Art and Mindfulness Workshop with Joana Mollet 

Last month, we hosted a special Art and Mindfulness workshop with artist Joana Mollet, one of the finalists of the Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize 2025. Joana welcomed us into her studio in Sintra. The space sits within the grounds of a historic home surrounded by tall trees and quiet gardens, an ideal setting for children to explore and create. 

We began outdoors with a mindfulness session led by Cristina Vaz-Franco. The children tried simple breathing exercises and listened to Lia, a Menina Folhinha by Lucy Fleming. The story helped settle everyone into the day and encouraged a slower, more attentive way of looking at the world around them. 

We then headed into the nearby forest for a nature walk. The children collected leaves, sticks, moss, stones and other natural materials that caught their interest. They returned to the studio with bags full of textures and colours, ready to use them in their artwork. 

Inside the studio the children were free to make whatever they imagined. Some created boggarts, small characters shaped from clay and decorated with natural materials. Others built tiny landscapes, abstract forms or little worlds that reflected what they had found on the walk. The room was busy in the best way, with children focused on their ideas and experimenting with materials at their own pace. 

The atmosphere was relaxed and open. Children asked questions, shared discoveries and tried out new ways of working with clay, paint and the items they had collected. 

This workshop is part of our ongoing commitment to connecting young people with artists and with creative experiences that feel meaningful. We are grateful to Joana Mollet for opening her studio and to Cristina Vaz-Franco for her thoughtful contribution to the day.