What’s in your heart?

Tender Exchange by Radical Ritual invites you to pause for a moment of connection in the midst of a busy world. Whisper something that matters to you into a carved wooden heart — a hope, a truth, a memory, or a thought you want held — and pass it to someone you trust. The heart beats gently in your hands, and as more voices gather inside it, the rhythm shifts, signalling that it is full and ready to return.

When you bring it back, your words become part of a shared listening ritual — a space where feelings are woven together, and held with care.

In a world more divided than ever, the power of community has never been more vital. Tender Exchange offers a simple yet powerful experience: a living folk exchange that celebrates generosity, vulnerability, and the quiet courage of being heard. It creates a moment where strangers meet with compassion, and trust grows through small acts of openness.

“In a world that often moves too fast and listens too little — where authentic communication is increasingly reduced by social media and digital noise — we’re excited to create a ritual where people can pause, share something that matters and know it will be held with care. Tender Exchange is a gesture of trust: we trust the people who take part, and in turn they are invited to trust one another, sharing what is in their hearts with openness and courage. We look forward to the hope this creates — hope in our ability to reconnect, to listen deeply, and to work together with respect, care, and equity in a more authentically connected society.”  Becca Gill

Tender Exchange is a Radical Ritual production supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Brighton Festival, Activate/Inside Out Dorset, Stockton International Riverside Festival, and Freedom Festival.