Watts Gallery offers inspiring and innovative ways to transform lives through art and creativity including those: excluded from school; with poor mental health; in the criminal justice system; battling drug and alcohol addiction; and suffering domestic abuse.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
1 in 5 people in the UK live in poverty. This is reflected in Surrey. The Index of Multiple Deprivation gives Westborough (Guildford), Merstham (Reigate and Banstead), and Maybury and Sheerwater (Woking) a ranking of 2, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived. In these areas, up to 30% of children are living in poverty. Going without basic essentials strips people of their dignity, damages social connections, and destroys physical and mental health.
Solution
There is growing evidence that art and creativity make a powerful and positive contribution to people’s lives. It helps keep them well, aids their recovery and supports longer lives better lived. To that end, Watts Gallery works with community partners to offer over 7,000 local people every year with the opportunity to explore our art collection, make their own artwork with professional artists, connect with other people, and increase confidence, self-esteem and feelings of pride and belonging.