Creatives

**Formerly 'THE HEARTH', this event has evolved... (you can read the story and rationale [here](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/creative-community-building))** CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING is **A community for people interested in building community 😊** **HOW IT WORKS:** The IRL SOCIAL is a place to meet and exchange ideas with fellow community builders in person. (The other dimension to CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING is a weekly online ‘VIRTUAL CAFE’, which is more focussed on workshopping ideas, challenges, and practices. You can find the first VIRTUAL CAFE [here](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/314425588).) The IRL SOCIAL is largely unstructured, but we will always have a theme or a prompt to get conversations going. **This time the theme is: AUTHENTICITY.** I will share a few related questions in the comments on the day. My working model of community building includes 4 stages: STARTING, BUILDING, SUSTAINING, and EVOLVING. (These are not linear, but cyclical because when your community reaches the ‘evolving’ stage, it's also ‘starting’ a new chapter.) Based on feedback from previous sessions, people sometimes find it useful to talk to others who are at the same stage as them, so I will give everyone the opportunity to organise in this way initially. (This is optional.) I will invite the group to shuffle around a couple of times so we don’t miss out on meeting a range of people. The rest of the evening will be unstructured space to: * Continue conversations * Discuss collaborations * Share tips * Get to know each other * Get to know about each others’ respective communities **NOTES ON THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERE:** * Laid back, light, fun * Respectful of each other's time, views, ideas * Generous listening and low pressure sharing **WHERE WE'LL MEET:** Due to unpredictable group sizes with free events, I’m going to start off with holding these socials in public spaces rather than booked rooms. This can comes with **an element of unpredictable London chaos (i.e. background noise, weather, etc.), so please be up for that if you decide to come along.** On this occasion, the plan is for us to meet at The Southbank Centre on Level 2, near the Festival Bar & Kitchen. If the weather is good, we might relocate outside. **I will let you know the exact location in the comments below on the day.** **WHO SHOULD COME:** Everyone with an interest in community. This group is not about being experts, it is about learning together. That is, bringing our various experiences and lenses on the world together to support, inspire, and uplift one another. The more perspectives, the richer the conversation. **YOUR HOST:** I'm Bonny. I've created a couple of successful communities (e.g. [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs) & [THE SUNRISE CLUB](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/)) and have a lot of experience hosting groups in a range of places (from prison and hospitals, to private events). I'm always learning and my best ideas come out of conversations with others :-). You can read some of my thoughts on community building [here.](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) **One of my inspirations for community building is the Ancient Greek Goddess, Hestia:** Hestia is the goddess of the hearth (hence the former name for this group). She is also the goddess of community, hospitality towards strangers, home, and warmth. Known for her inner strength, calm demeanour, and commitment to peace, I think Hestia embodies qualities that can be very helpful when cultivating community! 🔥 **I’m curious to hear who/what your influences are 😊** [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/HiRXL7B6QUpGAmZirk20kY?mode=wwc) \- stay in the loop [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) \- sign up for the newsletter I'm looking forward to meeting you and hearing your ideas! If you would like to further support these meetups, you can do so here: [https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor](https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor) Thank you!

This month we have a fantastic session hosted by James Birnie, Director of Strategic Consultancy at **[Forrow](https://forrow.uk/)** where he will talk about how to get post quantum ready. In this talk James will discuss why all the world's encryption will break, why a lot of your data is leaking right now, what you need to do now and what you will need to do in the near future. **About James Birnie** James Birnie has worked in software delivery since the 1990s, when TDD was something you studied but never did, "agile" and "lean" were words used to describe athletes, and Pipelines were for carrying oil. James worked in a successful startup for 10 years before he became a consultant (and an ex software engineer) at, first, Thoughtworks and then Codurance. After time as Head of Platform at Currencycloud and VP of Engineering at IMMO Capital, James returned to consultancy and is currently Director of Strategic Consultancy at Forrow. He mainly spends his time trying to keep organisations secure against current and future threats, including the immediate threat of Harvest Now Decrypt Later attacks. **Food and Drinks** Pizza and drinks will be provided upon arrival sponsored by **[Codurance](https://www.codurance.com/),** with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Join us to read through a play, script in hand. You don't need to memorise any lines, but you'll get the chance to read, and bring as much character and performance to your reading as you like. You don't have to read aloud if you don't want to, and there's no expectation of ability - we're an encouraging, good-natured group! Play script: TBC You will need: \- a digital or physical copy of the text \- enthusiasm for theatre

