Author Archives: Heather

DISSONANT LAWS – Self-Care 101: Dissonance and Pleasure Activism

https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34210.80323

Dissonant Laws is an exhibition and collaboration by LORE (Legal Origins Rights Education & Art) and MEANS magazine, running from February to June 2026 at The Foundry, Vauxhall, London. It explores the tense relationship between citizens and authority, featuring art that highlights law-breaking as artistic resistance, including works on rave culture, protest, and environmental rights. It seeks to unpick the relationship between citizens, authority, and rebellious invention. How do laws create or engender artistic resistance? And how do those forms of creative dissent in turn infer new forms of legality? What examples of artistic protest have emerged in response to legislative change?

by Dr Heather McKnight

Layla Hignell-Tully and Heather McKnight from Magnetic Ideals and have one of our videos showing at this Exhibition in London.

We filmed the video for our song ‘Self Care’ on a beautiful day in Lewes as lockdown began to lift. The first time we had met in person in a long time, and it was great to be outdoors and find some creative positivity in dark times, but still sat in discomfort in the times of broader multiple crises, protests and fear. This song was not the lockdown songs we had been struggling to write over digitally distorted video calls. It was a chance to embody in person some playful and serious moments, finding some kind of joy, in order to thrive under challenging conditions.

Mummy’s a bit hairy, mummy’s got holes

(that’s true baby, but she doesn’t want everyone to know…) – lyrics from song

We are inspired by Adrienne Maree Brown’s work, which centres around the concept of pleasure activism, and asserts “that we all need and deserve pleasure and that our social structures must reflect that.”[i] Here, dissonance and the ability to be at odds with the times that restrict us and others are a key part of this, dissonance is not a breakdown but a source of resistance and authenticity…

“Anyone can dance with anyone to form a collective” Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life p. 248

Participatory invitation: we invite you to form a collective and dance with us in space, to find cracks in the darkness of the lived moment. This is an invitation, not an instruction, as Ahmed notes that not dancing when it is expected of us, and not desired, it is also a form of resistance. We invite people to reflect on how they make space to care for themselves, for each other, for the winged pollinators that our moth, butterfly and queen bee capes represent as they flutter in the wind and find pleasure in dissonance…

Ahmed notes in her lecture Snap “Think of how all the frustration, that rage, can become a tipping point. It is only when you seem to lose it, when you shout, swear, spill, that you have their attention. And then you become a spectacle.”[ii] In Fuck You and Your A-Sides we try to own our spectacle, as we write our songs, we swear, we laugh, we become gentle, we dance and then cry…

We resist when we’re still in the time between tasks

We resist while we spill, we resist while we dance – lyrics from song

In this song, written from a place of exhaustion “what can we become/what have we become” intertwined in their own dance of hopefulness and failure. Much literature around care in the digital realm focuses on self-care, individualising failure, and a culture of blame emerges if you do not satisfactorily perform self-care. As Audrey Lorde notes “We do not get there from here by ignoring all of the mud in-between those positions” [iii] – that if you do not learn by your errors you die by them as we sing the words “Failing is trying and it’s part of the fight” there are no attempts for perfection in the recording or the filming, no second takes, every error preserved. It is all very much in the moment; we have no time for anything else in a world of demands and expectations. As Adrienne Maree Brown notes, “there are times when we are truly all in the trenches of shadow times, dragging each other through salt and mud and just barely making our way through it.” [iv] Creativity as self-care happens for us in the moments we have stolen from the rest of the work, or it does not happen at all.

We recognise the dissonance of self-care narratives from a feminist perspective. This is a normative practice; it can be twisted back into another task, another tool of measurement against which to succeed or fail. Here, we are not condemning all forms of self-care, or in any way suggesting there is no worth in self-care practices, particularly the powerful black queer feminist self-care heritage of Audrey Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” [v] These forms of radical self-care are deeply important. Thanks to Sara Ahmed and Cyndi Lauper for inspiring our lyrics, to Tove for her dancing, and to Chris Kuzmicki and Daniel Hignell-Tully for helping with the film and camera and to Lucy Finchett-Maddock for the beauty of the lore.

For more of our music, see – Fuck You and Your A-Sides

If you are in London check out the rest of this amazing exhibition!

Dissonant Laws – Micheál O’Connell LG/ Mocksim exhibits at The Foundry. 20 March – 1 June.

