In autumn 2024, all four Calico libraries played host to the Welcome Mat, a large-scale participatory artwork created by Brighton-based charity The Launchpad Collective. Over eight weeks, the work moved through Forest Hill, Manor House, Sydenham and Crofton Park libraries, bringing with it a simple, powerful and uncompromising message: Welcome. The Welcome Mat was made by more than 250 people from all around the world, each contributing to a work that is as much about the act of making together as it is about the finished piece. Libraries are often the first port of call for people new to an area, places where you can find information, warmth, community and belonging without needing to spend any money or justify your presence. As the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, Lewisham felt like exactly the right place for a work with this message at its heart. The response from library users was immediate and heartfelt. People described it as amazing, incredible, and a powerful message beautifully done. It made an impression not just as a piece of art but as a statement about who these libraries are for and what they stand for. Since leaving Lewisham, the Welcome Mat has continued its journey, touring nationally in association with Migrant Action and visiting communities across the country, including many affected by the racist violence of summer 2024. It remains one of the most resonant and moving projects Calico has been involved with, and a reminder of what art in public spaces can do when it is rooted in genuine community purpose.