An Intergenerational Community Arts Project
Bridging Generations Through Story, Art and Belonging
Postcards of Connection™ was created in response to a growing question within the Bellingen Shire and Coffs Coast: How do we bridge the divide between young people and elders who often feel unseen or unheard in their community?
Over eight weeks, students from Bellingen High School and seniors from the Freemasons Benevolent Institute in Raleigh began a deep creative exchange — a shared space to tell stories, make art, and acknowledge the richness of lives lived across decades. Each person crafted handmade postcards and artworks that explored who they are, where they belong, and what matters to them.
A Creative Journey
Participants experimented with collage, watercolour, natural pigment painting, stamp and printmaking, and poetry reconstructed from the writings of a local Indigenous poet. These tactile processes allowed for expression beyond words, giving both generations freedom to share in ways that felt natural and safe.
Themes of belonging, identity, culture, connection to nature and home, people who shape us, and what it feels like to walk through the world at different ages were explored along this process.. Naturally relationships grew through these shared reflections and participants discovered surprising common ground as well as deeply personal differences, all held with respect, compassion and curiosity.
Why It Matters
The project was intentionally designed to nurture empathy, reduce social isolation, and amplify voices that are often overlooked.
Whether isolated by age, circumstances, or confidence in communication, participants were offered a space where their stories were welcomed and valued. Through listening, creating, and responding to one another, the group cultivated meaningful bonds and a renewed sense of belonging in their community,
Celebration & Exhibition
The project culminated in two heartfelt exhibitions.
The first was an intimate gathering where young people and elders met in person for the very first time — families, teachers, and care staff joined to witness their exchange. The second exhibition took place at Yarilla Library, where the broader community was invited to engage with the artworks, read the personal stories shared, send their own post cards and reflect on the beauty of intergenerational connection.
A short documentary was produced to capture the essence of the project — the conversations, creativity, vulnerability, and relationships that unfolded. The film is dedicated to Pearl, a beloved participant who passed away shortly after the completion of the program, and whose presence deeply shaped the group.
We invite you to watch our documentary of the Postcards of Connection™ project
A Continuing Legacy
Postcards of Connection™ demonstrates that art is more than symbolic expression, it is a bridge. By exchanging stories and creativity, participants saw themselves differently, saw each other with fresh curiosity, and experienced what it feels like to be witnessed.
The project lives on through its documentary, publications, ongoing workshops, and a growing movement of community members who want to find gentle, meaningful ways to connect across generations, communities and cultures.
At its heart, Postcards of Connection™ celebrates the power of creativity to transform belonging — one story, one postcard, one relationship at a time.
Get involved.
If you’re interested in running this project in your school/organisation, we have facilitator guides available.
Partnership, Acknowledgement and Gratitude
Postcards of Connection™ was proudly funded by Create NSW and auspiced through OzGREEN. The project would not have been possible without the support and openness of our collaborators:
Bellingen High School and in particular wellbeing coordinator Magda Pomroy. Freemasons Village staff and especially lifestyle officer Kristie, whose commitment to this project ensured the experience was deeply nourishing for all involved.
