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Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village offers inspiring and innovative ways to transform lives through art including: young offenders; prisoners; those with learning and physical disabilities; those with poor mental health, drug or alcohol addiction; those suffering domestic abuse; and the homeless.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
We are located in a county characterised by its affluence but research shows that there are areas of deprivation in Surrey. The most deprived areas are within a 13-mile radius of Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village. Stoke, Westborough, Merstham, Maybury and Sheerwater were given an Index of Multiple Deprivation ranking of 2, where 1 is the most deprived. These are adjacent to wealthy areas camouflaging the need, driving down the statistics and diverting funds to areas of more widespread poverty.
Solution
We provide skills, qualifications and income to people facing significant barriers to education and employment. The programme has a simple methodology. Participants are introduced to the art and ideas of our founders, the artists G F and Mary Watts. They learn creative skills with professional artists. Their artwork is celebrated in an exhibition and they are invited to sell their work if they wish. In addition, young people participate in the Trinity College London Arts Award scheme.