We get that this last year has been difficult for all of us. Our own income dropped to nil overnight when all our workshops got cancelled. Consequently, we understand the struggles that our community is facing.
Arts and culture play a critical part in community wellbeing. At the beginning of lockdown we saw window and pavement art flourishing but we’re not seeing this so much any more. As we come out of our third lockdown, paying attention to wellbeing is hugely important. Art provides a natural outlet for emotions and feelings and supports wellbeing in other ways too:
- Drawing is a mindful activity that can take you away from everyday stresses.
- Learning or developing new skills makes us feel good and
- learning new drawing skills in company is more sociable and makes you feel even better!
Our drawing workshops cover 4 of the 5 NHS steps to wellbeing.
Art at the Heart CIC is trialling a ‘pay what you can’ scheme to make a selection of our classes accessible for everyone. The Drawing Masterclasses course cost is normally £60. £30 would help us to partly cover some of our running costs as this scheme receives no public funding. We appreciate that this may not be possible, but please make a contribution of any amount if you can. Like we said, we get it.
In this way, we’d like to do our bit to support wellbeing. Just 45 minutes of making art can reduce stress hormones. Regular weekly art sessions help to reduce stress levels, support positive mental health and create happier communities. This means higher productivity, better concentration, and better performance at school.
Book onto a class, choose the pay by direct transfer option, then pay what you can and reap the wellbeing rewards.
There are limited places available on this basis, so act quickly!
Artwork from past workshops and art clubs is on display in the galleries. Have a browse to see the range of fabulous artwork that participants have produced from drawings to paintings to sculpture to fashion!