An Artist-led program of talks, screenings, and creative workshops radically repositioning our relationship with nature. Urban Wilderness CIC invite you to meet with, talk to, and create with Artists in this gentle program which looks towards a more balanced world.

In the Balance reflects Urban Wilderness CIC's pioneering approach—blending artistic experimentation and civic engagement to foster deeper connections between people, places, and creative expression.

This week is led by Jon Paul Green, whose playful and thought-provoking public text installations and multidisciplinary works have brought creativity into unexpected places across Staffordshire.

This special session will include:

• A photography walk in Longton, exploring everyday public spaces through a creative lens

• A poetry and statement generation workshop, reflecting on themes of place, memory, and "emerging from lockdown"

• A Q&A with Jon Paul Green, discussing the ideas and processes behind his recent work

The words and images created during this session will contribute to a new collaborative artwork, developed by Jon Paul and unveiled at the end of the In the Balance series.

All are welcome – no previous experience needed. Just bring your curiosity, a camera or phone (if you have one), and comfortable walking shoes.

About the Artist:
Jon Paul Green is a Staffordshire-based graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist. His works include public space interventions, collage, craft, poetry and typography. In recent years, his practice has focused on public text installations, creating projects for Appetite, Urban Wildness CIC, B-Arts and more, as well as numerous self-initiated pieces.

Tickets from Eventbrite
For more information sign up to our Newsletter

Teen Films are screened at The Moony Club on the first Thursday of every month, 7pm - 9:30pm. All teenagers are welcome and screenings are free. The next film is selected by attendees or by WhatsApp poll. We provide free drinks and snacks (or you can bring your own), along with blankets and beanbags

This month’s screening is a 2012 American coming-of-age romantic drama film. Join the WhatsApp group (contact 07432 663368) to find out what film is being screened and vote for the next film or email info@urbanwildernesscic.com.

The Moony Club is step-free and wheelchair accessible. Toilets are gender-neutral but located up two flights of stairs, which may be difficult for those with accessibility needs. The nearest accessible toilet is at Tesco Extra, a five-minute walk away. Longton Train Station is less than a 5-minute walk from the venue. There are multiple bus stops along The Strand, with services to and from Newcastle and Hanley.

Previous screenings include: Dead Poets Society, Little Women and Mona Lisa Smile.

A club for those who love film and want to build a community for women led cinema. Free film screenings every last Thursday of the month, 7:30pm - 10:30pm. Drinks and snacks available at every screening, all welcome.

After the screening, we invite everyone to join a discussion. Each session includes an info sheet to provide a little more context about the film and director. You're welcome to watch the film and leave, but we'd love for you to stay and take part in the conversation!

To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list feministfilmclubstoke@outlook.com. For more general information visit Feminist Film Club .

Film for May: Grief, Shelter and Spells

Documentary Photo Club is a space for photographers and those interested in documentary photography to develop skills together. From professionals to hobbyists, we look forward to meeting like-minded individuals, sharing inspiration, talking through challenges, and exploring the power of visual storytelling.

This month join us for an inspiring evening as we screen a powerful new documentary about a legendary English photographer. Whether you're a photography professional or just love visual storytelling, this one’s for you.

Book your free place via Eventbrite

An Artist-led program of talks, screenings, and creative workshops radically repositioning our relationship with nature. Urban Wilderness CIC invite you to meet with, talk to, and create with Artists in this gentle program which looks towards a more balanced world.

In the Balance reflects Urban Wilderness CIC's pioneering approach—blending artistic experimentation and civic engagement to foster deeper connections between people, places, and creative expression.

This week join Trinidad-born and Stoke-based, Gabriella Gay, page-stage poet, performer, writer and creative producer, for an evening of film and conversation exploring nature, wellbeing, and identity as a Black Afro-Caribbean woman in Stoke-on-Trent. Gabriella is also a PhD researcher exploring Black histories in overlooked spaces. She’s the founder of Roaming Poets and Kwanzaa Collective UK CIC, with past commissions from the BBC, V&A, and National Theatre.

