Food Insecurity & Wellbeing: Collage and Visual Arts Workshop

Carli Adby-Notley is leading a collage and visual arts workshop at the Creative Quadrant, Streatham Court on Friday 6 November, from 17:00 to 19:30. It's part of the 2026 Festival of Social Sciences, and it's open to anyone aged 18 or over.

The session comes out of University of Exeter research into the link between food insecurity and eating disorder risk during the cost-of-living crisis. The researchers' work points out how worrying about whether you can afford food affects wellbeing, mental health and body image. The evening starts with a short introduction to food insecurity and the research behind it, and from there it turns into a practical workshop. You'll be asked to photograph everyday food-related objects and then build an A4 collage from those images, working alongside magazines, packaging and paper. There's an optional sharing and reflection session at the end, so you can talk through what you've made if you feel like it.

Adby-Notley is a photographer and artist, and she'll be running the session alongside Dr Akansha M. Naraindas and Dr Fidan Turk. You don't need any prior art or photography experience to take part, and all the materials are provided on the day, so you just need to turn up. The workshop is free, but you have to book in advance, and places are limited to 20, so it's worth getting your name down sooner rather than later. It runs from 17:00 to 19:30 at the Creative Quadrant in Streatham Court, University of Exeter, EX4 4PU.