Address: The Foundry 17 Oval Way, London SE11 5RR, London’s Human Rights centre

Dates of exhibition: Opening 20th March, to June 1st Opening days/times: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 6pm

A group of artists share their work on dissonance, law and acts of agreement and disagreement.

As an exhibition, Dissonant Laws seeks to unpick the relationship between citizens, authority, and rebellious invention. How do laws create or engender artistic resistance? How can creative dissent in turn encourage new forms of legality?

Bringing together a group of artists, it explores notions of aesthetic resistance and rebellious acts taking the form of performance art, flash mobs, murals and sonic acts, often considering art movements that intentionally broke the law, creating radical reinterpretations of how groups of people might occupy space and responding to contexts where, at times, laws might need breaking.

Including works by: Mocksim, Distant Animals, Luce FM, Helen Dewhurst, Rhys Trimble, Sarah Holyfield, Andreas Philippoulos-Mihalopoulos, Sabina Andron, FU & Your A-Sides, Francesco Pizzocchero, Ken Clarry, Anat Sarna, Curtis Essel, Oğulcan Ekiz, Ni Shan, Alison Young, Kerry Baldry.

End Notes

[i] Adrienne Maree Brown, Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good (Emergent Strategy): 1 (AK Press, 2019).

[ii] Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life (Duke University Press Books, 2017), 248.

[iii] Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light: And Other Essays, Later Edition (Dover Publications Inc., 2017).

[iv] Brown, adrienne maree, ‘If You’re Good, Say You’re Good’.

[v] Lorde, A Burst of Light.

Welcome to the Swamp Workshop at the Gathering Glade

We had a wonderful day at our Welcome to the Swamp workshop at the Gathering Glade. It was our first excursion to the wellbeing gardens, a site run by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership up at Stamner Park in Brighton. It was a wonderful space to hold the event in what felt like the first sunshine of the season. We were here to explore eco-anxiety and try and find ourselves as ‘swamps amongst swamps’ as we connected back with nature and creativity.

We sat outside in a circle on log stools, discussed the plight of swamps and associated wetlands, went foraging in the surrounding area for mark-making tools and came back to the circle to make our own natural paints. The outcomes were some beautiful, vivid colours, a collection of shared creations which covered small and large expressions.

Thanks to everyone who joined us and shared in this special event! We will be running another session on April 7 so please check out the Magnetic Ideals Eventbrite if you are interested in participating!

Reconnect! Spring Programme!

Join Our Free Community Events: Creativity, Mindfulness & Nature Await!

Discover a world of creativity, mindfulness, and eco-friendly learning with our free upcoming workshops. Whether you’re looking to relax, connect with nature, or explore your artistic side, there’s something for everyone. Our free workshops are here to inspire and empower you! Enjoy hands-on eco-arts activities like gardening (no garden needed!), getting a bit creative and learning about the history of the craft, or tackling eco-anxiety with arts in the swamp!

These family-friendly events are perfect for all ages and backgrounds. Places are limited, so book your spot today and share the joy with friends and family!

Book now on Eventbrite

Mindfulness & Art

Mindful Doodle Drawing – Tue, 10 Feb, 11:00
Mindful Macrame Hearts – Thu, 12 Feb, 12:45
Mandala Dot Painting – Mon, 16 Feb, 11:00

Witch Workshops

Creative Spellmaking: Water & Tea – Sat, 21 Feb, 11:00
Creative Spellmaking: Dreams & Charms – Sat, 21 Mar, 11:00

Gardening & Nature

Pruning Masterclass for Beginners – Tue, 3 Mar, 11:30
The World of Weald Allotments – Tue, 17 Mar, 11:30
Making the Right Garden Purchases – Tue, 31 Mar, 11:30
Walk & Talk: St Anne’s Wells Gardens – Tue, 14 Apr, 11:30

Eco-Anxiety Support

Welcome to the Swamp: Immersive Somatic Workshop – Sat, 14 Mar & Tue, 7 Apr, 14:00

All events are free and open to everyone. Spaces are limited, so book your spot today and invite friends or family to join the fun!

Let’s grow, create, and reconnect together!

Book now on Eventbrite

Happy World Wetlands Day! Welcome to the Swamp Workshops- Immersive Somatic Workshop for Eco-anxiety

Wetlands are crucial for water security. Less than 1% of Earth’s freshwater is usable and most of that is contained in wetlands, including about a third in rivers and lakes. The silt-rich soil and abundant plant vegetation of wetlands act like water filters, absorbing harmful toxins, agricultural pesticides and industrial waste.

