Deep Breaths: A Reflective Creative Collaboration with Migrants in Culture

This project brought together King’s College London researchers and Migrants in Culture to create a restorative space for activists and community organisers working under sustained political and emotional pressure. Developed through dialogue with the organisation, the collaboration centred on the idea of taking “deep breaths” as a practice of recalibration and collective care.

The final in-person event combined a shared meal, guided breathing, creative collaging and facilitated reflection. Participants were invited to pause, reconnect with their communities and consider the emotional impact of their work within a supportive environment.

While the project navigated challenges around communication, capacity and evolving expectations, it offered valuable insight into the complexities of academic–community collaboration. It strengthened approaches to care-led engagement and reinforced the importance of clarity, shared understanding and flexible partnership working in future co-produced projects.

To read more about the project, please see the PDF case study below.

Deep Breaths: A Reflective Creative Collaboration with Migrants in Culture – PDF Case Study