2025/6 Commission – From Story to Song

From Story to Song began as a four‑part workshop series designed to explore how stories rooted in the New Forest find their way into song. In partnership with Coda Music and Arts Trust, the project set out to create a welcoming space where local adults could gather, share, listen, and rediscover their connection to place through storytelling and music.

Across March 26, the facilitator welcomed participants into a series of two‑hour sessions held on both Sundays and Wednesdays, a deliberate choice to reach different parts of the community and to understand how timing shaped engagement. Each workshop unfolded gently, beginning with conversation and curiosity, and gradually opening into shared stories, songs, and moments of creative exchange. What started with just a few people offering something to the group soon grew into a room alive with contributions: poems, folk tales, personal memories, and songs discovered or rediscovered between sessions.

Attendance was strong, with 12–16 attending each session. Several participants who had originally booked for a single workshop returned for all four and some bringing friends along with them. Engagement was lively and generous; the “show and tell” element became a highlight, expanding from three contributors in the first week to ten by the final session. Online engagement mirrored this enthusiasm, with workshop posts and reels reaching hundreds of people across Instagram and Facebook.

The impact of the workshops was felt most strongly in the atmosphere they created. People who might never have crossed paths found themselves sitting together, sharing stories of the Forest, discovering common threads, and building confidence in their own creative expression. The space became joyful, and uplifting, words used to describe the experience included “wholesome,” “enlightening,” “inspiring,” “joyful,” and “found my tribe.”

Esther Keapock, the leader of the project noted on reflection that she had learned so much through the delivery of the project and the project had revealed how powerful a local focus can be in bringing people together and strengthening a sense of belonging. It highlighted the importance of allowing time for reflection and conversation, and the value of creating a relaxed, low‑pressure environment where people feel safe to share. Esther experimented with different ways of presenting stories and songs, some participatory, some performed, and found that this variety enriched the experience for everyone. Smaller group sizes allowed for deeper connection, while flexibility in delivery helped the workshops respond to the energy and needs of the participants.

There were more learnings along the way: finding the right time of day for the widest reach, adjusting the workshop space to meet accessibility needs, and working to engage people beyond those already familiar with folk traditions which was met with the practical solution of expanding marketing outreach through Facebook and community noticeboards.

By the end of the series, it was clear that the workshops had sparked something meaningful. Participants expressed strong interest in continuing, and conversations with CODA opened the door to ongoing Wednesday sessions on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis. Ideas for future developments began to emerge: a contemporary folk group, potential sessions at other venues and new collaborations rooted in the relationships formed during the project.

For Esther, she reported that the project was transformative. It strengthened their confidence, expanded their skills in participatory arts practice, and deepened their connection with organisations across the forest, leading directly to new opportunities and future work. The Cultural Development team has continued to support this project and we’re delighted that this has resulted in further work, connections and opportunities.

‘I have been extremely fortunate to receive Arts Council grant application support from Amy and Laura and can not put into words how grateful I am for the level of support, positivity and encouragement they have both given. I initially was quite daunted by the grants application process but through their support and guidance have been able to successfully bid for culture-connects funding and have a larger funding application in motion. Stepping into the freelance world and receiving this support has enabled me to feel so much more confident and knowledgeable about opportunities that are available to creatives and I have gained freelance work and connections with local creative projects and artists as a direct result.” – Esther, From Story to Song.