Art-K Bowes Park

🌞 It's the final week of Easter Workshops!​🌞 It seems the sunny weather has inspired us, as we're noticing more wildlife and colour in finished pieces!

A typical sunny morning at Easter Workshops looks like this...

1️⃣ Children arrive - some with excitement, some with apprehension as it may be their first time at the studio! Our teachers help everyone feel settled, ensuring the whole class feels free to get creative!

2️⃣ Once settled, our young artists are introduced to the project table! It's a hard choice... 💭"Do I choose the clay chick or the owl project? Hmm... I think the owl!"

3️⃣ Our experienced workshop leaders will come around to introduce students 1:1, ensuring they know how to start. Step-by-step, we guide them through the stages...

4️⃣ ...Until it's almost finished - time to refine the last brush strokes! 🎉

5️⃣ Then there's a knock at the door! It's home time! Which often triggers a chorus of "Nooo, I want to keep crafting!"

We empower students to work independently, whilst offering step-by-step guidance that ensures students of all ages feel supported.
However, we see the confidence that children gain when they get to add their own ideas and own their own artwork!

We're running morning🕥 and afternoon🕐 workshops throughout this week, as well as full-day sessions to fill your holidays with creativity!

Our projects aren't Easter specific, they're inspired by spring, nature, as well as a number of things that aim to inspire creative minds of all ages!

Our youngest artists have been busy painting canvases for the first time, whilst some artists have gotten their hands on clay. Our older artists have had the opportunity to develop their skills and add unique spins to their projects.

Join us for the final days of workshops - link in our bio! 🔗

Don’t let your opportunity to be a part of art-K's BIG Summer of Art pass you by! FOR THE LOVE OF ART, don't miss out!

Would you like to see your artwork showcased at one of London’s most iconic locations?

The invitation for artists to exhibit as part of our national exhibition at the prestigious OXO Gallery will close on ⏰Sunday 4th of May⏰

We don't want you to miss the deadline, here's how to be part of a vibrant summer at OXO...

1️⃣ Make sure you're signed up for Summer Term 2025 (link in bio!)
2️⃣ Check your inbox for the invitation to submit via our Call for Artists Form
3️⃣ Can’t find the email? Contact your club manager for more info and to get the link!

The gallery is also home to an exhibition of artists for the British Art Prize Exhibition and London Craft Week 2025! Throughout July, our art-K community will bring the walls to life with colour!

📅 Exhibition runs: Wednesday 9th July - Sunday 27th July
📍 OXO Gallery, OXO Tower Wharf

Will your passion for art lead to a career in the arts?

Aastha and Elliot from art-K St Albans talked with students at Loreto College's career fair about their future careers.
They had the opportunity to talk to students who were passionate about pursuing a career in the arts.

This is an important conversation in the wake of the February report from the Creative Industries Policies and Evidence Centre, which declared a creativity shortage in the UK🌱✨

Since 2010, arts enrolment has dropped by 47% at GCSE and 29% at A-level

To all our 11+ students dreaming of a career in the arts post-school, and to those who are choosing art GCSE, Aasta and Elliot speak for us all when they celebrate that a career in the arts is possible!

To find out more about the decline in creativity, you can read our March blog via the link in our bio!

In a survey that aimed to find out the attitudes of children towards art, they were asked:

Why do adults make art? 💭 Comment your thoughts below...

📉 Whilst 57% of children thought that children make art for fun, only 19% believed that adults make art ‘for fun’!

The majority said that it was for money, or work! What changes?

One inspiring response from a pupil was "for the same reasons as children... to have fun"🎉

In the spirit of that comment, we wonder WHY the fun of art fades away with adulthood?

🧐Is it the pressure to do it right?
🧐Is it the belief that the time for making art has passed, now that we're no longer studying it at school?
🧐Is it a lack of time?
🧐Or a lack of space to make a mess?

At art-K, we support adults to find the joy in art again!

We have adult Sip & Paint workshops running throughout April, and a new term of weekly classes beginning on the 21st of April!

Book now to find an escape from hectic adult life at your nearest studio this April. Link in our bio! 🔗

Easter Workshops are in full swing! 🌞 Studios are alive with the sounds of artists at work...

