For us autonomy is not complete independence but rather the ability to keep choosing your creative practice regardless of circumstance. To trust your own voice before seeking permission from the world. To measure success not by how visible your work becomes, but by your willingness to keep showing up for it.

Inside this round-up, you'll find opportunities spanning artist residencies, theatre, fashion, community gatherings, creative development programmes and more - with opportunities across South Africa, Tokyo, London, Nairobi, Portugal and beyond.

For this Community Spotlight, we spoke to Souls and Soles about their impact beyond the trails. In creating inclusive spaces in nature, they facilitate a space for people to make friends, challenge themselves, and feel a sense of belonging. This runs alongside them, also supporting local and global initiatives.

At ourppls, we often talk about the ecosystems needed for people to thrive, not just creatively, but personally, professionally and collectively. Faith in Futures reminds us that potential does not exist in isolation. It needs infrastructure, community, belief and resources. Gabriella has done the hard part of getting here. Now the question becomes whether the rest of us are willing to help carry her forward.

What became clear is that this stage of the journey is less about doing everything “right” and more about staying in relationship with the work. Returning to it in small ways, even when momentum feels inconsistent. And learning to protect the part of yourself that is still willing to try, to explore, to begin again. Because sustaining creativity isn’t just about output, it’s about creating the conditions that allow that willingness to remain.

By Week 9, a shift becomes noticeable because there’s a deeper awareness of what sits beneath the blocks we’ve been naming week after week. This time, the focus turned toward something both essential and often overlooked: compassion. More specifically, how we extend it to ourselves.

This summer, the Barbican has extended its offering of events for Project a Black Planet. This is their centre-wide season exploring the global influence of Pan-Africanism on contemporary art, music, politics and culture.

Creative loss isn’t always failure but often interruption or being pushed out of alignment. We reflected on the ways creatives are discouraged, through critique or spaces that prioritise intellect over instinct. It highlighted the importance of discernment; knowing which voices support your work, and which quietly diminish it.