The Creative Exchange is committed to fostering creativity across all generations, and our projects with older people have been meaningful and impactful for our team and participants. By collaborating with care homes and local groups, we aim to create opportunities for older residents to express themselves, share their stories, and contribute to the cultural fabric of our community.
Layers of Life – Northfleet Vets Club (Autumn 2024 - June 2025)
Layers of Life is a deeply personal project with older residents at the Northfleet Vets Club, celebrating their individual journeys and exploring how these stories collectively shape the cultural identity of Northfleet. The project began with consultation sessions, where participants shared their stories and expressed interest in learning specific artistic practices.
In collaboration with a local artist, we designed workshops around these interests, offering activities such as photo transfer, printing, and embroidery. Participants have been able to learn new creative skills while reflecting on and sharing their unique experiences.
The project will culminate in the creation of a tapestry, incorporating the stories and artwork of the participants. This tapestry will be displayed in a local venue as a testament to the vibrant lives and histories of Northfleet’s older residents. We are currently expanding the project by working with other community groups to contribute to the tapestry, further weaving together the cultural narratives of the area. You can read more about that here.
Building on this, the project expanded to work with:
- Refugees based at The Granby Hotel, using the same model of storytelling and memory-sharing through visual arts.
- Primary-aged children at Lawn Primary and St Botolph’s Primary Schools, who explored the theme of memory—connecting personal experiences with broader narratives of place and identity.
The project culminated in a two-week exhibition showcasing the artworks produced across all community strands. Hosted at St George’s Arts Centre in Gravesend, the exhibition brought together voices from multiple generations, cultures, and walks of life. Visitor feedback captured in the gallery’s comments book highlighted the emotional depth and community resonance of the work:
“Absolutely outstanding! Such incredible layered work of incredible depth and subtlety. I will be back for more!”
“Very nice surprise on our occasional visits to Gravesend – a good reason to come back more often!”
“Beautiful to see so many generations of memories together in an exhibition.”
The success of Layers of Life has made clear that there is a strong appetite for regular, accessible arts provision in Northfleet North. What began as a temporary project has now evolved into an ongoing initiative, thanks to Place Partnership funding from Creative Estuary, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, and Gravesham Borough Council.
This summer, we are delivering free community arts workshops throughout the school holidays—a direct continuation of Layers of Life’s ethos. These sessions have already been incredibly popular:
- Some workshops have exceeded expectations, with materials running out and more participants than available tables and chairs!
- The positive response underscores the value of sustained, embedded arts engagement in the area.
Rosewood Care Home Mural with Nicole Mollett (October 2022)
When we learned through a call out on social media that Rosewood Care Home was seeking ways to enhance their garden, we saw an opportunity to create something special. Working with artist Nicole Mollett, we organised a project that invited care home residents to collaborate on designing and creating a mural for their garden. Nicole led a series of creative workshops where residents contributed ideas and helped bring the mural to life, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The mural, once completed, was celebrated with a joyful launch event featuring afternoon tea and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. To further support the care home’s vision for their garden, we partnered with Wickes, who generously donated planters, gardening tools, and other supplies to transform the outdoor space into a vibrant, welcoming area for residents and their families to enjoy.
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