Wetlands are grievously affected by plastic pollution, with more than 800 marine and coastal species affected by this pollution. Rivers and other wetlands are not only places that plastic waste flows through, they also are places where long-term deposits settle.

Wetlands and human life are interconnected, with people drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these life-sustaining and sacred ecosystems. The state of our planet’s wetlands is deeply concerning for youth around the world. And a great sense of urgency is felt. Intergenerational dialogue on the wise use and conservation of these vulnerable ecosystems is critical to our shared future.

From prehistoric times, many hundreds of generations of people have settled in and around wetlands, often transforming their wetlands into cultural landscapes in which natural and human-made elements are uniquely combined. Cultural knowledge of wetlands constitutes a collective legacy for today’s societies. Across cultures, wetlands are seen as cultural landscapes embedded in identity, art and spirituality. Many communities consider wetlands sacred, home to ancestral spirits or ceremonial sites. Songs, dances, festivals and oral traditions often center on wetland life and cycles.

The profound and rapid social and economic transformations of recent decades have increasingly threatened the effective preservation of the cultural heritage typical of wetlands in many parts of the world.

You can learn more here: www.worldwetlandsday.org #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage

As part of our commitment to raising awareness of the importance of wetlands, we are running two Welcome to the Swamp workshops, you can sign up below!

Welcome to the Swamp Workshop – Immersive Somatic Workshop for Ecoanxiety

Stammer Wellbeing Gardens, 2pm – 4pm, 14th March and 7th April

Welcome to the Swamp is a project that explores understanding ourselves as biodiverse beings in transition through artistic practices. By doing so, it aims to counter apathy and feelings of disempowerment, foster a connection to our environment and climate, and build understanding of the importance of biodiversity. This is an intergenerational space, but all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

We’ll be working with consideration for our feelings and relationships in an ever-changing climate. In a time of climate crisis and anxiety, we will work through somatic practice to connect with the swamp, expressing ourselves with natural paints and giant grasses, an exploratory and grounding artistic adventure, aided by meditation and soundscape to journey us through our swamp experience. through our feelings on the climate crisis in a session working on the idea of the swamp. We’ll work with natural paints as we discuss climate issues in an inter-generational space of reflection and care. A perfect tonic for activist burn-out, a chance to learning more and meet new people!

Materials

We will use natural paints, all made from foraged materials. Some of these will be made in advance, and you will have the option to add to or make them on the day. We will be showing/explaining different ways of making these traditional natural paints, one of which includes the use of egg whites, which will have been sourced from local (to us!) Sussex free-range hens to thicken the paints, and others will involve using purely plant-based sources. The contents of the paints will be clearly labelled and explained, so you can choose which to use.

To book your place and find out more infomration on the workshop please see our Eventbrite!

You can learn more about Welcome to the Swamp here! https://www.magneticideals.org/home/research/swamp/

Weaving Failure into the Utopian Fabric – Artistic Engagements within Creative Care Café Structures

Abstract for the conference Failed Again – The Fault Lines in Utopia Newcastle University – part of the Fail Again, Fail Better? Recuperating Failure in Utopian Politics and Research Project

Weaving Failure into the Utopian Fabric – Artistic Engagements within Creative Care Café Structures

Kirsty Lumm and Heather McKnight

This paper addressed the question: “…what if failure was intentionally built into the fabric of utopia, if ‘fault-lines’ were purposefully incorporated to promote reflection, revisions and renewal?” Expanding on the paper given at the Edinburgh event in April, this paper focuses on the use of creative methods in the Brighton (UK) based funded Creative Climate Cafes project and Menopause and Mind projects. It will offer visual case studies of these two projects which use arts within the traditional conversational care café structures. They utilise the transformative potential of creativity to incite the utopian impulse within participants in the “darkness of the lived moment”.

A painting on a table

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A piece of art on a table

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The initial paper at the Edinburgh Conference has set up café spaces such as this (and others that such cafes have grown from such as grief and death cafes) as spaces of anticipatory failure. In a sense these café spaces are also Microutopias (events and projects that are small, planned resistances and social experiments) which set out to embed and identify failure as part of the action and being within their spaces. There is a focus on finding ways to live with the crisis as well as finding ways to combat it. It is possible to view these café spaces as heterotopias where the normal rules operate differently. Here we are seeing human failings as a necessary and inherent part of life that we have to ‘be with’ rather than escaping or resolving our failure.

