This Autumn we will be building on the abundance of Lumsden and all that has grown and prospered within the local area throughout the summer months. Combining locally grown materials with photography, print, ceramics and mouldmaking processes this season you will have a chance to get your hands dirty and your minds engaged as you work with artists to explore what is possible in the Community Making Space at SSW.
Each free session of the Autumn season will explore how we are able to get creative in more regenerative ways – whether this means learning how to ditch the harmful chemicals used in photography in favour of plant-based developers or creating inks and prints from plants grown at SSW or sustainably foraged in the local area.
The Autumn programme will begin with our October Holiday Kids Club, followed by our weekly Mid Week Makes and monthly Clay Socials. Alongside these sessions, our Community Fridge will continue to run every Thursday, 10:30am – 11:30am.
This autumn, we’ll also be kicking off our New Makers School bringing artists and makers to Lumsden Primary and Alford Academy and together with pupils they will be experimenting with a range of materials to learn a range of contemporary sculptural practices and explore materials in both sensory and creative ways.
This Autumn Season in the CMS is supported by the Hugo Burge foundation and the Rural Challenge Community Fund. The season forms part of SSW’s wider Big Shift Programme – helping us work towards Net Zero emissions across our workshop site and grow a regenerative culture that aims to actively heal, restore, and renew ourselves, our communities and the land around us.
Programme Dates
October Holiday Kids Club
Monday 19 October – Wednesday 21 October 2026
10am – 1:30pm
Mid Week Makes
Wednesday 28 October – Seeing Differently: Photography, Plants and Sustainable Making with Axel Hadiquet
Wednesday 4 November – Seeing Differently: Photography, Plants and Sustainable Making with Axel Hadiquet
Wednesday 11 November – From Plant to Pigment: Making Natural Inks – Part 1 with Jessica Crisp
Wednesday 18 November – From Plant to Pigment: Making Natural Inks – Part 2 with Jessica Crisp
Wednesday 25 November – Willow Wreath Making – Part 1 with Deeside Willow
Wednesday 2 December – Willow Wreath Making – Part 1 with Deeside Willow
Wednesday 9 December – Seeing Differently: Photography, Plants and Sustainable Making with Axel Hadiquet
Wednesday 16 December – Willow Wreath Making – Part 2 with Deeside Willow (for both groups who were in Part 1)
Clay Socials
Friday 23 October, 6-8pm
Friday 27 November, 6-8pm
Friday 11 December, 6-8pm
Community Fridge
Every Thursday, 10:30am – 11:30am
How to take part:
All of the Community Making Space programme is free, with materials and food/refreshments provided. No previous experience is needed, and everyone is welcome.
To sign up for your free sessions, please email communities@ssw.org.uk with the following information:
- Your full name
- Email address
- Postcode
- Telephone number
- List all the sessions that you would like to book
- List the names of the other people attending with you
- If anyone is under 18, please list their age/s
- Any relevant information about medical conditions or access needs
You can also call the SSW office on 01464 861 372 between 9.30am and 3.30pm, Tuesday to Friday.
If you have come to SSW Community Making Space events and have ideas and thoughts for future programmes, please email communities@ssw.org.uk and suggestions will be brought to our community advisory sessions for discussion.
Please note:
Children and young people of all ages are welcome at the Clay Socials but must be accompanied by an adult.
Children and young people over 10 years old are welcome at the Mid Week Makes sessions but must be accompanied by an adult.
The October Holiday Kids Club is open to children and young people aged 7-14 who live in Lumsden, Honeybarrel, Mossat, Towie and Kildrummy.
