18 Jun 2025
St Albans is set to welcome a quietly powerful and deeply personal exhibition exploring how personal experiences of loss can open up space for communal healing, empathy and connection.
Created by local artist Natalia Millman and supported by Arts Council England in partnership with Cruse, Letters to Forever will be on view at St Peter’s Church from August 6-28.
The project began with a simple invitation to write a letter to your loss or someone you have lost. More than 200 people responded, sending heartfelt letters from across the UK and beyond. These weren’t just stories to inspire the work—they became part of it. Each artwork, spanning sculpture, drawing, sound, video, film, performance was made with or in response to these letters.
Together, they form a quiet and moving space that speaks to our shared humanity.
Natalie said: “Set within the beautiful and historic St Peter’s Church, Letters to Forever isn’t just something to look at – it’s something to feel. Visitors are invited to slow down, take a breath, and connect: with their own memories, with the words of others, and with the space itself. It’s a reminder that even in grief, we are never truly alone.
“Alongside the exhibition, there will be a public programme of workshops and events. These include creative, holistic sessions, including yoga for healing, mindful clay, grief circle, a space for companions of people with dementia and for Ukrainian community. These are open for booking via the website.
“Letters to Forever offers a quiet invitation: to reflect, to feel, and to witness many voices, telling the universal but unique stories of loss. Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself or simply wish to experience something heartfelt and meaningful, this exhibition offers space to do just that.”
Admission is free. Full event details and accessibility information are available online at www.nataliamillmanart.com/letters-to-forever. Private viewings and group visits can also be arranged.