Both projects have anticipated failure in their inception, it is at the heart of their being as they have started with the faults. Given the prevalence of failure within our species being, we can see the spaces as representative of different structures of failure. The Creative Climate Cafes tackle climate crisis, a result of concurrent and collective failures under a patriarchal and capitalist system which is destroying our lived environment. The Menopause and Mind cafes tackle the failures of which menopause related mental health struggles to be adequately supported, and the medicalised construct of failure of menopause where there are persistent narratives of the failure of the body and mind and the perceived end of ‘usefulness’ of the feminised body, despite the critique of these narratives within the spaces.

In these spaces hope can be reconfigured by grief. This applies whether it is for our loss of our lived environment and each other, or for the multifaceted loss of self (socially constructed or as part of a transformational process) that can accompany menopause. These café sessions are structured so people can explore their thoughts and feelings through the artistic forms, not just discussion, bringing forth unconscious as well as conscious thoughts and feelings. Using simple and accessible creative activities such as collage, expressive painting or use of clay or inks there is an exploration and expression of feelings bringing to the surface what is hidden and allowing for world-building in the cracks of our society. Weaving failure into the fabric of the utopia, the images and artistic creations from these sessions are both hopeful and critical, allowing for expression of failure and also new hopeful structures to be emergent from the chaos.

You can also view the online Utopia and Failure Academic Care Cafe Metasteps 3D Space https://www.magneticideals.org/home/utopia-and-failure-the-metaverse-care-cafe-project/

Workshop Images (2023) – Menopause and Mind – Collage/Painting/Clay

A piece of art on a blue surface

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A close-up of grass and paint

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Workshop Images (2023) – Creative Climate Cafes – Natural Paints/Charcoals/Ink and Windmills

A drawing of wind turbines and sun

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A person holding a pinwheel

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Reconnect Free Training and Skills Funding Renewed for 2025 – 26!

Thanks to renewed funding announced this week Magnetic Ideals looks forward to announcing a forthcoming programme of free training and skills sessions to develop new skills and help build community through creativity and confidence-building. Will be offering courses that focus on coaching you to get back on track with work and life, learning new creative skills, putting on community events and promoting wellbeing through engaging with nature and the arts. We would like to say a huge thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for their ongoing support of this project!

The programme is here to help you Reconnect with your life and purpose, and we look forward to sharing this journey with you! Follow our Eventbrite booking online here to hear about upcoming events this summer. We will be running these sessions with experienced facilitators from our own network and our partners such as Arts for Life. Sessions will be running at the Cornerstone Community Centre in Hove, as well as at Rockets Studio.

Our sessions will be free, inclusive and welcoming, with food, warm drinks, and a chance to chat and make new connections. The venue is accessible, and we encourage any participants with specific needs around accessibility, whether relating to physical needs, neurodiversity or emotional needs to let us know so we can make sure you enjoy and feel comfortable in our sessions.

Full details will be available soon, but if you want to know more about the programme, please email programme lead heather@magneticideals.org to be added to our mailing list!

Lottery Community Fund Logo

How Community Laundrettes Tackle Hygiene Poverty and Isolation – Creative Identity, Community, and Dignity at Harriett’s Press

Harriett’s Press, a community laundrette and arts space in Brighton, is redefining what it means to tackle some of society’s most pressing issues: hygiene poverty, social isolation, and mental health. In our research, Magnetic Ideals, sheds light on this innovative model and its impact. It offers insights for policymakers, social researchers, and community practitioners alike.

Clean Clothes and Creative Identities at Harriett’s Press: Tackling Hygiene Poverty and Isolation through Artistic Engagement in a Community Laundrette, published in June 2025, explores the social and cultural significance of Harriett’s Press, run by the local charity Quiet Down There. The report highlights how integrating art and creative practices into everyday environments, such as laundry, can be a powerful tool for social change.

Hygiene Poverty and Loneliness

Hygiene poverty, characterised by a lack of access to essential cleaning products or facilities due to financial constraints, is an emerging yet often overlooked issue. The report notes that, unlike food or fuel poverty, public awareness of hygiene poverty is remarkably low. Yet, its consequences are severe, leading to social stigma, shame, exclusion, lowered self-esteem, and health problems. 4.2 million UK adults are affected, and many have to choose between basic hygiene products and other necessities, such as food or heating.

