Fostering restorative cultures by connecting past stories, with what we do today, to how we envision the future.

Repair Acts is an artist-led research programme focused on material cultures of repair, care, maintenance and healing.

We create platforms for dialogue and practice around restorative futures through making and building art works, carrying out desk and applied based research, designing and developing art exhibitions, workshops and conversational spaces.

Taking a pluralistic approach, we work at a local and place-based level within landscapes, infrastructures and communities and in collaboration with governing bodies, craftspeople, skilled trades and other professionals. Connecting local wisdom and practices to global, regional and national currents in economics, policy and law, we build pathways between lived experiences and systemic change.

RECENT AND UPCOMING

International Repair Day
18.10.2025
78 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3DS

Free Mending & Fixing Workshops, Specialists & Expert Repair Advice, Talks & Screenings. Taking place at Sparks. All Events Free.

Open 11-17.30pm.

Full programme here.

Bristol Repair Coalition
22.10.2025
Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol

Monthly meet up of partners working together to transform pathways for material repair and reuse in the city.

Turning the Collar
11.11.2025
Mullingar, Ireland

Screening of the documentary Turning the Collar. Set in the midlands of Ireland the documentary follows a journey across the county of Westmeath, where twenty craft, restoration, and repair professionals share their stories. Screening followed by a Q&A. 

Location: IMC Cinema, Lakepoint, Ireland, N91 FE48.

FEATURED PROJECTS

International Repair Day, Bristol, 2025

International Repair Day, 2025
Sparks, 78 Broadmead, BS1 3DS
18.10.2025

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Bristol Repair Coalition
Bristol
19.03.2024

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Thatcher, John Conlon. Film still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.
Thatching Materials. Film still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.
SewMistress Mary Connell, Film still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.
Boat maker and repair, John Joe Quigley, Inner Marina, Film still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.
Molly Collins, Repairing Pots and Pans, Travellers Camp, Westmeath, Film Still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.

Turning the Collar
Documentary
03.11.2022

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Co-creating Repair Declarations, BA Graphics Workshop, TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, 2021. Image credit Teresa Dillon.

Repair Declarations
Ongoing
03.05.2021

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Repair Acts Ireland, Caring for Repairing, Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath. Image credit Paul Moore.
Of Bricks and Mortar, Dry Stone Wall Making and Mending Workshop with O'Dwyers Masonry at Repair Acts Ireland, Caring for Repairing, Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath (2022). Image credit. Paul Moore
Bike Repair Workshops with Kenny's Bi-cycles, Caring for Repairing Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath (2022)
Molly Collins, Repairing Pots and Pans, Travellers Camp, Westmeath, Film Still, Turning the Collar, 2022. Image credit Matt Boyd.
Caring for Repairing Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath (2022). Image credit Paul Moore
TokTek and Kilbeggan Musicians, Opening Night, Caring for Repairing Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath (2022). Image credit Paul Moore
Between the Stones and the Reeds, Tapestry Works, Discard ballon material and digital Embroidery (Dillon, 2022), Caring for Repairing Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath. Image credit Paul Moore
Screen Prints (Dillon, Buxton and 2022), Caring for Repairing Exhibition and Festival, Kilbeggan, Westmeath. Image credit Paul Moore
Lace Affair with artist Fiona Harrington, Care for Repairing, Kilbeggan, Westmeath, 2022. Image credit. Paul Moore
Surgu founder Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh in conversation at Repair Acts, Ireland, Caring for Repairing, Kilbeggan, 2022. Image credit Paul Moore

Caring for Repairing
Kilbeggan, Ireland
03.11.2022 - 06.11.2022

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Calling Into The Now, Dillon, 2021. Image credit Climate Care.
Calling Into The Now, Dillon, 2021. Image credit Felipe Schmidt Fonseca.

Calling Into The Now
Berlin
27.06.2021 - 08.09.2021

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Table Lamp, India. TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts 2019.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Publication Launch, 2022. Image credit Maria Meco.
Tennis Shoe, Brazil. TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts 2019.
Clever, Inventor and Audio Equipment Repairer, Belo Horiztone. TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts 2019
Rob Wall, Bristol Bike Project. TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts 2019.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Ted Cockwell Vintage Repairs at Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Stories of Everyday Maintenance, Ted Cockwell, Vintage Repairs at Publication Launch (2022). Image credit. Maria Meco.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts, Fashion and Textile Student Workshop, 2021. Image credit, Teresa Dillon
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Stories and Declaration, Community Workshop, Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol, 2021. Image credit Teresa Dillon
Clay Dolls, Repair Story India, TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, 2021.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Website, 2021.
TALES OF CARE AND REPAIR, Repair Acts, Fashion and Textile Student Workshop, 2021. Image credit, Teresa Dillon

TALES OF CARE & REPAIR
Bristol, Belo Horiztone and New Delhi
15.02.2021 - 28.02.2022

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My Square Mile, Screen printed histories of repair adverts, Bristol (2019) by Arthur Buxton. Image credit Teresa Dillon.
My Square Mile, Cartographies of Local Repair Economies, Bedminister, Bristol, Repair Acts (2019)

My Square Mile, Cartographies of Local Repair Economies
Bristol
31.03.2019 - 06.02.2019

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REPAIR DECLARATIONS

Repair Declarations work as statements or demands that we can get behind and act on. They are co-produced with local communities so that we can collectively explore what changes are needed, so as to mend and fix more things, more easily. Below are examples gathered from work carried out in the UK, Ireland, Brazil and India. Find out more how are Repair Declarations work here.

We call for the city council to support accessible small-repair drop-ins across the city that host regular repair days and develop neighbourhood exchange hubs, where spare parts can be traded and skills learnt.

Bristol Declaration, 2021

The reuse of things in a cascade effect can be used as a tool to foster repair. A flow of repairable objects can achieve multiple uses and values.

Brazil Declaration, 2021

Repair delays sending stuff to the landfill.

India Declaration, 2021

STORIES OF EVERYDAY REPAIR, CARE & MAINTENANCE