Spore Collective is a peer-peer learning journey about art and ecology. It’s an interdisciplinary creative practice community that follows the life-cycle of a mushroom to help us think differently and deeply together.
Who is Spore Collective for?
For creatives, artists, writers, makers in any field who want to:
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Learn with and from others (including non-human kin)
Encounter a rich range of perspectives across arts disciplines (eg. visual arts, music, writing...), ecology, research and climate science, and the fertile ground where these intersect
As a peer group of creatives, we’ll offer each other inspiration, ideas, feedback and supportive challenge so we can all deepen our practice, whatever and however we make
We’ll do practical exercises to try to attune to non-human perspectives and the insights they bring
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Explore threads of curiosity
We’ll practise ‘tentacular thinking’, and embrace the mess
We’ll wonder and wander and enjoy entangled ideas as they grow organically
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Learn without the bounds and cost and requirements of a traditional course
Art School students say the best thing about it is the creative community. We can build this for ourselves
This learning journey is flexible enough for you to attune to and trust your own inspiration, follow the aliveness of your projects, allowing them to emerge and live out their lifecycle
Over 16 weeks, starting in January 2027, a group of 12 creative practitioners across artistic fields will meet to share inspiration, encounter ideas and insights from science, evolve their practice, and develop a (fruiting) body of work. The cycle ends with a public exhibition and events programme focusing on public engagement, idea dispersal & action. The exhibition will take place in June/July 2027.
What are the aims of Spore Collective?
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Make work that makes a difference: To make compelling, impactful artworks and experiences that engage a broad range of audiences and participants with urgent ecological issues in empowering ways that inspire hope and action;
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Celebrate what grows at the edges: Cultivate the fertile soil found at the intersections of art and ecological science, in order to allow ideas and solutions to grow through interdisciplinary research and making;
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Build a collaborative, creative community through collective imagination, learning and action
How does it work?
What inspires the methodology?
Who is the host?
Laura Villares House is an artist, curator and educator based in Walthamstow. She’s also a trained coach with 10 years’ experience in leading participatory learning experiences for adults.
Her own art practice explores our relationship with the more-than-human world. She makes paintings and prints where detail is a form of care. Her recent collection of paintings ‘Lessons from Lichen’ were made during a self-directed lichen residency in Epping Forest.
In June 2026 she curated ‘Symbioses: Living Together’, a group exhibition about interconnectedness in the natural world. The exhibition featured 42 artists whose practices span painting, print, textile, sculpture and film; and many of whom co-create artworks with non-human forces. Her curatorial practice is centred around building communities and engagement as well offering experiences and exhibitions.
The aim for Spore Collective is to build on this further, empowering artists and creatives to work flexibly in community and in collaboration with ecology and conservation research to deepen their practice and increase the engagement and impact of their work.
What does participation involve?
Application opens in October 2026 via a simple form. It’s free to apply.
The programme starts in January 2027 and runs for 16 weeks, not including school holidays, with the exhibition and events programme happening in June/July 2027, tbc. The group size will be min 6 and max 12 people, to enable peer-peer learning, shared accountability and support for the group.
All participants will be supported to lead/co-host an event as part of the final collective exhibition ase and programme of events.
The experience includes:
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12 weeks of curated stimuli on specific themes relating to art and ecology;
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25 hrs of ‘held’, supportive group space, some online and some in person;
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guest talks from visiting artists/ ecologists;
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2 hrs of 121 curatorial support from Laura in the run-up to the show, supporting you to develop a piece/body of work for the exhibition
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support and peer feedback from a community of creatives exploring art & ecology
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a group show in a London gallery with an associated programme of events to support participation and engagement with the exhibition and its ideas.
Pricing is designed to be much more accessible than a regular course (the average cost of a specialised, 4-month art and ecology course delivered through an institution typically ranges from £3,000 to £5,000; the average cost of facilitated peer learning journeys (eg. Huddlecraft) is £700-£1500). There will be options to pay in instalments.
Funding dependent, participation will be available on a sliding scale of investment:
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£250: Supported rate. For those on a low-income*
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£450: Regular price
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£700: Supporter rate: This rate helps support others (for whom cost would be a barrier) to access the programme
*This figure and the number of spots available at the supported rate will depend on the outcome of submitted applications for funding to widen access and reach of the programme. Final rates announced by December 2026.
How do I apply to join?
Application opens in October 2026 via a simple form. To express an interest, please send a message via the contact page.
For now, if you'd like to have a taster for Spore Collective, please join one of an upcoming 'UNRULY ECOLOGIES: An Entangled Reading Group'. More information below.
Can I get a taster?
Yes! Come and join an event in the 'UNRULY ECOLOGIES' series.
It's an art and Ecology reading group for people who don’t necessarily like reading groups.
No need to read anything in advance, and a great chance to get a feel for Spore Collective.
Each month we’ll meet by candlelight to:
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Explore a range of texts and artworks on a specific theme
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Invite a non-human guest of honour to support our thinking beyond two-eyed, two-legged ways of being in the world
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Respond creatively together, making a collective artwork
Tickets offered on a sliding scale, £0-£15.
All events are at the Hornbeam Community Centre, London E17. Book here.
Tues 29th September, 6-8pm: ENTANGLED LIFE: ARE WE INDIVIDUALS?
Guest of honour: Fungus
What happens when we stop thinking of organisms as independent individuals?
Texts by Merlin Sheldrake (Entangled Life) and Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass). Book here.
Weds 14th October, 6-8pm: THE GENEROUS ROT: WHAT COMES ALIVE THROUGH DECAY?
Guest of honour: Soil
A creative exploration of the fertile ground of composting, the de-and re-composition of matter, supported by texts by Sophie Strand and Mary Douglas. Let’s rot and roll. Book here.
Weds 25th November, 6-8pm: FEELERS: WHAT'S POSSIBLE THROUGH INTERSPECIES COMMUNICATION (AND LISTENING)?
Guest of honour: Snail
Tentacular thinking, roots, mycelium and other ways of being in touch with non-human kin. With inspiration morsels by Donna Haraway and Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. Book here.
