Meet Art4Space

Looking for creative activities with heart? Then grab a paintbrush and head into vibrant South West London to meet not-for-profit social enterprise Art4Space, who are passionate about two things; the power of creativity and the need for change. With visual art at the centre of everything they do, the team use exciting workshops in pottery, painting and crafts to enhance communities, boost wellbeing and inspire people into reaching their full creative potential.

I’m on a mission to… 

“Enhance mental health, promote wellness and inspire positive change – all through creativity and design! Art holds so much power; it strengthens communities, helps people connect regardless of their background and transforms lives. The creative process changes the way we see the world and introduces people to new perspectives, ideas and values – what could be more inspiring than that?

I create a nurturing workshop environment by… 

“Being approachable and adaptable, always. The key to a great workshop experience is to listen to students and give them plenty of encouragement; then they relax into the process and feel comfortable enough to express themselves creatively.

My top tip for beginners is…

“To ask yourself ‘what would happen if…?’ Explore, experiment, make mistakes and be prepared to get messy! I’d also say get stuck into some serious research – soak up everything you can about the craft, from basic information to detailed knowledge on technical skills. Every little helps!”

Making with others is… 

“An opportunity to cultivate and participate in an exciting, creative energy! Collaboration with others allows people to express themselves, explore and develop their potential, and ultimately contribute to a more vibrant society.”

My most heart-warming student moment is…

“At Art4Space we teach a programme called, ‘Why Art Matters’, which is a series of workshops for young people, aimed at boosting their confidence through self-expression. Seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment on the faces of the children when they complete the course and get their certificates is so incredibly rewarding – it melts my heart!”

Crafting can help you save money… 

“In so many ways! From remaking and repairing old items to thinking about what you throw away when creating, crafts will completely change your consumption habits and help save those pennies. Rethink, reuse, reduce and recycle, and you’ll soon find yourself – and the planet – a lot better off!”

We show love to the planet by…

“Putting people and the planet over profit. At Art4Space we take sustainability super seriously; safeguarding water, saving energy, reducing waste and eliminating the use of plastic where possible are all usual practices for us – we also have a Sustainability Leader and a detailed Green Policy.”

You’ll leave my workshop feeling…

“Inspired, empowered, valued, seen and heard! Our workshops are designed to be a mindful few hours where you can relax, take time out of the digital world and focus solely on creativity and connecting with others – we think everyone has lots of creative potential and it’s our job to help them realise it in a supportive and safe space.”