‘I’ve always liked art projects that shake up your practice,’ says curator and photographer Miriam Morris. ‘I enjoy pulling people together to share knowledge and different methods but most of all to have a bit of creative fun that can sit alongside all our other responsibilities.’

Morris is the brains behind The Postal Exchange, a mail-art project where people receive a bundle of supplies in the post and create new work. Twenty-four people, including visual artists, photographers and writers, answered Morris’ open call on Instagram to take part. Their names were jumbled on a spreadsheet and matched at random.

‘Each pair exchanged art materials via the post. It’s a bit like a HelloFresh box, but without the recipe card. You have to use your imagination. There were no prescriptive themes and anyone at any level could apply. You could make the art on your own timeline. I didn’t want that essay deadline feeling; I wanted it to feel exciting. I for one really like getting things in the post.’

Toy catalogues, old movie annuals, stickers, ribbons and cyanotype photo paper were packaged up and the resulting collages, photos and mixed media will be exhibited this month. Morris, a lover of analogue cameras and music, is one of the participants, paired with artist Hannah Dove. ‘It’s not like digital, there’s no immediacy or instant gratification; you’ve to wait on the post, you’ve to make it with your hands. That’s part of the experience. Sometimes you need to tinker with something that didn’t quite work out.’

The exhibition will include a collage board and a table of art scraps to inspire others too. ‘There was something meditative in choosing what materials should go in the parcel. It’s very different from dropping something into Dropbox. The tactile side was a joy and it was great to send something out into the world and not quite know what will become of it.’

The Postal Exchange, Leith Makers, Edinburgh, Wednesday 15–Sunday 26 October.