GOBS Artist Gathering: Creativity, Wellbeing, Workshops & Showcase

Join GOBS Collective for a full day of workshops, creative exploration and performance at New Art Exchange as part of Green Hustle Festival.

This relaxed artist gathering invites you to slow down, connect with others and explore creativity through poetry, nature, music, performance and making. Throughout the day there will be opportunities to share ideas and develop new creative work before closing with an evening showcase, where workshop attendees will be invited to perform alongside GOBS Collective’s Cara Thompson, Bridie Squires, Leanne Moden and Davina Songbird.

Sessions are open to all levels – whether you are an experienced artist, an emerging writer or simply curious to try something creative.

Yoga and Poetic Intentions
With Bridie Squires

• Performance Space, New Art Exchange
• 10am – 11am

Begin the day with a gentle yoga session designed to open up our intentions for the day through woven-in poetry writing practice. This relaxed session connects breath, movement and creativity, helping you to settle into the day and create space for reflection and poetic inspiration. Suitable for everyone.

Yoga and writing equipment will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own.

Nature Connection & Writing
With Camille McCawley and Sonia Burns

• Corner Café, New Art Exchange
• Meet: 11.15am. Start: 11.30am. Ends: 1pm.

Through grounding exercises, mindful observation, and reflective writing, we will slow down and reconnect with the natural world. The focus is not on perfect poems, but on creating space for rest, reflection, and creative renewal.

This gentle workshop explores nature connection as a pathway to wellbeing and creativity, drawing on recognised programmes.

• We meet at the Corner Café at 11.15am, leaving at 11.30am for a session in the Learning Room or Forest Recreation Ground (weather dependent).
• The Forest Rec walk takes 10–15 minutes with a slight incline.
• Alternatively, meet behind Homemade Cafe at 11.30am (car park available). Dress for weather; bring a notebook and pen.

Writing in the Gallery
With Leanne Moden

• Learning Room & Gallery Space, New Art Exchange
• 11.30am – 1pm

This workshop explores creative writing inspired by artworks and the gallery environment.

We will practise observation, descriptive writing and imaginative responses to visual prompts. The session encourages slowing down and paying close attention to the details around us, using the gallery space as a starting point for new creative work. The exhibition will be the New Art Exchange Open.

Suitable for all ages and abilities. Meet in the Learning Room.

Clothes Swap Poetry
With Gail Webb

• Performance Space, New Art Exchange
• 11.30am – 1pm

A playful sustainable poetry workshop exploring clothing as a portal to memory, identity and imagination.

You are invited to bring an item, or small bag, of clothing to swap or donate. The session includes writing prompts, sharing poems and a clothes swap, delivered by Gail Webb (@heartwoodpoetry). Any leftover donated items will be offered to a local charity as part of the wider Green Hustle sustainability ethos.

Fancy dress optional – come as you are!

Singing and Spoken Word with Music
With Davina Songbird

• Performance Space, New Art Exchange
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm

An uplifting singing and spoken word workshop focused on finding and strengthening your voice.

Participants will explore vocal warm-ups, performance skills and techniques to explore singing practice. You’ll experiment with range, confidence and stage presence in a supportive environment. Then we’ll experiment with combining our poetry with music.

Keys player Ed Simons will also be in attendance to accompany the session.

No previous singing experience required.

Mini-Zine Making
With Sarah Wheatley

• Learning Room, New Art Exchange
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Create your own handmade mini-zine using recycled and repurposed materials, reflecting the sustainability ethos of the Green Hustle Festival.

This relaxed and welcoming workshop invites participants to experiment with collage, poetry, drawing and playful storytelling. All materials are provided and everyone will leave with a unique mini-zine to take home.

Suitable for all ages and abilities.

The Show: Crafting a Full-Length Performance
With Ben Macpherson

• Performance Space, New Art Exchange
• 4pm – 6pm

A workshop for poets and performers interested in developing their work into a cohesive live show.

You will explore storytelling, performance skills, creating work to brief and ways to connect individual pieces into a larger narrative. By the end of the session, you will leave with the beginnings of a show concept that could be developed for future performances.

Poetry Praise Sandwich
With Sonia Burns and Camille McCawley

• Corner Café, New Art Exchange
• 5pm – 6.30pm

A welcoming, peer-led session for sharing poetry and developing work in progress. Bring along your poems generated throughout the day at GOBS Artist Gathering, or something else you’ve been working on. Using the Poetry Praise Sandwich method, this workshop centres generosity, listening, and constructive feedback. You’ll share your own work and receive supportive responses from the group.

There’ll also be Poetry Karaoke! Bring a poem you love or choose one from those provided. This session creates a brave, collaborative space focused on creative growth rather than critique.

Evening Showcase
With GOBS Collective & Friends

Hosted by Armor Craw

• Corner Café, New Art Exchange
• Doors: 7pm
• Show: 7.30pm – 9pm

Close the day with an evening of live poetry and performance featuring GOBS members:

• Cara Thompson
• Bridie Squires
• Davina Songbird
• Leanne Moden

Workshop attendees will also have the opportunity to share work created during the day as part of the showcase.

Expect a vibrant mix of spoken word, music and creative collaboration celebrating the voices and ideas explored throughout the gathering.

GOBS Artist Gathering is part of Green Hustle festival, and is supported by New Art Exchange, Apples and Snake and Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature.

About GOBS Collective

GOBS Collective is a Nottingham-based spoken word poetry collective, founded in 2020.

We create and host workshops, performances, showcases, book clubs and creative programmes, supporting poets and artists to develop their craft and share their work.

At the heart of GOBS is a commitment to collaboration, community and creative growth, bringing people together to connect, experiment and build confidence in a welcoming and inclusive space.

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