The Being Here Project - Building Community Through Creativity

One of the strengths of the project was the interdisciplinary team drawn from across the university; Dr Robin Redhead Postgraduate Course Director, Dr Maria O’Reilly Senior Lecturer in Peace Studies, and Dr Tom Houseman Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Tutor; Kelly Cawood in Student Services (Wellbeing), Liz Hyde in Library and Learning Services, and Katie Hill Social Designer and Maker in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. In November, the project won the Research-Informed Teaching Award at the Research and Knowledge Exchange Awards.

The Being Here Project set out to address belonging issues, using creative methods to create an inclusive space for intercultural dialogue and community-building. Collaboration between postgraduate students and staff from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds was key to the project’s success.

Arts-Based Workshops to Foster Community, Wellbeing, and Engagement

The Being Here team co-designed and co-delivered arts-based workshops to foster community, wellbeing, and student engagement. The team bring a variety of research expertise in community building, equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as methods of artistic co-production. The workshops drew on the team’s shared knowledge and skills to create an engaging and inclusive experience for students.

The focal point of the project was the printmaking workshop, where staff and students co-produced a mandala artwork - a visual representation of belonging and connection. Each person contributed a drawing to a shared artwork symbolising the diversity and unity of our MA cohort. Robin Brinkworth built a frame to showcase the artwork, which was displayed in the Portland Building. Creating a piece of ephemeral art represented the brevity of the 12-month postgraduate degree and short space students have to build lasting friendships. In keeping with this theme, the mandala was  divided into fragments and gifted to students at a final ceremony “We Were Here, Together” — a tangible reminder of their contributions and shared experience.

Impact and Feedback

The workshops proved to be an innovative way to foster peer connection and wellbeing – a departure from traditional academic skills modules, wellbeing sessions and induction activities. By creating a non-hierarchical space, the team enabled students and staff to freely interact, challenging cultural norms around authority and deference in education. This approach helped build trust and understanding - crucial for students who may be hesitant to seek support. The workshops also fostered dialogue and solidarity among students during a period of heightened geopolitical tension (particularly the escalating conflict in South Asia in Spring 2025).

Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• “We barely had the time to get to know each other, but due to this workshop I really got to know all my course mates.”
• “I enjoyed listening to other students talking about their artwork, trying to understand their view of the world around them and how they have been experiencing being at university.”

Students reported feeling less isolated, better connected to their peers, and gaining confidence in navigating university life. Staff also noted that students were more comfortable approaching them afterwards – for skills support, wellbeing advice, or simply to say hello. Notably, student attainment also improved: in one core module, 100% of January students passed on their first attempt.

We Were Here, Together – A Final Celebration

The project concluded with a final event, “We Were Here, Together”, in December 2025, where students and staff gathered to celebrate and reflect on their shared experiences. The event featured a powerful poetry reading by student Yassin, whose words captured themes of hope, belonging, and resilience. In a ceremonial moment, the mandala was carefully cut into fragments and presented to each student as a memento, honouring their contributions and shared journey. To recognise their success, students were presented with the Research Informed Teaching Award, celebrating their creativity and engagement. The atmosphere was warm and inclusive - a fitting end to a project dedicated to dialogue, wellbeing, and community.