03.06.25
It’s in our collective interest to take a proactive approach to nurturing the talent and values that will lead us to tomorrow. This is why Creative Dundee runs Fabric, a peer leadership programme which connects and inspires people who are actively interested in shaping the city’s future.
It’s always a huge privilege to run our Fabric journey. With the fourth edition now complete, we want to share some reflections on the experience – how we created space for a small group to come together, share their insights and experiences, get inspired by current doers and connectors in Dundee and beyond, and discuss how collectively we make Dundee even better.
Sharing further, these insights note how this year’s Fabric journey has influenced the group’s perception of Dundee as a valuable place to explore work in sustainability, community or justice.
“I already knew Dundee was an incredible place, but spending time with the variety of awesome humans on this programme has deepened my appreciation and understanding of what the city and its people have to offer in creating a resilient community.”
Shona Cherry, Dundee Changemakers Hub Manager
Supported by Dundee Changemakers Hub, this year’s Fabric was carefully curated with content and experiences that focused on sharing insights into projects and good practice that respect and connect with people and nature; inspiring and connecting work from those developing caring and inclusive creative engagement, and those working closely with communities to build resilience and positive change across the city – and most often a mix of both.
We were delighted to deliver the content of this programme in partnership with many amazing community-led organisations and creative practitioners, including expert contribution from: Lynsey Penny, Director of Transition Dundee; Sandy Greene, Director of ScrapAntics; Ele Roscoe from Dundee Changemakers Hub; Suzanne Scott and Rod Mountain’s Toadstool Trail; social worker and activist, Fatima Ishaq; facilitator and author, Briana Pegado; creator and activist, Ink Asher Hemp; Alexander Daniels from Transition Dundee’s Gleaning Project; Manuela de los Rios, Garden Mentor at MAXwell’s Community Garden; Jennifer White, Director of Forgan Arts Centre; Nadège Depiesse-Borgeal, Development Worker at Campy Growers; Claire Cooper from Bioregioning Tayside; and the wonderful team at The Scottish Crannog Centre – giving us valuable insights into their work, values and knowledge, and facilitating shared learning and reflections.
“I was inspired to hear and see organisations opening up different ways of seeing/thinking and being, which always gives me hope to continue to push my own radical imagination beyond the limits of anyone’s gaze.”
Anonymous feedback from Fabric participant
Throughout this experience, participants were also involved in the delivery of the programme – giving talks, writing blogs, and designing reflection and learning tools – including: Cara Rooney, who created bold and colourful illustrations of the 12 Permaculture Design Principles, and Eirinn Leigh Reay (through Agency of None), who designed a visual map to help participants identify and reflect on their discoveries, learnings and new connections. A participant reflected: “This was a collective experience which made it all the more richer.”
You can read more about each session in this series of blogs, spotlighting four participants’ experiences of the journey – from coming together for the first time in a room to play without agenda, to gradually moving out of their comfort zones, exploring new concepts, and enlarging their perspectives of our place:
“Fabric has been an amazing experience, opening me up to new ways of thinking particularly when considering sustainability in practice. Radical hospitality and slow working, alongside the permaculture principles, have been especially inspiring. These methodologies are certainly not easy, but the Fabric cohort has taught me that there are many like-minded inspiring people to be found throughout Dundee.”
Elizabeth Ann Day, Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee
Fabric offers a rare and valuable opportunity to slow down, reconnect with creativity, and build a meaningful community. Carving much-needed time and space to explore and reflect with others on how our creative practices and social impacts can be deepened in confidence and relevance, building better understanding of how our work connects with and benefits the city, and providing inspiration from other creative leaders.
Participants made the most of this time spent away from everyday routines, immersing themselves in thoughtful, collaborative spaces. One participant reflected, “Taking time, working slower… was brilliant,” while another noted that the programme provided “a creative break… which is such a positive in a world where you feel like you have to justify the use of your time.” Participants especially valued the immersive field visits, the spirit of radical hospitality, and the organic connections that grew from shared experiences.
Connection emerged as a powerful takeaway — not just within the creative sector but across disciplines and communities. Many participants formed new and lasting relationships, and Fabric was described as a ‘bridging opportunity’ to socialise outside of work; reconnecting with the local community and fellow creatives, and activating new collaborations.