Join us for another evening at #WPLDN. This month, Louise Towler shares what AI actually looks like inside a WordPress agency, day to day. We'll follow that with a hosted, room-wide discussion on levelling up in WordPress, what the wider shift happening around us means for the work, and what it asks of us as a community. Two sessions, both grounded in the world WordPress competes in, rather than the world inside it. 📅 **Date:** Thursday, 30 April 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 6:00 PM BST 🎟️ **Cost:** Free (Registration Required) \-\-\- **Session 1: How we're integrating AI into our agency workflow** 🤝 **Speaker:** Louise Towler ([Indigo Tree](https://indigotree.co.uk)) Everyone's talking about AI transforming the way we work. But what does that actually look like inside a WordPress agency, day to day? Louise will share what Indigo Tree has been doing over the past year, integrating tools like Cursor, Sourcery, Claude, and Teamwork's MCP into real client work and reporting workflows. How they approached the change management, what genuinely saved time, what created more work than it solved, and what they're still figuring out. Louise is the Founder and Managing Director of Indigo Tree, a digital agency trusted by businesses and non-profits across the UK. With over 30 years of experience in software and website development, she leads a team of developers, designers, and digital marketers delivering high-performance WordPress websites, content strategy, and technical SEO. A regular conference speaker and recipient of a Women in Innovation Award, Louise is passionate about creating websites that are inclusive, fast, and sustainable. \-\-\- **Session 2: Levelling up in WordPress, a hosted discussion** 🤝 **Host:** Dan Maby The world WordPress operates in is shifting quickly. Clients expect more. Competition is sharper. AI is reshaping the work, the pricing, and what people are willing to pay for. "Good enough" isn't what it used to be, and the bar for working professionally in WordPress is moving up, whether we like it or not. So what does that mean for us? What does levelling up actually look like for agencies, freelancers, product builders, and everyone in between? And what does it mean for WPLDN, a community that has, if we're honest, often looked inward at the tool rather than outward at the world WordPress competes in? If the ground is moving, the conversations we have when we come together probably need to move with it. A hosted, room-wide conversation about the wider shift and what it asks of us, both professionally and as a community. Less about the tool, more about the work, the market, and what we want from the room we're standing in. Bring an opinion! \-\-\- **Schedule:** 🔹 **6:00 PM** – Doors Open & Networking 🔹 **6:30 PM** – Welcome & Session 1: Louise Towler 🔹 **7:30 PM** – Short Break & Networking 🔹 **7:45 PM** – Session 2: Discussion Hosted by Dan Maby 🔹 **8:30 PM** – Social & Wrap-Up \-\-\- **📢 RSVP Now!** Whether you're deep in AI tooling or still working out where it fits, whether you've been in WordPress for fifteen years or fifteen months, there's something here for you. Free pizza, excellent company, and post-event socials at a local bar afterwards. We'll see you there! 🎉 \-\-\- **Venue Information** **The Bridge** is a charity supporting women to make positive choices and encouraging improvements to fitness, health, and wellbeing. The venue features a plant-based café (supplied by Girls Who Grind Coffee) and is just a 5-minute walk from London Bridge Station. \-\-\- **Massive thanks to our sponsors who make these free events possible:** [DreamHost](https://www.dreamhost.com/partners/wpldn/), [PodcasterPlus](https://www.podcasterplus.com/?utm_source=wpldn&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=partnership), [Mollie](https://www.mollie.com/gb/integrations/woocommerce), and [Kinsta](https://kinsta.com/) \-\-\- If you're interested in being a featured speaker at an upcoming event, we'd love to hear from you at [https://wpldn.uk/speak](https://wpldn.uk/speak). **🎥 - Media Release Terms** By attending, you understand and accept that portions of the event may have audio/photo/video-recorded and/or live-streamed and may be used by the organisers. You agree that the organisers have the right and permission to use and publish such media for any purpose in any format, including online and offline, now and ever after, without further compensation, permission, or notification. You understand that all official recordings from the event are the exclusive property of the organisers, available under the Creative Commons Attribution­ShareAlike license for general use, and you do not ask for nor expect compensation or notification of the use of official recordings or photographs in which you appear or speak. Please inform an organisational team member at the event's start if you do not wish to appear in photos or videos.

In this session, Richard Jarvis, Senior Product Designer at Rightmove, breaks down the redesign of the app’s search entry point, exploring how user insight, design craft, and business priorities come together when millions of people are using your product every day. **Event Overview** Rightmove is one of the UK’s most-used apps, woven into daily routines much like social media. In this session, Richard Jarvis shares how his team redesigned a critical part of the Rightmove app, revealing what it takes to ship meaningful design changes at massive scale. **01 - Redesigning the Front Door** A deep dive into the redesign of Rightmove’s search entry point. Explore the problem space, user insights, and decision-making process behind evolving a critical interaction that millions rely on every day, and why small changes can have outsized impact at scale. **02 - Designing With Influence in Large Organisations** Designing great experiences isn’t just about pixels. Learn how Richard navigated stakeholder alignment, trade-offs, and organisational constraints to advocate for the right native app experience inside a complex, mature product environment. **03 - From Insight to Shipped Outcome** Follow the full journey from initial insight to live product. See how assumptions were challenged, the status quo was questioned, and design decisions were tied directly to measurable outcomes, turning a bold idea into a shipped solution used by millions. **Speakers** **Richard Jarvis - Senior Product Designer, Rightmove** Richard is a Senior Product Designer at Rightmove, where he works on the core search experience within the native apps team. He focuses on solving complex problems through research-led, accessible design and close collaboration with engineering and product partners. His work centres on shaping effective native app experiences and influencing product direction within cross-functional teams.