The real magic of workshops is when you witness creative children making friends over a love of art. A workshop is transformed into a community of like-minded children working on their projects side by side!

The magic is that every child is unique, yet they are united through the fun of creativity!

What do these three things have in common?
👋Your fingerprints
🐆 A leopard's spots
🍧A snowflake
🖼️ A finished artwork

Each one is completely unique!

Every child creates a completely unique artwork. Much like the artists themselves, no two are ever the same! Even when friends come along together, we see the unique spins that children put on their projects. 💡

Our workshop leaders are trained to support children to work independently at their own pace, with lots of step-by-step guidance. We tailor our support to their age, ability, and leave lots of room for their own idea.

What will your child create? Join us for one of our holiday workshops, running throughout the Easter Break!

In the weeks leading up to Easter Workshops, our team has been busy creating prototypes. These are the prototypes inspire workshop artists of all ages to get creative! 🌷

🕵️‍♀️Take a look at how 1 piece has been recreated in 4 unique ways...

The aim: To create structure and encourage learning, whilst encouraging individual expression!

A prototype helps children to visualise the finished project. They are really important

What would you add? Comment below! 💬

Spot the cheeky bat that was added by the teachers at art-K Farnham! 👀

Easter workshops are designed to be fun! In a classroom-based study, children were asked: Why do children make art? 💭

The majority (57%) said that the main reason why children make art is because it is fun...

Other reasons were ‘Because they want to be artists’, ‘To be good at art’ and ‘To learn’.

This Easter break, we're here to fill the long holiday with all the FUN!

In the studio, we nurture children's love of art in the hope that it will inspire a lifelong love of painting and drawing. A big part of that is ensuring that they have creative freedom to explore and play with their ideas.

Creativity is a form of play, one that children of all ages can take part in. After all, you're never too old to create, just ask our adult students!

There are still spaces remaining. Book now to fill your easter with creative fun (and leave the mess at the studio)!

🏠Just like our weekly classes, our workshops provide a safe space for children to let their creativity soar! 🚀

“Everyone loves to draw if they are given a nonthreatening environment with enough structure for success and enough freedom for creativity” - Mona Brookes from her book Drawing with Children

Mona Brooks is a key figure in children's artistic development. She speaks of the importance of a safe and supportive environment, in order for children to thrive artistically.

She stresses that the right balance is needed... ⚖️

On the one hand, we create a safe space to welcome children in order to create a place where creative people belong. Here they find structure and routine.

On the other hand, we ensure that children have freedom in order to allow their imaginations to roam.

In Mona's words, the right environment “allows them to both express themselves and relax.”

Artists, are you ready? The call for artists to exhibit at OXO for our 2025 exhibition is now OPEN!

The side of the Thames is home to some of the most important cultural landmarks in the UK - that could include your artwork this July! 🎉

Don't miss out on your opportunity to be a part of a national exhibition on London's Southbank...

We’re thrilled to announce that our 2025 Annual Exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 27th July
at the OXO Gallery in OXO Tower Wharf, South Bank

It's time to register your interest!

Here's how to enter:
1. Make sure you're signed up for Summer Term 2025 - If you haven't already, sign up via the link in our bio!
2. Check your inbox for the email inviting you to submit your interest via our Call for Artists Form
3. If you can't find the email, you can ask your club manager for details. They will have fliers or a link to enter.

The Interest Form will be open until Sunday 4th May, so don’t miss out!

Important note:
- If you’re a parent with multiple children enrolled, please complete the interest form for each one.
- The same applies for is one submission per person!

We can’t wait to see the variety of artwork on Southbank! Be a part of art-K's BIG Summer of art! 🎉

Today marks the final day of Spring Term, and the start of Easter Workshops in studios across the UK...

What a term it has been! 🎉 To all our students (from age 6-66+) we wanted to say thank you for learning and growing with us this Spring!
🌱>>>🌻

Here are some special moments to mark the end of term! We've transformed studios into galleries for mini exhibitions, collaborated on group artworks, and even had a parents vs kids quick draw challenge!

Now, we pause for Easter break! It's time to recharge your batteries before the Summer Term begins on the 📅 21st of April! 📅

We have an exciting two weeks of workshops planned to help students of all ages unwind!

