From festival stage to shelter: The piano that keeps giving

Originally published by Conference News, 2 September, 2025

Author:

Jo Brown, Executive Producer

The Sensational Souls Festival – A NEFF Celebration

Earlier this year, Emota partnered with NEFF to deliver the Sensational Souls Festival, a celebration of creativity, community, and connection. The event was designed to immerse guests in experiences that spoke to the soul – celebrating not just food, but music, art, and togetherness.

As part of the festival, Emota tapped fine artist Fi Starr to paint a piano in her signature vibrant, joyful style. The piano became an interactive centerpiece at the event, inviting guests to sit down and play. Some performances were playful, others soulful, but all of them captured the spirit of the festival: authentic, human, and memorable.

A piano with a purpose

But the piano’s journey didn’t stop at the festival. Together with NEFF, Emota ensured that this wasn’t just a one-day experience. The piano has since been donated to Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness. 

Now located at one of Centrepoint’s facilities, the piano is already being played daily by young people living there. It has transformed from a festival highlight into a permanent fixture of joy, expression, and creativity in the lives of those who need it most.

Fi’s story: Joy, colour, and resilience

For Fi, this project carries deep personal meaning. Her art often explores themes of “what makes home, home” – from household objects to birds, fish, and food – all brought to life in bold acrylics. She believes in the power of art to spread joy through bright colour and simplicity.

But her connection to Centrepoint goes beyond her artistic vision. Fi experienced homelessness as a teenager herself, living in hostels after a family breakdown. Now, to see her artwork providing inspiration and enjoyment to young people in the same situation feels like a full-circle moment:

I have always wanted to do some work with Centrepoint and feel so grateful that the piano I painted has been donated to a charity that is supporting young people and giving them the foundation and tools to lead a fulfilling life.

Her journey – from those difficult years to exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025 – is proof of resilience, and a message of hope to the young people now sitting at the piano she painted.

Crafting experiences that leave a lasting impact

For Emota and NEFF, the piano project perfectly reflects a shared belief: that meaningful experiences don’t end when an event does. When designed with purpose, they ripple outward -leaving behind memories, connections, and in this case, a tangible gift that continues to create joy.

From festival centerpiece to community treasure, this piano tells a story of creativity, generosity, and resilience. It’s more than music. It’s proof that when experiences are crafted with care, their impact lives on.

At Emota, we’re proud to work with visionary partners like NEFF who share our passion for creating moments that truly matter. And we’re inspired by artists like Fi, whose creativity and courage remind us of the lasting power of art.

Together, we’ve seen how a single piano can carry a message of hope from a festival stage to a Centrepoint shelter – continuing to play on, long after the applause has faded.