On Thursday 5th March 2026, members of LocalMotion Lincoln’s local group and guests including creative professionals and staff and volunteers from community hubs across Lincoln came together for a Freewriting Workshop at St Peter At Gowts Church Hall, home to Lincoln Embracing All Nations (LEAN).
The Freewriting Workshop formed part of LocalMotion Lincoln’s Local Plan Review, which started in October 2025 and is due to finish in June 2026.
The workshop was hosted by local artist, creative facilitator and Raising Lincoln Young Voices supporter Georgia Preece and spoken word poet and founder of the Open Mic Night at The Birdcage, Lincoln, Ron Booth.
We had an opportunity to dive deeper into our thoughts and ideas around Culture and Creativity and how engaging in cultural and creative activities can help nurture aspirations within communities in Lincoln.
The Freewriting workshop involved creating individual and collective writing, including poetry around 3 key topic areas – “Climate”, “Poverty” and “Culture”. There was also opportunities to draw and contribute orally to collective creative processes.
Check out the “Tree of Culture”…
What Surfaced During The Freewriting Workshop?
Whilst engaging in the Freewriting Workshop, there were a number of tensions which surfaced in our work:
- Identity vs Creativity: There’s a tension between how people choose to label themselves and a broader idea that creativity exists in everyday thinking and living
- Difference vs Shared Humanity: There’s a delicate balance being struck between celebrating cultural differences and recognising common ground
- Creativity vs Playfulness: Might play be a better or more accessible way of engaging people in collective action rather than using the word “creativity”, which can feel formalised and even intimidating to some?
- Natural Creativity vs Structural Barriers: There’s a tension between creativity as something “natural” and trying to be creative within restrictive and judgemental systems
- Desire for Expression vs Need for Space: People want to create but time, space and (sometimes) permission are needed
- Learning vs Lack of Awareness: There’s a tension between cultural richness and having a lack of awareness of creative work and activities from different cultures (often due to lack of visibility and access to platforms to showcase work).
Matti Colley, Community Communications Lead for LocalMotion Lincoln says: “The Freewriting Workshop hosted brilliantly by Georgia and Ron provided everyone with a nurturing space to tap into their curiosity and creativity in an empowering and radically honest way.
There was lots of conversations around the room about the importance of access to creative activities within our communities. How to facilitate that access is more than just about securing funding and increasing the availability and affordability of rooms and spaces to be creative in.
Lincoln is being increasingly recognised nationally and internationally as a centre for creativity and innovation in the East Midlands and there are increasing opportunities for joyful collaboration and celebration. That’s something we can be really proud of as a city.”
Huge Thank You to Georgia and Ron for running the Freewriting Workshop!
Want to know more about our work in Lincoln? Leave us a comment or email us at lincoln@localmotion.org.uk