We are running workshops for Children, Adults and Families throughout the break. Discover your nearest Holiday Workshop via the link in our bio! 🔗

Dear artist, yes that's you! No matter your experience level, we're here to help you make art more courageously... Adult Sip & Paint is kicking off at studios around the UK 🎉

📊 7 out of 10 adults are afraid to paint, because of a fear that they don’t have the talent for art

📊 In a survey of 2,000 people, found that 53% of adults fear that what they make might be judged by others

Our Sip & Paint art workshops aim to help you gain some confidence to make art more freely - without the fear of doing it wrong!

The 2-hour session offers you a supportive environment to free up and find your flow! There are no strict artistic rules, instead, the event is designed to be accessible and fun.

🎉 For those who are new to art, it's an easy way to get started. Our teachers are on hand to help you transition through the steps.
🎉 For those who are on their artistic journey already, it's a useful way to free you up and soothe any fears of making mistakes!

There's no right or wrong, only an opportunity to reconnect with your creativity! Pick up that paint brush and join us for Sip & Paint this April. Link in our bio 🔗

3 sisters, with 3 unique projects! 👩‍🎨 During Easter Workshops, we teach ages 6-16. You may read that and wonder how we are able to cater to such an age range...

Our teachers understand each age group, and each developmental stage. They receive specific training on each age and the main focus to develop on at each level. Above all else, they also understand that everyone is an individual. With high teacher to student ratios, we are able to support children of all ages to develop a project.

Let's break down the age groups for our upcoming Workshop week...

🌱 6 year olds are helping to build fine motor skills through their projects, with lots of exciting opportunities to try mediums for the first time.

🌷 11+ are beginning to develop their ability to draw and paint realistically. They're beginning to really look, and copy finer details. That can be a daunting step, one that our teachers are equipped to help them navigate.

Easter Workshops are running until the 20th of April, with something for all ages!

Wanting to embark on a weekly programme that supports your child's artistic development? Summer Term 2025 awaits - link in our bio!

The ⭕❌⭕ Tower is the hidden treasure at the end of this map... 👀 Take a look along Southbank, what can you see? 📍

Imagine the joy on your child's face as they see their artwork in a gallery, at the heart of London's cultural centre, minutes from the 🖼️

This summer, our annual exhibition will bring together the work of students from over 50 studios! As part of a national exhibition at the prestigious OXO tower.

The title of this year's exhibition is: FOR THE LOVE OF ART!

All aboard the OXO express! Let's go on a stroll to 🚌 We're your art-K Tour guide, and veryone is on this journey with us as we gear up to our Summer Exhibition 2025...

Stroll down Southbank to see...
📍The London Eye
📍The Hayward Gallery .gallery
📍The National Theatre
AND
📍The OXO Tower! 👀

All students from Summer Term have the opportunity to enter the exhibition - Book now via the link in our bio to be part of the action. 🔗
As we paint the final brush strokes for Spring Term, children are busy working on the projects that will make it to the walls of the OXO Gallery!

🚨 You can turn post notifications on to get reminders about OXO and other exciting opportunities at art-K!

You did it! Winter weather is officially over, and Spring is here! Like budding leaves on the trees, our creative community is growing! We're gaining momentum towards Summer Term... 😎

Have you noticed that you have more energy, and things feel a bit brighter?

Here's what we're getting excited about this April... Are you with us?

🌻 Workshops have kickstarted at certain studios! Join us for Children's Workshops, Adult Sip&Paint and Family Workshops (running until the 20th April)!

🌻 We're running heartwarming end of Spring Term exhibitions, as we celebrate a term of finished work!

🌻 We're gearing up for Summer Term 2025 - the term of OXO and new possibilities!

We're not afraid of April showers, our studios are weatherproof... No rain in sight, so long as no one drops a water pot!

Happy Birthday Van Gogh! Swipe to see some our artists' interpretations of his work...

We introduce Van Gogh's work to students as young as 6! Young students create landspaces inspired by the work of Van Gogh in order to develop their fine motor skills, as they paint tiny brush strokes inspired by his stary night and sunflower fields. Just like this masterpiece in progress...

