Wild Wings of Hope
Inspired by the barn swallows that return to my family home each spring, this participatory arts project interweaves papercraft and collaborative storytelling to explore migration, resilience and hope.
Prof Giorgos Tsiris Director of Education & Creative Arts, St Columba’s Hospice Care
"Wild Wings of Hope has had such a positive impact at St Columba’s Hospice Care, creating space for reflection, creativity and connection."
The Inspiration
- Wild Wings of Hope was conceived after the passing of my father, who nurtured my love of the swallows that returned to our family home each spring. On the day we scattered his ashes, the swallows returned — a powerful symbol of continuity and connection.
- Funding from Creative Scotland and a Crowdfunder enabled me to develop the idea into a collaborative community project.
- I explored the idea through illustration and papercraft, before bringing in Celtic and African storytellers to enrich the work with folklore and oral storytelling traditions.
The Idea
- Accessible papercraft activities invited people of all ages and abilities to explore migration, ecology and nature through making.
- Collaborations with storytellers Chief Gift Amu and Cara Silversmith brought the papercut birds and their remarkable journeys to life through folklore, music and live performance.
- The project launched at the National Museum of Scotland before expanding into care settings with St Columba's Hospice Care and Alzheimer Scotland.
The Outcome
- Over 5,400 people have engaged through workshops, exhibitions and events to date.
- Hundreds of paper birds and butterflies have been crafted and Messages of Hope written and shared by participants.
- Partnerships in conservation and healthcare include RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, St Columba’s Hospice Care and Alzheimer Scotland.
- Featured in cultural programmes, including the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Black History Month Scotland and Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The Story Behind Wild Wings
Wild Wings of Hope was conceived after the passing of my father, who nurtured my love of the barn swallows that migrate to our family home in Wales each spring.
On the day we scattered his ashes, the swallows returned — a powerful symbol of continuation, connection, and hope.
National Museums Scotland launch
The project launched at the National Museum of Scotland as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 and Black History Month.
The three-day celebration wove together papercraft, storytelling, and conservation to illuminate the ecological connections between the UK and Africa.
The Papercraft
Accessible papercraft activities invited people of all ages and abilities to create their own papercut birds, exploring migration, ecology and nature through making.
Messages of Hope
Alongside each papercut creation, participants were invited to share a personal Message of Hope. Each contributed to a growing community display — bringing stories together through creativity, hope and connection.
The Storytelling
Master folklorist Chief Gift Amu and Scottish bard Cara Silversmith brought the papercut birds and their remarkable journeys to life through live storytelling and participatory music.
Explore Wild Wings of Hope
What began as a personal response to loss has grown into a shared expression of hope — evolving through new partnerships and creative collaborations across conservation, culture and healthcare settings.