“Since the final Fabric session I have been thinking about how connected I feel to other people in Dundee and that I can come together with others to make a difference in the community. This is something I have struggled with a lot in previous cities, partly because of their size and partly because I was always meeting people in passing. Having the time to slow down and connect with people to discuss things and get to know each other is something I really need and Fabric allowed for that. I am so excited for the months and years ahead, to further nourish those connections and see the ripples from our time together through the community and beyond.”
James Morwood, game-maker and artist, part of Bit Loom and Biome Collective
The programme also sparked critical insights around sustainability, access, and justice, introducing permaculture ethics and design principles, and exploring bioregioning and disability justice.
The integration of these themes into practice was described as empowering: “The 12 principles of permaculture have now been firmly embedded in my way of thinking.” While others left with a deeper understanding of accessibility and community, learning that “if you want to feel a sense of community, you have to actively be a part of it.”
“It was vital and refreshing to have a session openly exploring how to make your practice more accessible. Lived experience plays a key role in understanding people’s needs. I should not be designing services or spaces for someone that I haven’t involved throughout the process.”
Anonymous feedback from Fabric participant
Overall, Fabric was seen as an enriching, grounding, and transformational experience – a programme that not only fostered connection and reflection but also equipped participants to bring these values into their future work.
“Fabric was a timely reminder to continue on the path of disruption to push for a more equal and sustainable world which we all deserve.”
Anonymous feedback from Fabric participants
“Immersive experience […] discovering deep grounding and connectivity of the great work being carried out in and around the city. As someone who is still discovering Dundee it was super helpful to have an understanding of local places/people who are doing work that aligns with my own value base and also how these interconnect with us and one another.”
We are grateful for Dundee Changemakers Hub for supporting this year’s Fabric journey, allowing us to create a rich programme of content, field trips and cross-learning opportunities. A special thanks also to Scottish Community Alliance for funding the community learning exchange with The Scottish Crannog Centre.
Founded in 2023, Dundee Changemakers Hub is part of a growing national network of Climate Action Hubs funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Action Fund, which aim to build local awareness of the climate emergency, develop local plans, help groups take up funding opportunities, and contribute to a Just Transition. They recently published some reflections on last year’s achievements and what to expect next.
Creative Dundee was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Hub, alongside four local community organisations: Transition Dundee, The MAXwell Centre, ScrapAntics, and Uppertunity. The Hub offers support, events, workshops and micro-grants to connect and amplify collective community action, with creativity and inclusion at the heart of all they do.
Claire Dufour, Creative Producer with Creative Dundee, who hosted Fabric, reflects on our next steps with this partnership:
“Two years ago, five social enterprises came together to imagine and shape a new initiative: Dundee Changemakers Hub. It’s been an incredible journey together, we have learned so much from each other and have been in awe of the many impressive activities delivered since.
We feel Creative Dundee’s strengths lie in the idea development, design and demonstration stages of projects, and we know that the creative processes we’ve helped put in place will continue to prove useful going forward. Now that Dundee Changemakers Hub is firmly established with brilliant partners and staff, we have decided it is the right time to step back from the partnership.
We are so proud of being part of this journey, with such brilliant fellow social enterprises, and we will always advocate for Dundee Changemakers Hub!”
Alexander Daniels (Alex) is working for Transition Dundee as Gleaning Coordinator. He helps to save food from waste at local growers / farmers – any surplus, leftover or outgraded produce. This includes organising volunteers and community groups to help with harvesting of the surplus produce and distributing the produce to local community food projects.
Cara Rooney is an illustrator and plaything maker based in Dundee. Through her creative practice, she encourages connection to nature and a sense of child-like curiosity through illustrations, workshops and live drawings — and hopes to influence change by connecting local people and children to their city and the nature around them.
Eirinn Leigh Reay is a Scottish designer and 1/4 of Agency of None, a Dundee-based design agency. The projects that give her the most joy and satisfaction are those that involve designing for good. Her Instagram is @reay.el if you would like to see what she gets up to!