As part of our 9-11 program, students get reacquainted with his work! They begin mixing colours and learning about ways to build up paint on canvas.

Some students were inspired to create their own Van Gogh inspired compositions - Swipe to see an adorable Starry Night Cat! 🐱✨

Today, we wanted to celebrate some of the masterpieces created by our budding artists!

Happy Birthday Van Gogh! Swipe to see some of our artists' interpretations of his work...

To all young artists and creative adults looking to explore your creativity in a safe and supportive environment...
You can discover the place where creative people belong at art-K!

On that note, we are VERY excited to welcome a new creative community at art-K Orpington! 📍

📣 Mariia from art-K Orpington is throwing a launch party, and you're all invited... 🎉

📅 Thursday 3rd of April
⏰ 4:30-6:00pm

Calling all creative people in the Orpington & Bromley area, we welcome you to join in an exciting taster session at art-K Orpington.
If you are interested in finding out more about our classes, Mariia will welcome you to the world of creativity that awaits in our studios.

This launch party offers a taster of our projects, and the methodology behind our teaching! Everyone will have a chance to meet the teacher and explore the studio...

Before enrolling for a term at art-K, and embarking on a new chapter of creative discovery, it can be important for children to see and experience the space in order for them to see that it is a safe environment for learning.

Unleash Your Creativity! 🎨🖌️ You will have the opportunity to take part in a short activity to get your creativity flowing.

Join Mariia at:
📍art-K Orpington, 41 High Street, Green St Green, Orpington, BR6 6BG

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! There's just 1 week until we kick off Easter Workshops. Hand up if you're excited for a break?

With art workshops for all ages (including adults), we're pretty confident that we've got enough fun planned to help everyone recharge...

Children's workshops (age 6-16) offer a full or half day for children and teenagers to immerse themselves in a world of creativity. It's a safe space for them to explore new mediums. Our teachers are on hand to guide them with opportunities for individualised support amongst a class of creative children.

Family workshops (age 4+) provide a chance for adults AND children to connect with the freeing kind of creativity that's often abandoned when we grow up. It's an opportunity to spend quality time together, whilst rediscovering your playful creativity.

Adult Sip & Paint Workshops return, creating a welcoming space for adults of all abilities to reconnect with their creativity and each other. Bring friends along, or make new ones.

Join us between Monday the 31st of March - 20th of April
IMPORTANT: Each studio's programme of workshops will vary, check out your local club to find out their timetable!

When we read thoughtful reviews, it's really special! We wanted to share this extra special review, as the time taken to write it speaks volumes of the connections this parent has to the studio!

💭A Fantastic Art Class for All Ages!💭

"My daughters have been attending art-K for a while, and after seeing how much they enjoyed it, I decided to join myself too, and I’m so glad I did! Art-K has a wonderful approach to teaching art, making it both engaging and relaxing...

..I highly recommend art-K to anyone looking for a welcoming and inspiring place to explore art, no matter their skill level!"

🚨Calling all Half term workshop attendees 🚨
Project options are available now!🌼

🖼👨‍🎨From Rocket ships to bird nests, there is something for every artist this February half term! 🧚Choose from a range of options (both 2D and 3D) in a range of mediums i.e, watercolour, clay, acrylic and mixed media! 🖌

🚨Still some spaces available 12th-16th of February so nab your spot now! 🤩(link in Bio)🚨

📣wE aRe rUnNinG hAlF tErM HOLIDAY ART WORKSHOPS! ! ! ! 📣

🖌Choose from a range of Arty activities and learn new skills!🖼
🤩Running From 12th February to 16th February 💞
🌼Bookings are live on our site! (link in Bio)

Hoping everyone had a cosy winter break and if your New Years resolution is to have a bit of me time; we've got the perfect haven for your kids to learn some impressive art skills!

We are so excited to be back after a wonderful break and hope you are ready to get stuck back in to the new term!🖼📣!☃!❄️

🔹Offering weekly art classes for ages 6-16 in our Bowes Park Studio and with creative new projects and exciting activities planned, we are sure to offer a warm and welcoming community for all our young artists!👩🏾‍🎨👨🏽‍🎨👩‍🎨

🔹Book your trial today and visit our studio for yourself!