For economically disadvantaged communities, low confidence in social settings is a significant barrier to connection. Over 9 million UK adults report chronic loneliness, leading to emotional and physical distress. Harriett’s Press, situated in an area of high social deprivation in Brighton, directly addresses these interconnected challenges.

A Holistic Approach: Laundry, Art, and “Accelerated Intimacy”

What makes Harriett’s Press unique is its holistic, non-institutionalised approach. It provides free laundry services alongside a flexible arts program. This isn’t just about clean clothes; it’s about fostering a community where individuals can develop confidence and creative identity. The service caters to those experiencing financial hardship, housing precarity, mental health issues, and neurodivergence, offering a timely and necessary lifeline amidst the ongoing impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and long-COVID.

A key finding of the research is the therapeutic benefit of the 1:1 arts practice embedded within the laundrette. The non-prescriptive nature of the art engagement is crucial; art is offered, never required, allowing for playfulness, error, and experimentation without judgment. This fosters pride and identity formation, with many beginning to self-identify as artists or imaginative individuals.

The report also highlights the concept of “accelerated intimacy”. The casual setting of the laundrette dissolves formal social norms, allowing for a unique openness and camaraderie. People “air their dirty laundry” both literally and metaphorically, fostering rapid emotional connections through shared vulnerability. This intimacy is fostered through parallel activities rather than forced interactions, creating a safe space where meaningful conversation and silence can coexist.

Laundry as a Canvas for Transformation

What sets Harriett’s Press apart is its commitment to embedding art and creative practices within the everyday act of doing laundry. The distinctive 1:1 arts facilitation model employed diverges from more commonly studied group-based community arts. This personalised approach offers tailored feedback, emotional safety, and deep personal engagement, proving particularly beneficial for individuals with neurodivergence or trauma who might find group dynamics overwhelming. Harriett’s Press is more than a service; it’s a catalyst for community connection. Many service users report feeling isolated, and the laundrette provides a reason to leave the house and engage socially, leading to the formation of supportive networks.

Participants describe the service as “transformative,” citing improvements in mood and reduction in anxiety. The art-making process becomes incidentally remedial, offering wellbeing outcomes even if not explicitly planned as therapy. This reclaiming or discovery of creative identity through accessible practices disrupts conventional narratives about who can be an artist. Some have even explored other creative workshops or considered employment in creative sectors.

Key Findings: Ripples of Positive Change

The report argues that arts-based interventions, such as Harriett’s Press, address complex social problems in a non-stigmatising way, suggesting that the arts should be integrated more systematically into public health and community services. The implications of this model extend to policy and practice in community arts and public health. The report argues that arts are not an “add-on” but integral to the effectiveness and appeal of such services, suggesting a need for their systematic integration into public health and community services. Harriett’s Press offers a dignified and creative approach to addressing hygiene poverty at a local level, providing a model that could inform future strategies and policy reform.

However, like many grassroots initiatives, Harriett’s Press faces challenges related to limited resources and short-term funding models that often prioritise quantifiable outcomes over qualitative depth. The report recommends adopting creative evaluation tools that captures the richness of their work, resisting reductive metrics. Organisations such as Harriett’s Press should seek long-term funding while carefully guarding against losing the intimacy and ethos that defines its service.

The study underscores the urgent need for government policy and statistics to address hygiene poverty. Encouraging broader academic and community collaboration is vital to evaluate the long-term impacts of community laundrettes. Furthermore, creative methods should be employed to elevate hygiene poverty as a social issue, contributing to grassroots-led advocacy for policy reform.

Building Community, Shaping Policy

Harriett’s Press is far more than a laundrette. It is a testament to inventive community responses to pressing social needs, demonstrating how art activity rooted in everyday life can restore dignity, build belonging, and generate individual and transformation. This report serves as a call to action, urging us to recognise the profound social impact of such initiatives and to invest in holistic, relational approaches to poverty, mental health, and community well-being.

For more information, you can read the full report here:

Final Clean Clothes and Creative Identities Download

5-Week Moonbeam Baby Massage Course at the Cornerstone in Hove

Magnetic Ideals member Alex Paterson is running a five week baby massage course for on £20 at the Cornerstone from June 6th – July 4th. Please share with anyone you think would be interested, the full details are below!

