Calico Projects

Impact in Action

Real sessions, real outcomes, real people, across four libraries in Lewisham.

This page brings together photos, films, testimonials and reports from across Calico Projects’ work in Lewisham, organised by the areas we focus on: Creativity, Stories & Learning; Heritage & Cultural Exchange; Inclusion & Community Belonging; and Advice & Community Support.

Each card is a real moment from our programme, from a workshop session through to a partnership outcome, and is tagged by theme, library, and the year it took place. Use the filters above to explore a specific area, library or funding period, or browse everything as one collection.

We track our impact through attendance and participation numbers, qualitative feedback from the people we work with, and ongoing partnerships with organisations including Citizens Advice Lewisham, Catbytes Digital Community, the Black British Book Festival and UAL. The testimonials and reports in our Impact section reflect what that work means in practice, in the words of the people experiencing it.

This page is updated regularly as new work happens across our four libraries and community spaces, so it gives the most current picture of what we’re doing and why.

Creativity, Stories & Learning

Supporting people to discover, create and connect through writing, literature, art and shared experiences.

Growing confident readers through shared stories and a love of books.

Junior Book Club

Our Junior Book Club created welcoming spaces for young readers to discover new books, share ideas and build confidence through discussion and creativity. Due to high demand, the programme expanded from a single group to additional sessions at Crofton Park with awarding winning author, Anna Dempsey, reaching even more children through a shared love of reading.

Artist studios with integrated childcare, hosted at House on the Hill.

Mother House Studios Lewisham

Mother House Studios Lewisham is a creative studio space for professional artists who are parents or carers, based at House on the Hill. Artists work in an open-plan studio while children play in an adjacent dedicated space, with care shared between facilitators and studio members. The model removes a significant barrier to arts practice for parents, particularly mothers, by making childcare and creative work genuinely compatible. Founded by Procreate Project, the Lewisham studio opened in 2024 and is part of a wider movement to support under-represented voices in the arts and creative sector.

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A new gallery and studio space for hire as part of our charitable arts programme.

Under the Whale

Under the Whale is Calico Arts’ gallery and flexible studio space at Calico Deptford on New King Street, open to artists and creatives looking to exhibit work, run workshops and classes, or photograph their practice. The space sits beneath Butch Attai’s anamorphic fin whale, painted on the rooftop as part of his 2026 mural commission and referencing the true story of a young whale caught in the Thames right outside this building in 1842. Under the Whale operates as part of Calico’s charitable arts programme, with income from studio hire at Calico Deptford helping to fund four free community libraries across Lewisham.

A community-designed mural for Sydenham Library

Flight of Imagination

In February 2026, Calico Arts commissioned muralist Eli Delbaere to create a permanent mural for Sydenham Library, designed in collaboration with the community through two of the library’s existing free workshop sessions. Eli joined Susan Rafique’s weekly drop-in session and the classes of Anna Arianova, Sydenham Library’s artist in residence, to lead participants through drawings and paintings exploring Sydenham’s wildlife and fairytale themes. Using a co-design technique called copylefting, each participant’s work was passed to another to develop further, with one drawing of books transforming into butterflies becoming the seed of an entire concept, completed by a second participant who added lettering drawn from medieval illuminated manuscripts. Eli developed two full designs from the workshop material, which were then painted by Sydenham residents and children from Home Park School. Library users voted on the final design, and Flight of Imagination was selected and painted on the wall.

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Supporting early literacy, language and connection through stories, songs and shared reading.

Rhyme Time and Story Time

Across all four libraries, our free Rhyme Time and Story Time sessions brought children and families together to enjoy songs, stories and shared reading, supporting early language development and a lifelong love of books.

UAL collaboration

It’s All About Love

Through the ‘It’s All About Love’ collaboration with UAL MA Service Design, participants explored creativity, books and community through projects that used design as a tool for connection, reflection and building relationships.

Imagined Worlds 2025

In the Bag of Stars

The 2025 Imagined Worlds Creative Writing Competition celebrated emerging writers from across London, culminating in a showcase event and the launch of In the Bag of Stars, the first publication from Calico Press featuring winning entries and work from our Teens Creative Writing Club.

