Emma Paxton

Hi I’m Kelly, a resin crafter (Resin Expectations), author (Beyond the Ordinary, Crafting in a Crisis, and Selling at Craft Events – A beginners Guide) and director of The Crafters Collective – Princes Mead Farnborough. As a female, neurodivergent, creative business owner, my mission is to help people be their authentic selves. Whether that’s with my creations – inspired by goth, fantasy and steampunk genres – or giving other crafters a space to sell their work, and express themselves through their creations, I want to make the benefits of creativity accessible to all. Crafting has been a focus throughout my life, whenever things have been difficult, and I want to share its mental health benefits with everyone.

Assembled Moments is a female-led physical theatre company based in Lymington in the New Forest, with a focus on creating new work. Assembled Moments is led by writer/director Stacie Bates. Stacie Bates has a Masters in Theatre from the Guildford School of Acting and a PGDip in Classical Acting from The London Academy of Performing Arts. Stacie has written for Ink Festival, The National Flash Fiction Anthology and most recently wrote and directed the play Future First, an ecoplay co-created with local teenagers at Forest Arts. Assembled Moments’ work has kindly been supported by Hampshire Cultural Trust, Forest Arts Centre, New Forest Council, Culture in Common and the ACE.

Damian is the Hampshire Poet 2024-26. He works with arts organisations, councils, schools, museums and community groups to get people to connect & have fun performing  and writing poetry. He also does commissions and residencies.  Damian is an experienced spoken word poet. He’s performed at events and festivals around the UK (Royal Albert Hall, Edingburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe, WOMAD) and The British School in Rome. ” With written and spoken word, images and performance I explore how we live now: with each other, the more-than-human world and our changing climate.