Ele Roscoe is a craftsperson and community artist, making ceramic sculpture and jewellery as well as illustrated zines in their own practice. As a community artist they facilitate workshops to support folks’ wellbeing and mental health through exploring individual creativity in visual arts practice/making. They also run the Art Group at DIWC and worked as Hub Coordinator for Dundee Changemakers Hub. Check their creative diary at @kippleandpelf and on Etsy.
Elizabeth Ann Day (Lizzie) is a Dundee-based programmer and arts organiser, who specialises in the utilisation of non-traditional settings for works of contemporary art and design. In the position of Project Coordinator at UNESCO City of Design Dundee, she recently delivered Dundee Design Festival 2024, the festival’s largest iteration yet.
Fatima Ishaq is a student, youth worker and activist; passionate about social justice, supporting others to reach their potential, and supporting communities to drive change. In her spare time, she loves exploring and connecting with nature!
Francesca Bibby is currently a curator at V&A Dundee and previously worked in exhibition curation, rapid response collecting and artist residency facilitation at various museums and galleries in Manchester. Her independent research explores climate resilience and the development of sustainable design methodologies through nature-based solutions, traditional knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
James Morwood is a game-maker and artist, part of Bit Loom and Biome Collective. Fascinated by play in the everyday, recently he’s been drawing fantastical crowds and crafting branching zines. James enjoys volunteering with Tinderbox youth games club, Stobswell wee forest and Transition Dundee’s gleaning project. Find him at https://jctm.neocities.org.
Kirsten Wallace is passionate about sharing the power of design through community learning and outreach, and is one of two Project Coordinators for UNESCO City of Design Dundee. Outside her role, she fills her time with as many creative outlets as she possibly can, from sewing to singing!
Manuela de los Rios is an interdisciplinary artist, community gardener and organiser based in Dundee. She works creatively with people to make our neighbourhoods and cities better places for nature and people to thrive in.
Ravideep Kaur is a writer, poet, speaker and facilitator based in Dundee. Her approach is multifaceted but centres the intentional disruption of oppressive structures – specifically, those that reside within us and distract us from reclaiming our wholeness. Check out her work and read more about her consulting and coaching.
Rhiannon Rose Moore (Rio) works with communities on a variety of projects, most recently the Wild in Art Sculpture Trails as an Artist Coordinator. She enjoys bringing together artists and making them a group, sharing their stories so that they can feel comfortable learning peer to peer, but also being inspired by each other. Her work is varied, from Messy Play practitioner, Shamanic Practitioner, Artist/Sculptor, Community Organiser and Face Painter. As a consequence she meets a lot of people and enjoys creating Space for Play and Creativity.
Robert Cook sees himself as a ‘background worker’ and has served in roles (mainly clerical or financial) that enable others with a more creative streak to be active in their roles – bringing his lived experience to enable others to grow through the life issues they face as they seek reassurance and to grow in confidence. He looks forward to rejoining as a member of the CRF panel for his local area, which sought to improve the well-being of residents through funding local projects and initiatives. He’s also been part of men’s groups (including Andy’s Man Club), giving peer support.
Rod Mountain, alongside Suzanne Scott, is developing ‘Toadstool trails’ as a playful way to get young and older people outdoors having fun together in spaces close to home, connecting with nature. They are forming partnerships with the Dundee Botanic Gardens, RSPB, NHS Tayside, Maxwell centre, Education Scotland, Eden Project and the RSA. Keep a lookout for a ‘Toadstool Trail‘ popping-up near you!
Suzanne Scott (WhimSicAL LusH) is an artist and illustrator based in Dundee. Her work spans illustration and the creation of murals, sculptures, and interactive art installations, often featuring whimsical themes inspired by nature and folklore. She loves being outdoors, having fun! Check out her work and connect on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest & Etsy: all @whimsicallush.
Shona Cherry is Hub Coordinator at Dundee Changemakers, and has been working in sustainability, mainly in food and drink, for 6 years. Her work-life of over 30+ years has taken her through many industries, sectors and roles, and led her to return to a role supporting and serving the incredible people of Dundee.
Skye Sutherland is a community-centred designer focused on enhancing health and well-being through creative, inclusive practices. Her work often blends traditional design practice with digital technology, fostering exploration and growth. She’s dedicated to driving social impact and environmental justice through innovative design solutions that empower and connect diverse communities.
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