The Quiet Magic of Creating Together

Earlier this year, I joined a kurinuki pottery workshop – a slow, meditative style of hand-building with clay – and it turned out to be one of the most quietly powerful group experiences I’ve had in a long time.

I don’t often sign up for creative workshops. In the past, I’ve found them more socially exhausting than anything else – the awkward small talk, the noise, the sense that I need to be socially performing instead of focusing on my work. So I was relieved when Emma, the facilitator, said “kurinuki is a slow, meditative process and I’d love for us to embrace that fully by keeping conversation to a minimum.”. It felt like permission to just be there. No pressure to perform or contribute anything beyond what I wanted to make with my hands.

There were still occasional conversations, moments of support and shared tools (and lighthearted giggles about our oddly shaped creations!) – but the space was mostly filled with the soft sounds of clay being shaped and the gentle focus of people working side by side. That quiet presence, the simplicity of being together without expectation, felt incredibly calming.

Owen, our Youth Programme Coordinator, was there with me, and we both came away thinking: what if more group experiences could feel like this?

Especially for people who are naturally quieter, more sensitive, or who feel anxious in social settings. What if connection didn’t have to rely on talking at all? What if creative community spaces made room for silence, for slowness, for the kind of being-with-others that doesn’t need words?

That’s where the idea for our children’s workshops came from.

We know that quieter children often get overlooked, rushed, or asked to “come out of their shell” in ways that can feel uncomfortable or shaming. These free summer sessions – led by Emma, the artist behind the workshop I attended – are designed to be spacious and low-pressure. While they won’t be silent (kids still need to ask questions and share ideas!), they’ll be a gentle, creative invitation to connect without the usual social overwhelm.

You can find out more or sign up a child aged 8-12 here.

But the conversation didn’t stop there.

After that workshop, we started imagining what this could look like for our whole community. Because it’s not just children who need these kinds of spaces – it’s all of us.

At Quiet Connections, we often talk about how healing it is to find your people – people who understand that quietness isn’t a flaw to fix, but something to embrace. And sometimes, it’s easier to find that connection not through talking, but through shared experience. Through quiet creativity. Through making something alongside someone else. Through being together without pressure.

So now, we’re wondering:

• What if Quiet Connections offered more creative, reflective spaces for adults too?
• What kinds of workshops or activities would feel nourishing to you?
• Do you have a skill you’d love to gently share with others – something slow, quiet, or creative?

We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and offerings. Whether you’re an artist, a nature-lover, a mindful maker or a curious beginner – you’re part of this imagining too. Let us know what you’d love to experience… or what you might want to offer to others like you.

Because connection doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. And sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is create quietly, together.