The Collective Studio 2025-2026 has begun!

The Collective Studio meets every month for two days of creative exploration over a 10-month period. In the first phase, participants connect through shared experiences that encourage collaboration and gently nudge people out of their comfort zones together. The second phase is more about using guest artists’ practices as a lens for viewing the world and as a tool for helping people start to share their own interests and art forms. Finally, the third phase turns toward the future, addressing the “what next?” question beyond The Collective Studio.

The first workshop of the year, Slop Factory 5000, was led by James Stephen Wright, Polina Chizhova and Paul Raymond, who collaborated with members of the collective to create Blobtopia Brainrotting Wasteland — a physical and digital exhibition showcasing clay creations made during the session. Explore the slop-smeared realities of Blobtopia online here.

Throughout the year, The Collective Studio welcomes a range of guest practitioners, including former members, NewBridge staff, NewBridge members, and commissioned artists. Each collaborator is supported in designing and delivering workshops that align with the Collective’s aims and context. There’s an emphasis on pushing your practice, testing out new ideas, and building confidence during the workshops.

Each year, The Collective Studio evolves, and we may cover similar ground in new ways or explore new territory using tried-and-tested methods. The focus of The Collective is on having interesting, fun, and imaginative experiences as part of a collective, building confidence and making friends, while thinking longer-term about your creative practice.