Creative work & community arts
Selected recent examples from our community.
Children and families taking part in visual arts, recycled-material sculpture, music, reading and folk dance through Unity of Migrant Workers in Hackney.
Selected recent examples · July 2026
Participatory making
Recycled-material sculpture workshop
Hands-on making, shared learning and creative problem-solving.
Children and parents worked together to transform clean plastic bottles and everyday materials into imaginative characters. The session combined planning, cutting, joining, painting and decoration, with close adult support. It encouraged experimentation, problem-solving and shared learning in a welcoming community setting.
- Creative confidence — children made independent choices about shape, colour and character
- Practical skills — construction, safe tool use and mixed materials
- Social connection — families and children learned alongside one another
From materials to finished work
Children presenting original sculptures
Each participant developed a distinct design and colour scheme, then presented the finished sculpture. Visible outcomes gave children a clear sense of achievement and a reason to talk about their creative decisions.
Individual design
Painting and detail
Proudly presented
Further funding would allow UMW to provide paid facilitator and assistant roles, small creative commissions, mentoring and clearer pathways from volunteering into paid community arts delivery.
Visual arts
Drawing, painting and public display
UMW runs supervised drawing and painting sessions where children can practise technique, make choices and develop ideas at their own pace. The sessions are structured but welcoming, allowing different ages and confidence levels to participate.
Finished work is displayed in UMW's community venue, giving children a visible sense that their ideas and effort are valued — and turning the space into a small, locally rooted exhibition environment.
- Calm concentration and confidence in making choices
- Pride in completed work and peer encouragement
- Stronger connection between children, families and the venue
Music, rhythm and shared stories
Creative group activities that support listening, confidence and belonging
Structured music and small-group reading create space for children to listen, respond and take part — keeping imagination at the centre.
Rhythm and group participation
Children explored rhythm through a guided group drumming activity. Structured music sessions support concentration, listening, coordination and positive participation with peers.
Story, imagination and conversation
Small-group reading and discussion create space for children to listen, respond and share ideas. This strengthens language confidence while keeping creative participation at the centre.
- Listening, coordination and positive peer participation
- Language confidence through shared stories and conversation
- A safe, welcoming setting with clear boundaries and bilingual delivery
Activities are supervised and delivered with clear boundaries, reporting pathways, safer recruitment and DBS checks where roles require them. Bilingual communication and family-friendly delivery help reduce barriers for participation.
Culturally rooted participation
Folk dance and cultural connection
Group folk-dance sessions create a practical way for children to learn movement, cooperate with others and connect with cultural heritage. The activity is inclusive, social and adaptable for mixed ages and confidence levels. It also provides a route for community members with cultural knowledge to progress into supported assistant, facilitator or commissioned roles.
- Greater confidence joining group activity
- Coordination, memory and positive peer relationships
- Pride in cultural knowledge and stronger community links
What these examples show
A strong foundation for further creative work
These sessions show existing delivery capacity — and where funding can deepen paid roles, mentoring and pathways into community arts.
- 01
Participation
Children and families actively make, rehearse, discuss and present work rather than attending as passive audiences.
- 02
Access
Activities take place in familiar community settings, with bilingual communication, simple processes and family-friendly delivery.
- 03
Progression
Regular sessions allow skills and confidence to build; funding can support paid roles, micro-commissions, mentoring and supervised pathways into delivery.
- 04
Learning
UMW can track attendance, participant feedback, creative outputs, skills gained and movement into volunteer, commissioned or paid roles.
Work with us
Support the next stage of community arts.
If you are a funder or partner interested in creative work with migrant families in Hackney, we would like to hear from you.