COMMON GROUND - at The Left Handed Giant Bristol
Make. Rest. Connect. Collaborate.
Common Ground is SKARUB’s free fortnightly creative drop-in for Bristol’s Black, Brown and allied creatives.
A regular space to make things, meet people, exchange ideas, find collaborators or simply slow down and spend an evening around other creative people.
No networking performance.
No pressure to be productive.
No need to call yourself an artist.
Just come as you are.
What is Common Ground?
Bristol has no shortage of talented people, but it can still be surprisingly difficult to find somewhere informal to regularly meet other creatives without having to buy a ticket, attend an industry event or already know everyone in the room.
Common Ground is our answer to that.
Every other Tuesday, we create a relaxed space where people can draw, write, collage, make zines, play games, work on their own projects, share ideas and conversations, or simply sit and spend time with others.
You can arrive with something you’re already working on or turn up with absolutely nothing.
Materials and activities will be available, but nothing is compulsory.
What happens at Common Ground?
Every session will be slightly different.
You might find:
Drawing, collage and mixed-media materials
DIY zine-making
Creative writing and prompts
Board games and creative play
Space to work on your own project
Informal conversations and idea-sharing
Opportunities, commissions and funding being shared
People looking for collaborators
Or just somewhere comfortable to sit, talk and decompress
The point isn’t to produce a finished piece of work every time.
Sometimes the most useful thing that happens is meeting somebody you wouldn’t otherwise have met.
Who is it for?
Common Ground centres Black, Brown and diasporic creatives in Bristol, while welcoming allies who understand and respect the space.
You don't need to work professionally in the arts.
Writers, filmmakers, musicians, designers, photographers, illustrators, performers, makers, producers, freelancers, students, people developing new ideas and people who are simply curious are all welcome.
All levels of experience are welcome.
A different kind of creative space
Common Ground is intentionally informal, low-pressure and neurodivergent-friendly.
Participate as much or as little as you want.
Talk to everyone. Talk to one person. Spend the evening drawing. Bring headphones and work quietly. Join an activity halfway through. Take some time out.
There is no single correct way to be in the room.
We want Common Ground to feel less like an event you attend and more like a creative living room Bristol shares every other week.
Why we're doing it
We believe creativity is more than producing art.
It can be a way of resting, communicating, finding your people, building confidence and imagining things together.
Common Ground exists to help reduce creative isolation and create stronger relationships between people across Bristol's cultural community - particularly people who haven't always felt represented or comfortable within traditional arts and networking spaces.
Over time, we hope the relationships started here lead to friendships, collaborations, projects, businesses, films, exhibitions, events and things none of us have thought of yet.
The essentials
FORTNIGHTLY TUESDAYS
Early evening 4pm -8pm
Top Floor Left Handed Giant Bristol
FREE ENTRY
Creative materials provided.
Come for the whole session or drop in when you can.
Up-Coming Tuesday Dates:
13th October 2026
27th October 2026
10th November 2026
24th November 2026
FIND YOUR COMMON GROUND.
Make. Rest. Connect. Collaborate.
Common Ground is SKARUB’s free fortnightly creative drop-in for Bristol’s Black, Brown and allied creatives.
A regular space to make things, meet people, exchange ideas, find collaborators or simply slow down and spend an evening around other creative people.
No networking performance.
No pressure to be productive.
No need to call yourself an artist.
Just come as you are.
What is Common Ground?
Bristol has no shortage of talented people, but it can still be surprisingly difficult to find somewhere informal to regularly meet other creatives without having to buy a ticket, attend an industry event or already know everyone in the room.
Common Ground is our answer to that.
Every other Tuesday, we create a relaxed space where people can draw, write, collage, make zines, play games, work on their own projects, share ideas and conversations, or simply sit and spend time with others.
You can arrive with something you’re already working on or turn up with absolutely nothing.
Materials and activities will be available, but nothing is compulsory.
What happens at Common Ground?
Every session will be slightly different.
You might find:
Drawing, collage and mixed-media materials
DIY zine-making
Creative writing and prompts
Board games and creative play
Space to work on your own project
Informal conversations and idea-sharing
Opportunities, commissions and funding being shared
People looking for collaborators
Or just somewhere comfortable to sit, talk and decompress
The point isn’t to produce a finished piece of work every time.
Sometimes the most useful thing that happens is meeting somebody you wouldn’t otherwise have met.
Who is it for?
Common Ground centres Black, Brown and diasporic creatives in Bristol, while welcoming allies who understand and respect the space.
You don't need to work professionally in the arts.
Writers, filmmakers, musicians, designers, photographers, illustrators, performers, makers, producers, freelancers, students, people developing new ideas and people who are simply curious are all welcome.
All levels of experience are welcome.
A different kind of creative space
Common Ground is intentionally informal, low-pressure and neurodivergent-friendly.
Participate as much or as little as you want.
Talk to everyone. Talk to one person. Spend the evening drawing. Bring headphones and work quietly. Join an activity halfway through. Take some time out.
There is no single correct way to be in the room.
We want Common Ground to feel less like an event you attend and more like a creative living room Bristol shares every other week.
Why we're doing it
We believe creativity is more than producing art.
It can be a way of resting, communicating, finding your people, building confidence and imagining things together.
Common Ground exists to help reduce creative isolation and create stronger relationships between people across Bristol's cultural community - particularly people who haven't always felt represented or comfortable within traditional arts and networking spaces.
Over time, we hope the relationships started here lead to friendships, collaborations, projects, businesses, films, exhibitions, events and things none of us have thought of yet.
The essentials
FORTNIGHTLY TUESDAYS
Early evening 4pm -8pm
Top Floor Left Handed Giant Bristol
FREE ENTRY
Creative materials provided.
Come for the whole session or drop in when you can.
Up-Coming Tuesday Dates:
13th October 2026
27th October 2026
10th November 2026
24th November 2026
FIND YOUR COMMON GROUND.
