Illustration by Jayde Perkin
summer art club in WESTMINSTER
Funded through Westminster City Council, in Summer 2023 we ran our first ever holiday art club!
The club involved a series of playful half-day sessions were focused on building children’s confidence through activities, social interaction and creative expression. This was an opportunity to be inspired, try new things, and maybe even make some new friends! Thanks to funding, the sessions were offered free - as was lunch!
Over the course of 2 weeks, we ran 3 x half-day workshops for 2 groups of 15. Children got to experiment a fun mix of activities and materials - from coloured pencils to coloured inks - and more importantly, they got to hang out with each other!
We had an absolute BLAST running the club, and it seemed that everyone who participated did too! Here is some of the amazing feedback we received from them…
“I enjoyed sketching at the club. The teachers were nice and showed me how to use more vibrant colours.”
“The staff were friendly and I enjoyed being with others”
“I liked when we were doing portraits of each other to get to know each other it was very fun doing of the experiments drawing with my left hand was one of my favourite experiments.”
“I really loved the access to different materials and the creative freedom to do what you like along with the prompts to push you to try something new.”
“I liked using the ink and I liked my teachers. I also liked drawing the dots of people.”
”I was inspired by others and I learned how to draw birds!”
“I learnt that you can draw faces in lots of different ways!”
”I’ve learned to be more confident when using new materials.”
And from their parents…
“The boys were relaxed at the end of the days and were proud to show pictures”
”They seem happier and confident more since this project.”
The kids were very happy at the end of each session
”My kids seemed excited and happy by the end – they really enjoyed the sessions.”
“My child really enjoyed the classes, felt more confident with her skills, felt independent to be there on her own and in general felt happy and confident.”
”It was lovely opportunity – a good chance for my son to try something new locally.”
”My sons enjoyed the art club so much that inspired their creativities.”
“Many thanks for your hard work. Please keep going!”
SMASHED IT!!
The club was run by Dulcie Ball (Project Lead & Director of Sketch Appeal) and Lee Anderson (Project Assistant), who are both OBSESSED with drawing and highly experienced in creative empowerment and facilitation! Both hold enhanced DBS certificates and First Aid qualifications.
VENUE
Our Art Club was at Ebury Edge - a creative community hub close to Victoria and Pimlico stations.
Ebury Edge, 43 Ebury Bridge Rd, SW1W 8DX
ABOUT US
Sketch Appeal is a CIC (Community Interest Company) on a mission to empower people to draw and create with freedom, for the JOY of it! We deliver inspiring and inclusive experiences that encourage people to PLAY, experiment and explore the limitless potential of their creativity, and by doing so develop their skills, social circle and sense of self. Much of our work is focused on portraiture, which we use as a catalyst to empower and connect people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities – including those who think they “can’t draw!” We run our own diverse programme of fun social sketching workshops, wellbeing projects and special events across London and online, as well as working in collaboration with others - including the NHS, Teenage Cancer Trust and the National Portrait Gallery, to name a few!
Here’s a taste of the colourful creative fun we like to have!