Booking via Eventbrite

Course Details:

When: 5 weekly sessions on Fridays, June 6th – July 4th
Time: 9:30-11:00 AM
Where: Corner Stone Community Centre, Hove
Perfect For: Babies from birth to 9 months (ideal for pre-crawlers!)
Fee: Just £20 for all 5 sessions Note: This fee simply covers room hire – the course is offered free as part of my instructor accreditation

What Makes This Course Special

Over these 5 weeks, you’ll learn a complete baby massage routine approved by the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM). We’ll explore specialised techniques to soothe tummy discomfort and support your baby’s development. Baby massage isn’t just about touch – it’s about creating nurturing moments of connection with your little one.

My Passion

As an IAIM trained Infant Massage Instructor and experienced Early Years Teacher, I’m truly passionate about sharing these skills with parents (Whether you are a Mum, Mama, Daddy, Papa, Ren or something else entirely). Every touch is an opportunity to bond, to communicate, and to support your baby’s wellbeing.

What You Need to Know

The venue has lift access and space for buggies
Please bring a towel or blanket from home for your baby’s comfort
Massage oils will be provided
This is an inclusive space welcoming all families

A Warm Invitation

Places are limited, so don’t miss out on this special opportunity to learn, connect, and grow with your baby.

Book now and embark on this beautiful journey of touch and connection.

#BabyMassage #HoveFamilies #BabyClasses #NewParents #BondingWithBaby #EarlyYears #InfantDevelopment #FamilyWellbeing

Cronework – Re-enchanting the label: A compilation of spells by self-identified women and gender-diverse artists

Cover art for Cronework / Katy Barrett / Instagram: @Katybarrett1468

Beltane Greetings, everyone! Very excited to announce the release of this compilation today, which is the culmination of a combined effort from musicians, artists and Difficult Art and Music Record label. A huge thanks to everyone involved, please read below for more information about this unique project and how to hear the release!

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“It is to the discovery of reasons and logics other than those of capitalist development that I refer when I speak of ‘re-enchanting the world’, a practice I believe is central to most anti-systemic movements and a precondition for resistance to exploitation.”Sylvia Federici, Re-enchanting the World (2019)

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Cronework – Re-enchanting the label is a compilation and a community project working with Magnetic Ideals and local record label Difficult Art and Music.

Brighton’s riot-grrrl-indie-femme-pop Fuck You and Your A-Sides have curated a feminist release by inviting self-identified women and gender-diverse* artists to submit tracks, and received a wonderful selection of both local and international artists.

The tracks engage with both traditional folklore, and modern interpretations of esoteric magical practice. Musical diversity ranges from chanting ancient verses to Eletronica, Indiepop and Industrial. As a listener you engage with the music as it manifests the spellwork. If you want to go deeper, instructions for each spell song are included, alongside unique artwork created for every artwork, in an accompanying spell book.

The artwork was either created by the musicians themselves or participants from community workshops run in collaboration with the Magnetic Ideals Reconnect programme. Interested participants were welcomed whether artist, musician, witch or just curious to step into our circle and contribute.

Through giving voice and a sense of community to marginalised groups and the still stigmatised practice of political magics, the compilation engages with Sylvia Federici’s practice of ‘re-enchanting the world’. This can be seen as central to anti-systemic movements and a precondition for resistance to exploitation present in today’s ever-isolated and isolating world.

The compilation is available for digital download or as a physical copy with accompanying spellbook via Bandcamp!

*this definition of gender-diverse includes transwomen, trans men, people who identify outside of the man/women binary, including non-binary and genderqueer people, and self-identified women, includes all women.

Community Research Work Partnership – Quiet Down There, Harriet’s Press

grayscale photo of washing machine — Photo by Adrienne Andersen on Pexels.com

Magnetic Ideals is a community organisation providing training, research and networking for organisations working for community interest and social sustainability. We run and support creative projects bringing communities together to create positive social change. This year (2024 – 2025) Magnetic Ideals will be focusing its annual research project on working with Quiet Down There as our research partners.

Quiet Down There runs Harriet’s Press in the Old Market, offering laundry service, a hot drink, and a creative activity for those struggling with hygiene poverty. While people wait, they work 1-2-1 and in small groups on creative activities, with the aim of supporting the formation of a creative identity. Creativity is a lifelong tool for supporting good mental health.

At present, we are project planning and examining a combination of interviews and case studies. We are developing resources and pairing them with some of the artists in our network, supporting them to enhance their arts provision programme.

We look forward to keeping you posted as the project progresses – our project development team Chris Kuzmicki and Heather McKnight can be contacted via research@magneticideals.org.

Watch this short video to hear more about Harriett Cowley who inspired the work at Harriett’s Press.