Art-K Angel

What does collaboration look like in our studios? 🤔💭

It exists in the small moments between students who sit next to each other in class. That can be sparked with a simple question:

👧💬 A "please can I borrow your paintbrush" can flourish into a wonderful friendship!

Collaboration can also mean working together to tidy up at the end of class.

Working collaboratively in the studio is ane of the ways in which we build a sense of community. At the end of last term, our teachers encouraged our artists to collaborate as part of a large mural to brighten up corners of the studio!

It's also important to remember that collaboration also exists between our studios - as teachers communicate between studios around the UK!

..That's what our art-K ecosystem looks like!

This Summer, at OXO, we will be expanding these ideas of collaboration studio-wide. We are inviting 1000 participants to be part of a huge collaborative artwork.

More information on this project will be available via email, open to everyone signed up for Summer Term!

Through these moments of collaboration, we are helping children to build confidence and connections with their fellow artists. When we work together as a class children settle into the space, assured that the studio is a place in which they belong.

Secure your spot for Summer Term and become part of our community - Link to Summer Term in our bio!

We are thrilled to introduce our newly launched studio... Give a warm welcome to art-K Nottingham!

We also want to give a big art-K welcome to two new Club Managers - Claire and Clare! They are excited to welcome you, with a shared passion for building a safe space for creative people to thrive!

📍 Meet the new club manager of art-K Nottingham, Claire!

Claire holds a BA(Hons) in Illustration. She has 15 years of experience as a TA and Teacher in primary education, having worked in SEND support. Claire specialises in wellbeing and inclusion, having led extra-curricular art and animation clubs. Claire loves teaching art and looks forward to sharing her creativity and passion for art as she welcomes all aspiring artists to the studio!

art-K Nottingham has kickstarted this week with a new programme of art classes for children and adults!

📍 Travel over to Tring, and say hello to art-K Tring's new club manager, Clare! 👋

art-K Tring is now a direct branch, providing children's classes from this week. Adult classes at art-K Tring will begin next week!

Let us introduce Clare...👋

Clare's teaching career began 18 years ago, during which she taught all subjects across ages 4-11. She maintained her passion for art as the school's art coordinator. Her teaching philosophy centres on creating a safe, nurturing space where students feel confident to explore their creativity and build upon their skills!

Claire and Clare are very excited to introduce you to the studio...

To discover your creative summer at your nearest branch, follow the link in our bio! 🔗

The summer of OXO has begun🎉 Now's the time! Answer our call out for artists to exhibit on London's vibrant South Bank...

Today's the first day of Summer Term! We're thrilled to have our community back together for our BIG Summer of Art, as we build momentum together towards our national exhibition at the OXO Gallery, running:

📅 Wednesday 9th July - Sunday 27th July

Talk in the studio has already turned to what students will submit as their entry for The Love of Art...

‼️IMPORTANT REMINDER‼️To be part of the exhibition, you must register your interest via our form!

The DEADLINE to submit your interest form is ⌛ Sunday the 4th of May ⌛ All submissions after this deadline will not be considered!

To enter, you must:
✅ Love art, and be above the age of 6 (we welcome all artists aged 6-80+)
✅ Ensure you are enrolled in Summer Term
✅ Await an email with a link to the Interest Form, which will ensure you have the opportunity to be entered into the selection process.
✅ If you require more information, you can ask your class teacher!

It's a very powerful moment as you watch a student (of any age) looking uk at their artwork on the wall of a gallery! 👀
It's even more powerful when it's in one of London's most important cultural landmarks at the OXO Tower. 🎉

This year, all students enrolled in Summer Term will have the exciting chance to exhibit at the OXO Gallery! So, if you're yet to sign up, NOW is the time...

Secure your place for Summer Term 2025 now - Link in our bio! 🔗

Step into an art studio, and discover a community🚪It's just 2 days to go until our adult classes reunite for Summer Term! For some, that feels like reuniting with old friends!

Whatever drives you to come to art class, many people find a community.

Having a place to belong is as important in adulthood as it is to our younger students. In adulthood, that's a special thing that many adult students tell us that they cherish.

When striving towards any goal, the key to achieving it is to find a supportive and collaborative atmosphere to grow in! Whether you're looking to build confidence in your skills, or simply unwind, our studios offer a supportive and collaborative space where creativity and connection thrive.

Here are some words from our adult students on Trustpilot about the connections they have built...

💙 "Our Art teacher has helped to create a positive, friendly atmosphere across the class. We started as individuals but are now a friendship group."

💙 "It’s a really friendly and supportive group too - from complete beginners to more experienced artists, everyone warmly appreciates what each other has done."

💙 "It's a wonderful community to be a part of."

Summer Term is fast approaching... There are just 3 days to go! 🎉

📅 Monday the 21st of April marks the first of our exciting Summer Term - are you ready?

It's an important term of transition as children get ready for the next school year. As well as a term of celebration, as we gear up to our annual exhibition...

To all new students, we are excited to welcome you into the studio! To those thinking of joining, there is still time to book!

What's in store for us this summer?

🖼️ It's the term of our national exhibition at the OXO Gallery on London's vibrant South Bank! It is a celebration of the artistic talent nurtured in our studios, by all artists aged 6-66+. Students will be busy preparing their submissions to the exhibition this term!

🌱 Summer Term is also an important term for our students, as many transition into the next school year. For some, that means the important step up to secondary school!

We recognise that it's an important time to support students through the change of a new school year, in order to make it a smooth transition. Our teachers work hard to help them grow in confidence - in both their artistic ability and themselves!

We have witnessed as students blossom from their first day at art-K, through to their first week at secondary school, through GCSEs, and beyond!

How do we support students through these transitions?
🌱 We support students to grow in confidence in their skills - this helps students to become more confident, as well as build core skills like fine motor skills which help with academic learning.
🌱 As children settle into their studio, and build connections with their fellow artists, they find a safe space where they belong. This helps them to navigate change.
🌱 With time, their confidence grows in themselves! The look on students' faces when they manage to master a new technique that was tricky to do is inspiring. This helps children gain confidence in their ability to learn, and an important sense of pride in their achievements!

🌞 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!