We’re thrilled to announce our first live music showcase of the year! Open to everyone, this is the perfect night for anyone who loves discovering amazing music, connecting with talented artists, and celebrating creativity. If music moves you, this is the place to be! Join us for an unforgettable night featuring amazing artists, fresh sounds, and a vibrant, supportive atmosphere you won’t want to miss. **[Make sure to grab your ticket on our website, so that you receive a QR code to use upon arrival.](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/event-details/amplify-her-live-music-showcase-networking-event)** Amplify Her is on a mission to support, celebrate, and empower women in the music industry. We create spaces—both online and in-person—where female artists, songwriters, and industry professionals can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Through live music showcases, workshops, networking events, and mentorship, we aim to amplify women’s voices, nurture their creativity, and build a strong, inclusive music community. Our goal is simple: to ensure women in music have the visibility, opportunities, and support they deserve, so their talent and stories can shine on every stage. **Meet The Artists:** PIEN Meet Pien, the Dutch indie Americana powerhouse, who is redefining raw emotions with confrontational lyrics and anthemic melodies. With a sound that blends honest, confrontational lyrics with infectious hooks, Pien is poised to become your next obsession, especially if you´re a fan of Stevie Nicks, Kacey Musgraves, or Linda Ronstadt. [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/pienmusic?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio) AIDA Aida is an R&B and soul singer-songwriter bringing honesty, sensuality, and freedom into every track. Of Middle Eastern descent, she blends smooth R&B with subtle Arabian scales to create a sound that feels both soulful and distinctive. Inspired by artists like Aaliyah, Beyoncé, and SZA, her music explores love, heartbreak, and the raw emotions that come with it. Aida learned to sing in English before she learned to speak it, and music has been her way of feeling alive ever since. Writing her own lyrics and producing her vocals, she pours real experiences into songs that move between vulnerability, confidence, and moments made to dance. Currently working on her upcoming EP, Aida is carving out a bold, intimate space that’s entirely her own. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2UcG6z7VQeIFUIAUBwZvce?si=mm28YTUFQraDX5_o6imRRw) MICHAELA MARIE Michaela Marie is a singer from South East London who has spent many years performing and interpreting songs made famous by her favourite artists. Inspired by the likes of Etta James, Roberta Flack and Cleo Sol, Her neo-soul infused take on classic songs reaffirms their timelessness whilst keeping to the nuanced intricacies that allow them to remain forever etched in hearts the world over. Stepping into a new chapter of songwriting, she incorporates elements of jazz, soul and blues filled with emotional richness and depth. She tackles her inner vulnerability by writing lyrics and melodies that soothe the conscience. With a background in storytelling and poetry, she pours her heart and soul into each syllable, taking her listeners with her on a visceral journey of love, heartbreak and devotion to the past that made her. [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/michaelamarievoc) FARE Using delicate and sincere storytelling, FARE brings out a certain vulnerability when performing her music live. The “captivatingly beautiful sonic landscapes through reverb-drenched guitar loops” provide a luscious backdrop to thoughtful lyricism. Said to have an "open and effortless" style, FARE's Ambient-Folk soundscapes pair immersive guitar textures with ethereal vocals. [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/fareemusic) We look forward to having you part of our community! Early birds tickets: £10.00 General Admission: £12.00 Last Chance: £15.00 **Follow us on:** **[https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/](https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/)** **[https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/)** **[https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/)**

Get ready to bring your sketchbook and art supplies for a chilled café sketching session! No matter your skill level lets grab a coffee and unleash our creativity into our sketchbooks. There's no formal guidance, you'll be free to get on with your own drawings/personal art projects while being able to connect with other local artists. You're welcome to join in on the group conversations or quietly get on with your art studies whatever your preference. A few basic drawing supplies (pencils, colouring pencils, erasers etc) will be provided but please bring your own sketchbook / tablet / paper / something to draw on! Hope to see you there (Also please feel free to join even if RSVPs are full!)

