News

Over 4,700 people engaged across 67 programmes and projects. 524 positive destinations achieved for young people. 97% of older people attending Craft Cafe workshops feeling more socially connected. 100% of children attending one-to-one art therapy feeling more confident and better able to communicate.

These are just a few of the stats we presented last night at our annual Celebration Event, which this year took place at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal in front of a packed audience of project participants, staff, artists and partners.

The work accomplished in the past year can be seen in full in our brand new Annual Report for 2017/18, which we launched digitally last night – you can read it here.

But behind the numbers, it was also an opportunity to tell some of the powerful stories behind our work. We heard from Annie Morgan, a long-time member of our Govan Craft Cafe who put it plainly: “Impact Arts and Craft Cafe saved my life.”

We also heard from Advanced Creative Pathways Renfrewshire graduates Callum MacMillan and Iona Birss about their journey with Impact Arts since joining us as unemployed young artists early in the year.

We also exhibited artwork from programmes across Scotland, with a particular focus on new projects. There was a dedicated area for all the work we’ve done in Renfrewshire this year, a section to exhibit work from Craft Cafe workshops across Scotland, a dedicated Young Gallery art therapy exhibit, and a listening station for work produced as part of our Coco music project in HMYOI Polmont.

There were musical performances too: we heard historical-themed rap from Dylan Steven, one of our CashBack to the Future participants in Edinburgh, and Paul Stewart, a graduate of our Creative Mentoring Programme, treated the audience to a mix of original acoustic songs and covers.

Fiona Doring, Director of Impact Arts, said: “Once again the coming together
of Impact Arts’ participants, staff and partners was a memorable occasion,
taking time to celebrate all of our achievements over the last year.

“The
absolute highlight of course is hearing the stories and personal journeys of
those who have taken part in our projects and are the reason we do what we do.

“Absolute testimony to the power of creativity that so many lives have been
transformed.”