At this stage, Stiwdio Pawb is best described as a multidisciplinary project, drawing together elements from the fields of fashion, craft, education, community arts, heritage, sustainability, and wellbeing. While the project is not yet fully transdisciplinary, it is actively moving in that direction as collaborations deepen and the retreat pilot develops.

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The initial structure of the project reflects a multidisciplinary approach, where individual disciplines such as textile craft (weaving, spinning), community engagement, and sustainable design co-exist and inform the project’s output. Each collaborator brings their own expertise: Cathy with traditional weaving methods, Lynne with raw fleece supply, Veronika with sustainability and marketing, and myself as a creative facilitator bridging these practices. At this stage, these disciplines are working alongside each other rather than being fully integrated into a new transdisciplinary framework.

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However, the long-term vision for Stiwdio Pawb (particularly the retreat model and future community studio) has strong transdisciplinary potential. According to Nicolescu (2002), transdisciplinarity involves collaboration that transcends disciplinary boundaries to solve real-world problems. Stiwdio Pawb is rooted in the question of how creativity, sustainability, and local heritage can support adult wellbeing and community cohesion. These are complex, real-life concerns that cannot be answered by a single field or discipline.

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In The Calling of a Creative Transdisciplinarity, Giri (2002) states that transdisciplinarity is “not just about synthesis of knowledge but about the transformation of the self and society through the co-creation of meaning.” This perspective resonates deeply with the aims of Stiwdio Pawb, which aspires to empower local people through shared making, creativity, and cultural heritage. Giri also proposes that a truly transdisciplinary approach requires a “movement from disciplinary arrogance to a dialogue of knowing, being and doing” (2002, p. 108). This aligns with my approach of working with community members and skilled practitioners on equal footing, valuing lived experience alongside technical expertise.

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The pilot weaving retreat is a key step toward transdisciplinarity, as it explores how traditional textile processes (craft), sustainable practice (environmental studies), community learning (education), and social connection (health and wellbeing) can intersect. This kind of convergence aligns with the ethos outlined in Klein’s theory of transdisciplinarity, which emphasises integration, synthesis, and shared frameworks to address societal needs (Klein, 2004).

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​​This convergence of traditional making, sustainability, and wellbeing is not only a practical exploration but also a mode of generating new knowledge. As Mäkelä (2007, p.158) states, “In practice-led research, the role of the artefact is not merely to illustrate the findings, but to act as a key means of gaining knowledge.” In this sense, the retreat (and the future studio) is both process and product, a living site of experimentation and learning.

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To fully transition into a transdisciplinary model, the project must move beyond collaboration into co-creation. This could involve embedding reflective practices that allow participants (craft practitioners, local residents, and community leaders) to shape the outcomes and direction of the studio collectively. In practice, this could look like:

• Participant-led workshop design

• Feedback loops that inform future activities

• Engagement with policy, education, or healthcare professionals to explore how creative spaces impact adult wellbeing​​

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Moving forward, the steps needed include:

• Continued cross-sector collaboration (e.g., with adult learning services or local health networks)

• Evaluation methods to track impact beyond the retreat

• Co-designed programming that blurs the line between facilitator and participant

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Ultimately, evolving the project into a transdisciplinary model would create broader, more inclusive benefits, where making, learning, and connecting are woven together in meaningful ways, empowering both individuals and the community.

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​As Giri (2002) argues, transdisciplinary projects must be “an adventure in mutual transformation,” not just of knowledge systems, but of the people involved. By centring care, creativity and collaboration in Stiwdio Pawb, this project can grow into a transformative space that serves not just as a studio, but as a platform for community growth, resilience and wellbeing.

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References

• Giri, A.K. (2002). The calling of a creative transdisciplinarity. Futures, 34(1), pp.103–115.

• Klein, J.T. (2004). Prospects for transdisciplinarity. Futures, 36(4), pp.515–526.

• Nicolescu, B. (2002). Manifesto of Transdisciplinarity. New York: SUNY Press.