This is the beginning of my journey into art therapy, a path that combines creativity, community, and healing. Over the past months I’ve been gaining practical experience working with members of the community in art-based settings, learning first-hand how creativity can unlock expression and connection.
I’ve had the privilege of working with two very different charities, both supporting adults who want to express themselves through art. One takes a class-based approach, offering guidance, structure, and techniques to encourage learning and confidence. The other is run more like a studio, giving participants the freedom to explore their own ideas and projects, with gentle support when needed and the chance to sell their artwork on the organisations website.
These contrasting environments have shown me the many ways art can meet people where they are, whether through structured sessions that build skills and mindfulness, or open studio spaces that empower artists to express and define themselves. Each experience has deepened my understanding of how art can nurture growth, confidence, and well-being, not just for individuals but for communities as a whole.
SHARE is a charity offering programmes and activities that empower adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs to live happier, healthier, and more independent lives. Their courses cover art, cooking, gardening, music, mindfulness, and wellbeing, alongside buddy-up days and community outings.
At SHARE, the sessions are quite structured, like a classroom. I support art activities but also join mindfulness walks where participants take photos to use in their creative work where we encourage both movement and reflection. SHARE’s approach combines teaching with community, and buddy-up days supporting students with social activities, designed to build confidence and skills across different areas of life.
Working at SHARE showed me how art can be part of a broader learning framework to support independence and wellbeing. It highlighted the value of mindfulness and exercise, giving me insight into how these help along side creative expression with both developmental and nourishing in community spaces.
ArtBox London is a supported art studio based in Islington for artists with learning disabilities and autism. They create opportunities for these artists to make, exhibit, and sell their work to build confidence, foster inclusion, and share their creativity with the wider community. ArtBox hosts workshops, open-access studio sessions, gallery trips, and exhibitions, with all sales directly supporting both the artists and the charity.
At ArtBox, it feels more like a collaborator vibe than the teaching assistant one at SHARE. The artists arrive with their own ideas, and I offer encouragement, practical techniques, and artistic support. It feels more like a genuine studio and the artists themselves can exhibit and sell their work on the organisations website, with sales helping to support the charity and help them fund their own creative journeys.
Here, participants are artists, not students, and this distinction is powerful. I saw firsthand how being recognised as an artist, given agency, and supported in developing and sharing their work boosts both self-esteem and wellbeing.
Interested in Getting Involved?
If you’d like more information about either organisation, or are interested in joining for yourself or someone you know, you can visit their websites directly using the links below:
Both charities welcome new participants, supporters, and volunteers, and offer wonderful opportunities to connect through creativity and community.