Education & Participation: January 2025
Jan 2025
The end of 2025 marked an exciting milestone for our Centrepoint Programme, the UK’s leading homeless charity, led by Sol Golden Sato. Sol’s workshop series guided participants through the mechanics of process, using art both as an outlet for self-expression and as a form of protest—encouraging deep reflection on social issues. This philosophy fostered experimentation with materials and techniques, allowing participants to develop their creativity without the pressure of achieving a specific outcome.
The workshops provided more than just an opportunity to create art; they became transformative spaces where barriers to artistic expression were dismantled. In a supportive, non-judgemental environment, Sol and the participants created an immersive canvas installation featuring political statements, exhibited at our Holborn Gallery alongside other works from the Centrepoint × Bomb Factory Programme in 2024.
Our programme with Hurlingham Academy also resumed with renewed energy. This year, students are invited to explore themes of togetherness, community building, and multiculturalism, inspired by our exhibition One Nation Under a Groove. In Phase I, resident artist Freya Tewelde led workshops based on the creative prompt Art for Your Family, encouraging students to craft three-dimensional installations using textiles, clay, and other materials to represent special family memories. As part of the experience, Year 10 students participated in a studio visit with Freya, gaining insight into her current projects and creative process. This interaction gave students a unique opportunity to engage directly with a practising artist, broadening their perspectives on art-making.
Meanwhile, studio visits continued at our Archway site, where we hosted 12 students from Islington Arts and Media School. They took part in three hands-on sessions with Noa Weintraub, Richard Shields, and SDNA, exploring each artist’s studio and gaining an insider’s view of their practice.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are thrilled to welcome a new cohort of interns in February. This marks the launch of an updated internship programme, with interns now embedded in specific departments: Learning and Participation, Exhibitions and Events, and Buildings. This structure is designed to offer more focused, department-specific learning experiences and professional development opportunities.
Finally, we are preparing for our next taster session at Centrepoint, where participants will be introduced to our upcoming large-scale workshop programme, led by Heti Douglas. We look forward to continuing our mission of empowering individuals through creativity and making art accessible to all.