September 17, 2024Why making art accessible matters: Behind-the-scenes at Artichoke’s Summer School

Zoë Da Poian, Communications Coordinator

A young girl and a woman painting together. They are smiling and have paintbrushes in their hands. The table is covered in art materials.

Our August Summer School was a huge success!

We had an incredible week filled with creativity, laughter, and new friendships. From cyanotypes and claymation with Tasnim Mahdy to circus skills with the National Centre for Circus Arts, our participants explored a range of artistic mediums and had a blast doing it.

Two young people look into the camera smiling as they hold their artworks proudly.
Artichoke Summer School 2024. Photos by Rob Hill.

Taking part in the arts supports young people’s education, wellbeing and employability. However, not all young people have access to the arts. Did you know that children from low-income families are three times less likely to engage in extracurricular arts activities? 

Artichoke works all over the UK producing free art events, but our home is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, where 56% of children live in a low-income family. This is the highest level of child poverty in the UK.

As part of Artichoke’s Summer School, eight young people from low-income backgrounds had the opportunity to try a range of new and exciting activities:

 

 

These activities weren’t just fun; they were vital in helping these young people stay engaged in the arts, develop important creative and social skills, and work together as a team.

For a lot of us, art isn't accessible. I'm a self-taught artist and everything I've learnt is via facilitating - going to summer programmes like these when I was growing up in Egypt really changed the course of my life.

~ Tasnim Mahdy, Lead Facilitator ~

The week-long Summer School concluded with an exhibition at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, where the young artists proudly displayed the breadth of their creative work. This was a proud moment for the participants, their families, guardians, friends, and all of us at Artichoke.

Two girls smiling as they do tricks on an aerial hoop.
Artichoke Summer School 2024. Photos by Beth King.

I've learnt so much this week! Circus skills was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I've never really done clubs before and it was a really cool experience for me.

~ Amelia, Workshop Attendee ~
Three young girls wear aprons in a bright room. They are smiling and making art together,
Artichoke Summer School 2024. Photo by Rob Hill.

Thank you to The Big Give and everyone who donated to our #ChristmasChallenge in 2023 for making the Summer School possible!

With special thanks also to Dormywood Trust, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Department for Education, Ridge and Partners LLP, Whitechapel Gallery and Tesco Express Aldgate East.