Diary Drawing Club – Friday Evening at Royal Festival Hall ☕🖊️ We meet to draw quietly together, using simple prompts that I’ll share or you’re welcome to draw whatever you feel drawn to. After drawing, we’ll take some time to share and talk about the works, if you feel comfortable doing so. 🎨 Bring your own sketchbook or iPad But basic drawing materials will be provided! No experience needed. ⏰ Time: 7-9 PM 📍 Meeting Location: Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom

Have you ever wanted to be that person who sketches in a gallery but you're too nervous to have people look over your shoulder? Yea, I've been there. It's intimidating. You feel like you're in the room naked. I've also been the person to sit and sketch and it's one of the most rewarding activities you can do. Just you, the artwork, and a bunch of people wishing they could do the same. Come and join me on the first Friday of the month and let's go to a gallery. These will be small groups and free of charge. We'll visit a new gallery each month, hopefully free ones and we'll do an hour or so of sketching, followed by a cuppa tea afterwards. Make sure you register so I can send you all the information a few days before the event.

# Safo Music's – Songwriting workshop **Sunday 3rd May** **11:00am – 6:00pm** **Safo Studios, 23–27 Crouch Hill, London N4 4AP** **£40.00** **Led by Laurence Hobbs – gold & platinum-selling songwriter, producer, and owner of Safo Music.** *** After our sold out workshop last month, we'd like you to join us for a full-day **Songwriting workshop** at Safo Studios – a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the joy of writing songs. Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, this is your chance to connect with others and explore the craft of songwriting in a supportive, inspiring environment. ### What to Expect: Small group co-writing sessions in professional studios A relaxed space to share ideas and build confidence Meet like-minded musicians and discover new collaborators Personal mentoring and guidance from Laurence Hobbs throughout the day Working in teams, you’ll co-create original songs from scratch – blending lyrics, melodies, and experiences into something fresh and exciting. It’s all about enjoying the process, learning from each other, and celebrating the art of songwriting. Bring your instrument, your notebook, or just yourself – and spend the day writing with us. [ ](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JHMW8VKCW57Y4)**[Tickets: £40.00](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JHMW8VKCW57Y4)** Spaces are limited to keep sessions intimate – book now to secure your place. See you on the 3rd May

This event will be for people to meet, go off and film, come back and enjoy the results. Whatever you want to do, be it film, act, direct or even just sort of hang around at the back then this is the event for you! MEET AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE NATIONAL THEATRE. If you are wondering what this group can provide for you, it’s above all else friendship with other like minded people, whether you are a screenwriter, director, cameraperson, actor etc etc. With that in mind, on Saturday we will do the following: 1. We’ll meet at the National Theatre on Southbank. 2. We’ll split into two groups (or more if needed) 3. Each team will try and beat the other teams to a pub in EC1 in London and edit (maybe) the film. BUT 4. Each team must make a 2 minute 30 seconds film on the way with a beginning middle and end, a solid story arc for the main character, etc. Remember to bring: 1. You and your enthusiasm 2. A camera (iPhones dslrs whatever) 3. Someone willing to do an edit after we arrive back at the on their computers All teams will then meet-up at a pub in EC1 and watch what we have filmed, happy with what they have learnt! The first team that finishes gets a Small Prize! Hopefully then, you will stick around to have a great time chatting about film, meeting new people, and forgetting about work until the late hours. Look forward to seeing you there! If there are no more places available on meetup then MORE tickets available on eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ben-52750032443 Please Check Dates as this isnt a weekly meetup

**This month’s Creativity Circle is very timely. We will be making our own craft flowers out of paper, coffee filters, popsicle sticks, sparkles, cupcake liners, pipe cleaners and more! All ages welcome, show up as you can, bring a friend or a few if you would like to! Excited to see you there! Seats Limited. Held at the Westerville Public Library Meeting Room B.**

It feels like we just saw each other 🤷. Join members of the local design and UX community for our monthly breakfast. For May we’re stopping in for Rooh’s popup breakfast/cafe concept. You know someone is getting the lobster yuzu croissant, and that’s not even the prettiest thing on the menu!.

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

(Note: RSVPing here on meetup does NOT reserve your seat. To do that, you’ll need to register at our website, [HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=2026-Central-Ohio-Real-Estate-Investing-Expo-14-5-5-2026).) We’re serious about helping you succeed in real estate. That means not just teaching you—but putting you in the room with the people who help you get deals done. Every deal depends on people. The agent or wholesaler. The lender. The contractor. The title company. The insurance agent. The problem is that most investors meet those people slowly. This event fixes that. One room full of: • Lenders • Contractors • Title companies • Insurance providers • Property managers • And active local investors A place where you can: • Build your team • Find funding • Solve real problems • Make connections that lead to deals If you’re serious about real estate, this is a smart room to be in. Members and non-members at any level of knowledge and experience are welcome. This event is free. Remember, to actually reserve your seat, you have to go [HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=2026-Central-Ohio-Real-Estate-Investing-Expo-14-5-5-2026) and register on our website!