Creative Bridges 2025
Writing for Wellbeing and Activism: Building Cultural Bridges
An International Two-Day Conference
13th–14th September 2025
Hosted by Lapidus International
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Call for Papers and Workshops
“Writing has the power to uncover, heal, and transform. As we write, we shape our world and ourselves.
Inspired by this belief, Lapidus International invites you to participate in a two-day conference that explores the intersections of writing, wellbeing, and activism. This conference is an opportunity for academics, practitioners, writers, and activists from around the world to share knowledge and engage in dialogue on the role of writing in personal healing and social transformation.
This gathering aims to bring together participants from various disciplines to investigate how writing for wellbeing can also serve as a vehicle for activism. We welcome diverse perspectives that examine writing as a method of supporting mental health, fostering resilience, and creating social change.
Conference Themes
We encourage submissions that align with the following topics:
Writing for Wellbeing and Social Change
Exploring writing as a therapeutic tool and a mechanism for building mental health and community resilience, including social prescribing and medical humanities.
Decolonisation and Activism Through Writing
Examining writing as a means to challenge systemic inequalities, amplify marginalised voices, and promote local knowledges.
Beyond the Page: Collective and Interactive Writing Practices
Discovering ways to expand writing’s impact through multimedia, performance, and community-based storytelling.
Finding Joy Amid Adversity
Emphasising writing as a source of joy and resilience, offering hope and inspiration in response to global crises.
Topics for papers will be organised into panels and may include, but are not limited to, the above themes.
Presentation Formats
We invite proposals for the following:
25-Minute Paper Presentations
These presentations will consist of 20-minute talk followed by a Q&A session. Papers should explore relevant theory, research, and practice-based insights.
50-minute Workshops
Workshops should engage participants interactively, offering practical approaches and fostering discussion on the theme of writing for wellbeing and activism.
10-minute Wellbeing Sessions
Wellbeing sessions might include brief health-promoting and/or reflective practice activities including but not limited to yoga, writing, mindfulness, etc.
Submission Guidelines
Please send abstracts of no more than 200 words for your proposed 25-minute paper presentation, 50-minute workshop or 10-minute wellbeing session. Include a short biography of up to 100 words and specify your preferred format.
Submission Deadline: 1st May 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 1st June 2025
All participants are invited to join a closing roundtable discussion on writing’s transformative role in individual and collective wellbeing.
Contact Information
For general enquiries about the conference, please contact the conference organisers at creativebridges@lapidus.org.uk. Further details regarding the conference programme will be provided closer to the event.
Join us as we gather to explore and celebrate the personal, collective, and political power of words.
Writer/Poet-in-Residence Opportunity
We are excited to announce an opportunity for one attendee to serve as the Writer/Poet-in-Residence for the conference. This role is ideal for a writer who feels inspired by the themes of Writing for Wellbeing and Activism and is eager to capture the essence of the conference through reflective pieces, poetry, or prose. The selected Writer/Poet-in-Residence will have the opportunity to attend all sessions and activities, with time dedicated to creating work inspired by the conference’s themes and community.
This role will provide a unique platform to engage deeply with the conference’s events and share insights with our broader community. We encourage all interested writers and poets to apply. Please submit a brief proposal (200 words), bio (100 words) and writing sample by 1st May 2025 to creativebridges@lapidus.org.uk.