This special gathering includes:

Screening of Taking Up Space
A short film made during Gabriella’s Wastelands commission with filmmaker Cynthia Cody, exploring the visibility and care of Black and Brown communities in green spaces.

Long Table Conversation on Nature
Inspired by Split Britches’ Long Table format – a welcoming, dinner-party-style space where conversation is the main event. All are invited to listen, speak, and connect.

Expect: Open discussion, reflection, refreshments, and a warm, inclusive atmosphere.

Who’s it for? Everyone – artists, creatives, community members, or the simply curious.

Book your space now! (free event) — https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../taking-up-space-a-long...

Learn more:

Wastelands

Kwanzaa Collective UK Kwanza The collective are celebrating their 5-year anniversary during the week of In The Balance!

About Gabariella Gay

Gabriella Gay Writing

Instagram: @thebootsalepoet

Facebook: @Gabriella Gay Writing - GKA Gay

For more information sign up to our Newsletter

A club for teenagers who love film. Free film screenings 1st Thursday of the month. Feel free to bring your own snacks. We also have drinks and snacks, with a pay as you feel donation pot. For extra comfort, we provide cushions and blankets, perfect for chilly evenings

The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible. Toilets are gender-neutral but located up two flights of stairs, which may be difficult for those with accessibility needs. The nearest accessible toilet is at Tesco Extra, a five-minute walk away. Longton Train Station is less than a 5-minute walk from the venue. There are multiple bus stops along The Strand, with services to and from Newcastle and Hanley.

Previous screenings include, Dead Poets Society and Little Women.

To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list info@urbanwildernesscic.com

A club for those who love film and want to build a community for women led cinema. Free film screenings every last Thursday of the month. Drinks and snacks available at every screening, all welcome.

Previous screenings include, Naila and The Uprising, Now and Then, Daughters of the Dust and The Perfect Candidate.

To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list feministfilmclubstoke@outlook.com. For more general information visit Feminist Film Club .

An Artist-led program of talks, screenings, and creative workshops radically repositioning our relationship with nature. Urban Wilderness CIC invite you to meet with, talk to, and create with Artists in this gentle program which looks towards a more balanced world.

In the Balance reflects Urban Wilderness CIC's pioneering approach—blending artistic experimentation and civic engagement to foster deeper connections between people, places, and creative expression.

This week join director, producer, and theatre-maker Kat Hughes for an intimate and engaging session exploring her journey in audio storytelling. This event offers a rare opportunity to listen to selected works from Kat’s portfolio, spanning podcasts, audio drama, and immersive sound projects.

What to Expect:

Kat will share insights from her creative journey, featuring selected works from her portfolio, including:

The Secret City – An audio trail uncovering Stoke-on-Trent’s hidden histories

My Youth Grows – Young people’s experiences of public space

The Music of Motherhood – Reflections on pregnancy & childbirth during Covid

The Rhapsodies – A sound-rich storytelling series for Potboiler Theatre

Notes from Space – A surreal audio experience transporting listeners beyond Earth

Kat will discuss her creative process, collaborations with communities, and the power of sound in storytelling. There will also be time for discussion, questions, and reflections.

Who is this for? Artists, creatives, and anyone curious about the world of immersive audio storytelling!

Learn more about Kat’s work: Potboiler Theatre Kat Hughes and on Kat’s website

Book your FREE ticket on Eventbrite

Come along, tune in, and explore the richness of audio storytelling!

For more information sign up to our Newsletter

Teen Film Club is a club for teenagers who love film. Free film screenings 1st Thursday of the month. Feel free to bring your own snacks. We also have drinks and snacks, with a pay as you feel donation pot. For extra comfort, we provide cushions and blankets, perfect for chilly evenings

The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible. Toilets are gender-neutral but located up two flights of stairs, which may be difficult for those with accessibility needs. The nearest accessible toilet is at Tesco Extra, a five-minute walk away. Longton Train Station is less than a 5-minute walk from the venue. There are multiple bus stops along The Strand, with services to and from Newcastle and Hanley.

