Nicky's Atelier: Be Part of Our Next Big Step!
Help us find a permanent home for our innovative and inclusive Art School based in North Somerset!
Welcome, Nicky's Atelier Community!
Thanks for taking the time to find out about our Crowdfunder.
If you’re visiting this page, we’d also like to thank our incredible supporters and artists - who have been with us every step of the way during our journey, now we're inviting you to join us on our most ambitious step yet.
We're aiming to raise £6,000 to find our permanent home for Nicky's Atelier at the heart of our community, and we need your help to make that happen!
Check out our video to see the story behind our Art School, and why we’re so passionate about this project.
Creativity for Everyone: Why Art Matters?
At Nicky’s Atelier, we believe that art is about more than just making something beautiful - it’s about connection, well-being, and community. Right now, the arts are being undervalued, underfunded, and in many cases, cut from people's lives all together. We believe it deserves to be valued, embraced and celebrated! Creativity isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental part of what makes us human. It gives us space to slow down, express ourselves, and find joy in the process. But too often, people feel disconnected from art - either because they were told they weren’t good enough, it hasn't been made accessible to them, or because they’ve come to believe they aren’t creative, when in reality, creativity is something we all have within us and should be nurtured.
Why We're Raising Funds
Making big steps forward can be challenging, but with your support, we can:
- Secure a Permanent Home: Secure a deposit on our own welcoming venue, providing a dedicated, inspiring space for our creative workshops and artists.
- Create an Inclusive Community Space: Offer a warm, inviting space for creativity, connection, and wellbeing at the heart of our community.
- Expand Our Workshop Offerings: Introduce a wider range of creative workshops, accommodating more parts of our community - such as after-school clubs for children and young people, or specialised sessions that support people facing challenges like dementia etc.
- Reach More People: Expand our reach, enabling more people to experience the joy and therapeutic benefits of making art.
Why £6,000???
This represents securing a suitable space, including the deposit and initial setup, so we can confidently host regular weekly workshops and creative events from our very own venue in 2025.
Why We Need a Permanent Creative Space?
A Space to Create, Connect, and Grow...
With a dedicated venue, we could offer a broader range of inspirational workshops throughout the day, evenings, and weekends, expanding our reach and ensuring inclusivity for all members of our community. This wouldn’t just be a physical space for making art; it would be a place for people to find the headspace and calm so many of us need in today’s busy and often overwhelming world.
More Than a Studio – A Community Hub for the Arts
We see this space as so much more than just a place to make art. Our vision is to imagine a haven for creativity, a space where everyone feels welcome to discover their inner artist, connect with others, learn new skills, and simply enjoy the joy of artistic exploration together. Beyond being a studio, this space would be an advocate for the Arts in North Somerset, supporting the local artistic community and championing other artists.
Meet Nicky: A Creator, an Art Educator, and a Founder
Founded by artist and educator Nicky...
For Nicky, this journey is deeply personal. Art has been part of her life for as long as she can remember – from childhood sketchbooks filled with drawings to a decade-long career as a senior designer in the British fashion industry. Whose passion for creativity has shaped her career but it was her love of teaching and a desire to help others on their own creative journeys that led her to retrain as an art educator. After 15 years of leading art departments and shaping young artists as Head of Art, she took a leap – stepping away from traditional education to create something truly special. Nicky’s Atelier was born from a belief that art should be accessible to everyone, a welcoming space where creativity isn’t just taught but nurtured, shared, and celebrated.
What's In It For You?
As a token of our gratitude, we're offering exclusive rewards available only through this campaign. From a private workshop hosted for you & your friends by Nicky to free membership one off packages, there's something special for everyone! And there's more...
Every time we reach a funding milestone, we’ll deliver a free workshop for those who will benefit most and giveback to the community, by contributing you will be in turn helping others!
- £1K Milestone - We’ll donate all our proceeds from one Saturday workshop to support Cancer Research UK.
- £2K Milestone - We'll deliver a free creative workshop at a local care home, bringing joy, creativity, and companionship to elderly residents.
- £3K Milestone - We'll host a free creative workshop for a local junior school, inspiring young minds and supporting arts education.
- £4K Milestone - Host a special thank-you creative workshop for local NHS or key workers (including teachers), offering a restorative creative experience as a gesture of appreciation for their dedication.
- £5K Milestone - We'll deliver a specially designed art workshop focused on well-being, mindfulness, and memory support, offered for free to a local dementia support group.
- £6K Milestone (Woo Hoo!) - We’ll host a special community-focused art day, open to everyone in Clevedon - a celebration of creativity, inclusion, and the joy of making art together.
What Happens If We Exceed Our Goal?
We’re beyond grateful for any support we receive, but if we surpass our goal, we’ve got some exciting ideas lined up for the future;
- Employ and collaborate with other creatives & educators to run workshops
- Host annual art exhibitions to champion 'The Arts' in the South West
- Build a cafe as part of our venue and offer people a 'Sit in Art' experience and host social events
- Holiday creative clubs for children
Risks & Challenges
We’re confident and committed to our business, building a thriving art school and nurturing a strong, engaged community here in Clevedon and surrounding areas. Securing our own permanent creative space is an exciting next step but like any big leap, it comes with its own challenges.
The primary risk we foresee is difficulty in finding the ideal venue to fully match our ambitions. If securing a space takes longer than expected, we’ll safeguard all funds raised, setting them aside exclusively for venue-related expenses until we find the perfect home for Nicky’s Atelier.
Although we’re an established and growing business, unforeseen events can happen. Should any circumstance arise, such as personal or external factors, that prevents us from continuing, all remaining funds raised through this campaign that haven’t already been invested into the business, will be transparently donated to a carefully chosen local charity supporting arts, well-being, or community-focused initiatives.
We promise complete transparency throughout this journey, regularly updating you on our progress, successes, or any challenges we face along the way.
Help Us Make This Vision a Reality
At its core, this is a social, educational, and aspirational project, driven by the belief that creativity has the power to enrich the lives of many and bring our community closer together. By joining our journey, you’re helping to envision a space that gives back, one that nurtures expression and connection for everyone. Join us in making this vision a reality, and together we can create something truly special for Clevedon and beyond.
GET IN TOUCH – WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Email: [email protected]
Website: nickys-atelier.com
Instagram: nickys.atelier
Facebook: Nicky's Atelier
Join the Nicky's Atelier community...
Ready to be part of something extraordinary? Here's how you can help:
- Make a Donation: Whatever you can afford, big or small, it all counts!
- Choose Your Reward: Pick a reward that excites you the most.
- Spread the Word: Share our campaign with friends, family & others!
- Connect with Us: Follow us on social media for updates.
I am so proud of our growing Art community and what we have already achieved together and want to spread the joy of creativity to many more people! Together, we can find a 'home' for Nicky's Atelier and build a creative space at the heart of our community.
A heart felt thank you for any support you can give - as this project isn't about one person but about us coming together as a creative community!
We can't wait to see where this journey takes us...
Nicky
Founder of Nicky's Atelier
P.S. Got any creative ideas or suggestions? We'd love to hear them! Feel free to reach out and let us know how we can spread the word and make this a reality!