Bench Encounters Project

In partnership with The Cultural Spring

The current edition of Bench Encounters is taking place in Sunderland and South Tyneside. This particular project is commissioned by The Cultural Spring, as part of their Nibbles programme. It will culminate with informal and intimate sharings in each district, during March 2026.

Working with both older and younger men, Associate Director Alex Elliott will facilitate everyday conversations between men on benches. Alex will highlight moments that may appear insignificant at first but when looked back on hold great meaning. Through this work Alex will co-create a series of short films, highlighting the importance of intergenerational exchange and communication.

Bench Encounters was inspired by the Friendship Bench initiative, set up by psychiatrist Dixon Chibanda, in response to a lack of mental health services available in Zimbabwe. He trained older women to deliver basic CBT therapy to younger people outdoors and on benches.

https://www.theculturalspring.org/