Previous screenings include, Dead Poets Society and Little Women.

To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list info@urbanwildernesscic.com

A club for those who love film and want to build a community for women led cinema. Free film screenings every last Thursday of the month. Drinks and snacks available at every screening, all welcome. To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list feministfilmclubstoke@outlook.com. For more general information visit Feminist Film Club .

Documentary Photo Club is a space for photographers and those interested in documentary photography to develop skills together. From professionals to hobbyists, we look forward to meeting like-minded individuals, sharing inspiration, talking through challenges, and exploring the power of visual storytelling.

At this month’s session, we welcome Stoke-on-Trent based photographer Daniel Lyttleton. Dan will discuss his practice through examples from individual projects spanning over 17 years, which consists of several self-published photobooks that sit in public and private collections.

Dan is interested in the potential of the medium, establishing photography’s relationship with ideas about belonging, sense of place, escapism, community engagement, the family album and personal protest. Dan will also share some of his published photobooks which he sees as a tool for visual communication.

You can see his work at cargocollective.com/daniellyttletoncom.

Please book your free ticket for this month’s photo club on Eventbrite.

An Artist-led program of talks, screenings, and creative workshops radically repositioning our relationship with nature. Urban Wilderness invite you to meet with, talk to, and create with Artists in this gentle program which looks towards a more balanced world.

In the Balance reflects Urban Wilderness CIC's pioneering approach—blending artistic experimentation and civic engagement to foster deeper connections between people, places, and creative expression.

This week Museum of Possibilities, led by Urban Wilderness CIC invites you to rethink our relationship with nature through thought-provoking, community-driven art. Looking back at past works and forward to what we can create, change, and discuss.

What to Expect:

Place-Based Artistry – See how Urban Wilderness CIC uses public performance, curation, installation, and co-creation to explore social and environmental themes.

Critical Reflection – Delve into themes of loss, resilience, and adaptation, using art as a tool for navigating ecological and social challenges.

Big Questions – Engage in thought-provoking discussions,

such as:

-What came first—snails or coal?

-What should museums collect and share? Bubble wrap? Singing and dancing? Houses for the homeless? Cake?

Join us for this inspiring conversation on art, heritage, sustainability, and the future.

Read more in our blog Museum of Possibilities Blog
Book your free ticket via Eventbrite
For more information sign up to our Newsletter

A club for teenagers who love film. Free film screenings 1st Thursday of the month. Feel free to bring your own snacks. We also have drinks and snacks, with a pay as you feel donation pot. For extra comfort, we provide cushions and blankets, perfect for chilly evenings

The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible. Toilets are gender-neutral but located up two flights of stairs, which may be difficult for those with accessibility needs. The nearest accessible toilet is at Tesco Extra, a five-minute walk away. Longton Train Station is less than a 5-minute walk from the venue. There are multiple bus stops along The Strand, with services to and from Newcastle and Hanley.

Previous screenings include, Dead Poets Society and Little Women.

To find out about our next screening and to get tickets join our mailing list info@urbanwildernesscic.com

Join us on Thursday 23rd January at 7pm at Urban Wilderness in Longton Exchange.

Documentary Photo Club is a space for photographers and those interested in documentary photography to develop skills together. From professionals to hobbyists, we look forward to meeting like-minded individuals, sharing inspiration, talking through challenges, and exploring the power of visual storytelling.

At this month’s session, we welcome Chris Neophytou. His practice focuses on themes of place and is rooted in a documentary approach to photography. Growing up in rural England as a second-generation Cypriot, navigating between two cultures, helped inform his interest in place and connected themes surrounding history and identity. You can see his work at chris-neophytou.com.

Chris will also share his work as founder of Out of Place Books, which prioritises accessibility and affordability in its photobook publications. Out of Place is a platform developed to promote photography as a way of exploring and learning about places.  Unlike exhibitions in galleries and museums, photobooks can be kept, shared, exist in many places at once and be rediscovered in years to come.

Please book your free ticket for this month’s photo club at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/documentary-photo-club-tickets-1192328810569

See you there!