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Getting creative

April 01 2025
An untitled work by Lui Saathci, whose work was featured in the One Roof closing exhibition. © Lui Saatchi An untitled work by Lui Saathci, whose work was featured in the One Roof closing exhibition. © Lui Saatchi

Reflecting on the One Roof Festival, gentle social change through creativity and what the two-week arts festival featured and achieved. By Shakir Razak

In January 2025, the Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) in central London became a vibrant laboratory for doing art for its own sake while also affecting change during the One Roof  Festival.

This year’s event at ODAC was the fourth iteration of a homeless arts festival that is gradually finding its feet while still evolving each time.
Far from a typical art exhibition, this two-week event offered hands-on workshops where creativity became a tool for empowerment for those affected by homelessness.

The schedule – packed with everything from pottery to political art – demonstrated how practical skills can foster both personal growth and community connection. 


Workshops that built confidence and community

The festival's second week saw Angie Mak guiding participants through acrylic paint pouring, a technique she describes as “meditative chaos”. Nearby, Justin from Surfing Sofas led a zine creation workshop, emphasizing how self-publishing can amplify marginalized voices. “Zines are democracy in paper form,” he noted. 

For those seeking more tactile experiences, JP and Ed's graffiti workshop provided an introduction to street art fundamentals. One participant, who wished to remain anonymous, shared how the session helped them “reclaim public space creatively,” after years of feeling invisible on those same streets. Meanwhile, Stephanie Griffiths' animation workshop proved particularly popular, with attendees creating short stop-motion films as part of collective, though somewhat personal, journeys. 


Skill-building with social impact
 
The festival's practical workshops offered more than just artistic expression. Bekki's gel plate printing session doubled as a lesson in upcycling, using discarded materials to create striking prints. This aligned with her broader work promoting sustainable art practices. Similarly, the Mudlark Mosaic workshop transformed Thames riverbed finds into collaborative art, proving that beauty can emerge from what others overlook.

For those interested in textiles, the clothing customization workshop with JP and Reon offered simple techniques to revive worn garments. As Reon posted on Instagram during the event: “Every stitch is a small act of rebellion against fast fashion”. 


Spaces for shared learning
 
The festival cleverly balanced open sessions with targeted workshops like ‘Luna’ (for women) and ‘Survivors’ (for men), creating safer spaces for vulnerable participants. These sessions, led by organizations with deep experience in community work, focused on using creative methods to process difficult experiences.

Educational elements were woven throughout, such as the Campaigning Collective workshop by Museum of Homelessness (MoH), which taught effective advocacy techniques and was a prelude to a bigger public workshop and campaign happening soon at the MoH. Their approach – combining art with activism – has been honed through years of grassroots work, one of the teachers had had his poster jacking gone viral just that day. 


Lasting impressions

While the festival's performances drew attention, it was the hands-on workshops that created the most lasting impact. Participants left with new skills, from pottery techniques to basic music composition (thanks to the ever-popular ukulele jam sessions conducted by the Simon Community and their highly recommended teacher Robbie). More importantly, they left with renewed confidence – and in some cases, the beginnings of portfolios that would help them access further opportunities. 

As the Old Diorama team reflected afterward, the true success lay in the connections made across traditional divides. Professionals learned from lived experiences, while workshop participants gained skills and platforms to share their perspectives. In this way, One Roof built more than art – it built a broader understanding and the roots of a growing community.

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April – May 2025 : Second Chances

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