By Jessica Riches, 2025
Arts and communities
About this theme
This theme covers topics relating to achieving positive change and resilience for UK communities of all kinds through engagement with arts, culture and creative practices. It is one of our current programmes for Fellowships, launched in 2023, and has been developed in consultation with our Arts and Culture working group. Fellows’ stories
Zoe Gilbertson looks back on her Fellowship exploring flax and bioregional resilience across Europe. She shares how learning from community-focused projects shaped her understanding of how local production can be rebuilt through culture, creativity, and collaboration. Now, through her organisation Liflad, she is working to revitalise flax and linen production in the UK, with her work being supported by growing networks and shared learning across Europe and beyond.
By Zoe Gilbertson, 2026
During her Churchill Fellowship, songwriter Hannah Louise Partridge – known professionally as Anna Anise – explored how collaborative songwriting retreats in the United States help musicians build confidence, connection, and lasting creative networks. Drawing on visits to six retreat programmes, she reflects on the power of shared creative space to support wellbeing and sustain musical careers. Now applying this learning through her organisation CHORUS Songwriting CIC, she is developing retreats that strengthen community and widen access to songwriting across the UK.
By Hannah Louise Partridge, 2026
By JoJo Kirtley, 2024
By Hazel Stone, 2025
JoJo Kirtley reflects on balancing her Churchill Fellowship with life as a mother of three while exploring how survivor-led theatre can challenge violence against women and girls. Drawing on learning from practitioners across Europe, North America, and Africa, she shares how community-led creative work can build safety, solidarity, and lasting change. Now developing her Theatre of the Survivor framework in the North East of England, JoJo is putting this learning into practice to support women and communities.
By JoJo Kirtley, 2026
Lost Souls Events, founded by Hannah Stanislaus (CF 2023), announced the release of The Anthology 2026, the first publication from its new publishing house.
By Hannah Stanislaus, 2026
By Owen Bushell, 2024
By Hannah Louise Partridge, 2024
Dominic Heslop’s Churchill Fellowship explored the “cultural architecture” that allows creativity to thrive and communities to heal, taking him to Jamaica, Berlin, and Athens – each offering lessons in resilience, expression, and collective care. Back in Sheffield, Dominic is embedding these insights into his grassroots organisation Slambarz, combining artistry with structure to support young people, build community, and show how creativity can strengthen wellbeing and identity.
By Dominic Heslop, 2025