Touchstone is a participatory arts project designed and led by artist Gillian Allard and funded by The Arts Council England and Suffolk County Council.

Presented as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025) produced by Counterpoints Arts.

The project is for anyone who feels ready to explore their feelings towards someone who has passed. Participants will use an unusual creative activity alongside the written word to help you create a personal tribute. There will be an art exhibition of the work for the Platforma Festival in Ipswich

St Elizabeth Hospice’s bereavement service LivingGrief, will be partnering with Gillian for the project, providing support throughout from trained volunteer bereavement counsellors. Writer Roua Horanieh and film-maker Hossam Fazulla will also work on the project.

More information is available from Gillian’s website.

The project begins in August 2025 and an exhibition of work created will be displayed at Custom House in Ipswich from 29 October – 8 November.

Full programme, including exhibition details, coming soon.

Gillian Allard is a photographic artist and educator from Suffolk, with a passion for storytelling. Her background is in Photojournalism and she has a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art. In 2017 she became the winner of Sky Arts Master of Photography – a television contest based in Rome. Her journey has led her to create meaningful connections within communities, including work with the Ipswich refugee community on the theme of ‘Belonging’ for the PhotoEast Festival. Her art invites participants to share their stories, blending photography and personal narratives into powerful visual experiences using alternative photographic techniques. Her projects include landscape and still life that help her connect with herself and her own thoughts and feelings.

Image: Mina by Gillian Allard