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Sydenham Library

Art with Anna

Through free workshops with Sydenham Library’s artist in residence Anna Arianova, children and young people explored painting, drawing and collaborative art projects, building creative confidence and developing new skills in a welcoming community space.

ChildrenCommunityYoung peopleArtWorkshopsCreativityStoriesLearningFamiliesWritingBooksLibrariesReadingImaginationExpression

Heritage & Cultural Exchange

Celebrating traditions, sharing lived experiences, and creating opportunities for cultural connection and understanding.

Celebrating heritage through culture, creativity and shared experiences.

ESEA Heritage Month

As part of ESEA Heritage Month, we ran a series of events celebrating traditional Chinese arts and culture, including Chinese paper cutting, bilingual Chinese-English story times for children, Chinese calligraphy workshops, and an introduction to the four treasures of Chinese calligraphy: brush, ink, paper and stone. Designed and hosted by Forest Hill Library’s artist-in-residence, Carry Hornby, thanks to a grant from Lewisham Council.

CelebrationHeritageMusicIdentityDanceTraditionCommunityStoriesCalligraphyCultureLewishamExchange
Forest Hill Library

Maasai Music and Dance

Forest Hill Library welcomed a live performance of traditional Maasai music and dance as part of a cultural exchange project, offering audiences an opportunity to experience Maasai storytelling, culture and perspectives on education, community and cultural preservation.

Inclusion & Community Belonging

Creating welcoming spaces that reflect, celebrate and strengthen our diverse communities.

Artist studios with integrated childcare, hosted at House on the Hill.

Mother House Studios Lewisham

Mother House Studios Lewisham is a creative studio space for professional artists who are parents or carers, based at House on the Hill. Artists work in an open-plan studio while children play in an adjacent dedicated space, with care shared between facilitators and studio members. The model removes a significant barrier to arts practice for parents, particularly mothers, by making childcare and creative work genuinely compatible. Founded by Procreate Project, the Lewisham studio opened in 2024 and is part of a wider movement to support under-represented voices in the arts and creative sector.

Read more
A community-designed mural for Sydenham Library

Flight of Imagination

In February 2026, Calico Arts commissioned muralist Eli Delbaere to create a permanent mural for Sydenham Library, designed in collaboration with the community through two of the library’s existing free workshop sessions. Eli joined Susan Rafique’s weekly drop-in session and the classes of Anna Arianova, Sydenham Library’s artist in residence, to lead participants through drawings and paintings exploring Sydenham’s wildlife and fairytale themes. Using a co-design technique called copylefting, each participant’s work was passed to another to develop further, with one drawing of books transforming into butterflies becoming the seed of an entire concept, completed by a second participant who added lettering drawn from medieval illuminated manuscripts. Eli developed two full designs from the workshop material, which were then painted by Sydenham residents and children from Home Park School. Library users voted on the final design, and Flight of Imagination was selected and painted on the wall.

Read more
Imagined Worlds - In the Bag of Stars

Read the zine

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Space for connection and compassionate support.

Simply Listening

Through Simply Listening, we offer a free community listening service that created a welcoming, non-judgemental space for people to share experiences, feel heard and connect through compassionate conversation.

I wanted to personally thank you and the Forest Hill Library team for generously providing me with the workshop space to use for this project. Your collaboration was invaluable in the realisation of this project, turned creative lab, which I am now seeking funding for. It’s provided carers and young people with Down syndrome a creative space to reimagine their sense of belonging and how Lewisham can better cater to it.

Kare NeilFounder - Imaginations of Us
Disability Arts Partnership

Imaginations of Us

Imaginations of Us partnered with Downs Friendship and Creativity Group, Lewisham’s only Down syndrome family support group, hosted at Forest Hill Library. Through craft and conversation, young adults with Down syndrome explored their sense of place, identity and belonging, creating personal works that reimagined how the world sees them.

Everyone was friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed the creative atmosphere and the opportunity to express my personal story through collage while meeting people from different backgrounds.

Event AttendeeCourage, Conversations, Collage
Community Exhibition

Internal Landscapes

Internal Landscapes brought together Lewisham residents through storytelling, writing and visual arts to explore the places that shape their lives, resulting in a collective exhibition reflecting the borough’s shared experiences and communities.

