Outset Family was a framework of support for a range of projects running between 2010-2015, raising roughly £280,000 over five years.
The Art Room is a pioneering, Oxford-based charity aimed at 5–16 year olds who are experiencing difficulties at school. The Art Room works with the children to increase their self-esteem, self-confidence and independence through art. Many of the students were disengaged from mainstream education, disruptive or withdrawn and all had been identified as needing special time away from their school. Some of the students may have had specific learning difficulties or had an interrupted education. Some had recently arrived in this country, some were prime carers within their family, others are children in care themselves. The Art Rooms were specifically designed spaces with the schools and the used the "Beattie Method" developed by Juli Beattie. Her specific approach was accredited by Bath Spa University.
The support of Outset Family enabled Art Room to set up a new classroom at the Robert Blair Primary School in Islington. The new Art Room offers disadvantaged children respite from the children’s pressured lives, supports children in developing positive relationships, enables children to express themselves by engaging in different forms of creative artwork and provides an opportunity to engage with mainstream education.
2012 was a year of expansion and new partnerships for The Art Room. In January 2012 HRH The Duchess of Cambridge became the Royal Patron in recognition of the good work the charity does to provide art as therapy to children facing difficulty. Since this Royal endorsement, The Art Room has celebrated its 10th anniversary at Modern Art Oxford; been selected as one of the ICAP Charity day beneficiaries and worked with Dreamworks on an animation workshop for the children at the Outset Family Room, Robert Blair Primary School, Islington. Taking art as therapy to more children is at the heart of the Art Room’s ethos and in 2013 this will be made possible with at least two new Art Rooms.
With thanks to Outset Family, The Art Room was delighted to be able to showcase the work of the children in the Selfridges Christmas windows. In early November 2012, a dedicated window was unveiled with artworks by students from the five Art Rooms in Oxford and London for their ‘Not Your Usual Christmas’. The children were inspired by a British Christmas and their work included a fat turkey with wattles made out of yellow marigold gloves, a robin and a Christmas tree with baubles and a fairy!
Outset Family support: £40,000 for 2010 and £10,000 for 2011-2015.
