What or who makes you feel safe in Peterborough? How do you show others that they’re safe with you?  

Join artist Rose Croft for a drop-in workshop for folks aged 16 – 19, to create your own pocket of protection; a stitched or printed handkerchief or small fabric pouch that holds something important to you. Using a mix of fabric painting, stitching, or printing, add secret pockets or coded symbols, that might symbolise protection, queer or divergent identities, show your identity loudly and proudly, or quietly let someone know they are not alone. 

Protective marks have long been carved into buildings and charms sewn into clothing to protection. Locally there are various buildings with secret markings or sigils to ward off evil and many an offering has been found in fens waters.   

Queer people and others who’ve felt unsafe being open have also long used colours, gestures or coded objects to signal who they are to those who would understand; eg. green carnations and lavender handkerchiefs or ways of speaking or dressing that signal alternative subcultures. 

This session will invite reflection on how we create safety for others or show who we really are when we don’t always feel safe to be fully seen. 

This taster workshop is part of Where We Are… Peterborough a UK wide youth-led project with the British Museum. This is a chance to find out about the project, and how to get involved in creating something together that is special and powerful for the city and your community.    

Snacks included!  

Who is this session for?  

This session is aimed at young people aged 16 – 19 year olds, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ+ and / or disabled and / or neurodivergent.  Tickets are free.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pockets-of-protection-with-rose-croft-tickets-1372491130919?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Access 

The Musuem has step free entrance along with an allocated disabled parking space. There are accessible bathrooms on the ground and first floor of the building, with a lift that takes you from the ground floor to floor 1. You can find the full accessibility page for the Musuem here  

About Rose Croft  

Rose Croft is a socially engaged artist, storyteller and creative producer, dedicated to creating safe, accessible spaces that foster connection through art, story and nature. Their practice is rooted in the belief that creative experiences can inspire joy, strengthen personal and community resilience and deepen cultural connection. 

Rose regularly works with arts organisations, charities, community groups, schools and festivals. They are one half of the not-for-profit arts organisation Art Pop-Up and the founder of the producer-led collective Angry Pencil. Rose has shared stories and delivered workshops both locally and internationally for over 14 years.  

About The Kite Trust  

Since 1993, The Kite Trust has been at the forefront of delivering LGBTQ+ youth programmes, offering peer-to-peer support and safe social spaces for young people facing discrimination and marginalisation. Each year, they support over 500 young people aged 13–30 through a range of services, including weekly social groups, family events, residential trips, one-to-one support, and youth leadership initiatives. 

You can find out more about The Kite Trust here: https://thekitetrust.org.uk/  

About the Where We Are… programme 

Where we are… is a UK wide youth-led programme for those aged 16–24, which places them at the heart of shaping arts and culture in their local communities, empowering young people through the co-creation of arts and culture. Each year, the British Museum invites cultural and third-sector organisations from across the UK to co-create projects with young people – and we’re thrilled to have been chosen to lead this exciting programme in Peterborough. 

You can find out more about the previous rounds of the Where We Are programme here