Project Art School

A little background...

About 3 years ago I made a decision to start a side hustle art business called Branch and Brush. This came about from being an art teacher for 19 years and noticing a big lack in affordable art provision for adults and families in my local community. I had also been part of a community art project with Syrian refugee mothers and the friendships forged through that had also encouraged me to create a community art club which could continue to build relationships through creativity, so working with another local social enterprise, Branch and Brush was born delivering subsidised clubs and workshops to the local town but also the surrounding villages. 

Covid - 19...

The Covid - 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on not only peoples mental health but also on many peoples financial situations. Art has always been a tonic for well-being and mindfulness and this is a time where it is needed more than ever. 

Through my job working in education the arts I have seen how keeping busy though creativity has helped people to deal with the stresses of a year of lockdowns. But not everyone has the opportunity to access the arts: this could be for a variety of reasons - where you live, money, age, opportunity etc. 

Young people in the more rural communities have been particularly affected by the pandemic and being in a year of lockdowns: isolation and anxiety about being at school or the thought of social situations is now a common story. 

About this project...

This project would give 20 young people from Ashford, Kent and the surrounding rural villages, the opportunity to take part in a free 6 week art or photography project. This would be completely free and each participant would be able to receive a bronze art award at the end of it.

The money raised from this crowdfunding will go towards all the art and photographic materials needed including packs for home study, transport to the venue if necessary and registration costs with the provider, Arts Award. 

This is in fact 2 projects, one for Art, where learners will get to experiment across the subject, and the other for photography, again where learners will get to experiment across the discipline from analogue through to digital. Each project is available to 10 participants and will take 6 weeks to complete. 

A little bit of crowdfunding help....

Crowdfunder is waiving its platform fees for community and charity crowdfunding projects during the coronavirus crisis. The Covid-19 epidemic could affect millions of people in the next few weeks.

These are unprecedented times but together, we are stronger, and the response is coming from communities across the country.

Volunteer groups are springing up to tackle the logistical problems faced in our communities – but they need urgent support. That's where we come in.