DiversityBooksCommunityLoved & WantedLGBTQ+WelcomeVoicesZinesStoriesRefugeesBelongingArtCourageInclusionSanctuaryMigration
Collaboration with Sassify Zine for LGBTQ+ History Month

Queer Zine Workshop

To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, Manor House Library hosted a Queer Zine Workshop and social with Jason from Sassify Zine, bringing people together to explore queer zine culture and create their own self-published work in a welcoming and creative space.

May Day & Refugee Week 2026

Sanctuary in Sydenham

Through two workshops marking May Day and Refugee Week 2026, our Sanctuary in Sydenham series brough people to share stories of migration and common land, explore themes of courage and sanctuary, and create collaborative artwork for a community zine.

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Collaboration with Black British Book Festival

Black Book Community Library

In partnership with the Black British Book Festival, Sydenham Library became home to a dedicated collection of contemporary Black British literature, celebrating the richness, diversity and creativity of Black writing across genres and generations.

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Advice & Community Support

Providing accessible services, trusted information and practical support for local communities.

Trusted support for parents and carers.

Baby Wearing Advice

Led by Martha San of The Baby Brain, Forest Hill and Crofton Park hosted free drop-in babywearing sessions offering parents and carers expert advice and practical support on slings, carriers and baby equipment, creating an accessible space for families to build confidence and connect with others.

Partnership with Citizens Advice Lewisham

Citizens Advice Booth

Sydenham Library introduced a free advice booth offering confidential support, self-help resources and direct access to advisers on topics including housing, benefits, debt and consumer rights.

Weekly drop-in

Digital Support Drop-in

In partnership with Catbytes Digital Community, we offered free weekly drop-in digital support sessions, helping library users build confidence with technology, access online services and get practical help with devices and digital tasks.

Connecting residents with local services and decision-makers.

Local Advice & Civic Support

Through regular PCSO drop-in sessions and councillor surgeries at Crofton Park Library, we provided accessible opportunities for residents to seek advice, raise local issues and connect directly with community and civic support services.

CommunityDigitalInclusionWellbeingAdviceConfidenceInformationBenefitsSupportAccessLibrariesEmpowermentLewishamHousingSkills

Impact in Action

Voices, outcomes, and evidence of the change we help create.

Train play sessions for autistic, ADHD and SEND children, a Calico Projects collaboration with Lochaber Hall Community Association

On Track Lewisham

On Track Lewisham runs relaxed, child-led train play sessions for autistic, ADHD and SEND children at Lochaber Hall in Lewisham. Using a huge collection of Tomy Trackmaster sets, children build the track, run the engines and take charge of the whole layout at their own pace. Sessions are designed around sensory and social needs, with no fixed programme and no pressure. Parents and carers are welcome to stay and join in or sit back. No formal diagnosis or referral needed.

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A new gallery and studio space for hire as part of our charitable arts programme.

Under the Whale

Under the Whale is Calico Arts’ gallery and flexible studio space at Calico Deptford on New King Street, open to artists and creatives looking to exhibit work, run workshops and classes, or photograph their practice. The space sits beneath Butch Attai’s anamorphic fin whale, painted on the rooftop as part of his 2026 mural commission and referencing the true story of a young whale caught in the Thames right outside this building in 1842. Under the Whale operates as part of Calico’s charitable arts programme, with income from studio hire at Calico Deptford helping to fund four free community libraries across Lewisham.

I wanted to personally thank you and the Forest Hill Library team for generously providing me with the workshop space to use for this project. Your collaboration was invaluable in the realisation of this project, turned creative lab, which I am now seeking funding for. It’s provided carers and young people with Down syndrome a creative space to reimagine their sense of belonging and how Lewisham can better cater to it.

Kare NeilFounder - Imaginations of Us

Impact Report 2025

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Cultural exchangeBelongingLewishamConnectionRefugeesMigrationInclusionArtBooksDigital skillsCreativityLGBTQ+Young peopleHeritageAdviceWritingWellbeingCommunityLibrariesStories