Community Culture Club

By Rosalind Hewett, Learning & Engagement Officer – Norwich Museums Service

Hello, my name is Rosalind and I am a Learning & Engagement Officer working across three sites at Norfolk Museums Service: Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, the Museum of Norwich, and Strangers’ Hall – one of Norwich’s most historic buildings. Creativity and wellbeing are at the heart of all my work, and I work with people from all ages and backgrounds across a range of community engagement initiatives, using museum collections to spark creativity and joy.
If I had to pick one project to represent what I do, I’d choose ‘Community Culture Club’, a creative wellbeing programme based at the Museum of Norwich which is in the heart of the city and tells the story of the people that have lived and worked here. The programme is for older adults (65+) inclusive of those living with a dementia, carers, those with long-term health conditions, and those who are lonely or socially isolated. Across ten sessions we explore different objects from the museum’s collection and use sensory activities to bring it all to life. Since its inception in 2021, Community Culture Club has continually evolved and developed in response to feedback from participants, partners, funders, best practice, and evaluation. In 2023 we received funding from the Norfolk Initiative of Coastal and Rural Health Equalities (NICHE).

This past year has been a big one for the Community Culture Club team, in October 2025 we were invited to present at a conference in Sri Lanka, which was a once in a lifetime opportunity we gratefully accepted. It was truly an honour to share our creative wellbeing practice with health and social care professionals from across the globe. In February 2026, we celebrated the closing of our fifth cohort. One participant said: “The nurturing I have received within the group is helping me recover from my experiences of loss and to rebuild my confidence. I have a greater sense of belonging and ability to plan outings for myself now. Kindness can be contagious and so I hope that the improvement in my wellbeing might allow me to respond with compassion for others who are lonely or suffering”.
This year’s festival theme of Critical Hope is so fitting. Norfolk Museums Service is pleased to be part of the programme put together by Norfolk County Council which also includes activity from partners including Norfolk Libraries, Norfolk Adult Learning, Norfolk Record Office and Norfolk & Suffolk Music Hub amongst others.

My work at the museums places a great importance on joy. Joy and hope are intertwined, and to be able to work with communities in the pursuit of joy is such a privilege.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou

Here’s to more hope, creativity and joy!