Creative Connections: Exploring Art and Wellbeing in Parent and Baby Workshops

Art can be a brilliant way to support wellbeing, especially for new parents navigating parenthood. The Arts Hub wanted to offer a space where parents could come free of charge to meet other parents and explore simple craft activities together and enjoy moments of calm, of course with ample cake, tea and coffee supplies! Artist in residence Amy Hutchings led two inspiring morning sessions for the first Parent and Baby Art Hour workshops at Chew Baptist Hall, Chew Magna, on 21st and 28th January 2026.

Bringing Art and Families Together

The Parent and Baby Art Hour was designed to create a welcoming environment where parents could engage with art. Amy Hutchings demonstrated hand printing using ink and rollers, a simple technique that allowed everyone to participate, including the tiniest babies. The parents enjoyed the creative process and social interaction with other parents.

The sessions were held at Chew Baptist Hall, and families attended from all around the Chew Valley; from Ubley, East Harptree, Chew Magna, Pensford, Bishop Sutton and Hallatrow. Parents could chat over a hot drink and cake, making the workshops not just about art but also about building connections and support networks. This combination of creativity and community made the workshops a hit, with one of the sessions fully booked and parents booking onto future sessions after attending.

Feedback from Participants

Amy’s approach to running the workshops made the process accessible and enjoyable, encouraging parents to relax and enjoy the moment rather than aiming for perfection. The response to the workshops was overwhelmingly positive. Parents appreciated the chance to meet others in similar stages of life and to take part in a creative activity that included their babies. Many mentioned how refreshing it was to have time dedicated to their own wellbeing alongside caring for their child.

"Loved it - easy to do with baby with lots of help too! Nice to do something creative and fun with baby and to keep"

"Lovely thank you. Easy but effective task - love the end result. Great to mingle with other mums. short in length - good for babies"

"Creating Memories. Thank you for a lovely warm welcome and refreshments!"

"Really fun session, I loved making handprints of my baby for the first time. Thank you so much!"

"It was really welcoming. A lovely opportunity to do something a bit different"

The feedback and popularity of the sessions shows there is a real demand for art-based wellbeing activities in the area. It highlights how creative workshops for families can meet a need for connection, relaxation, and self-expression among parents.