outdoors in a wooded area under a white canopy, listening to a woman speaking, with some taking notes and others smiling.
A man with glasses and a tan shirt sits among green plants, writing or drawing on a notepad outdoors in a shaded area.

Let’s Work togther

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