What is Talk About Art?

 

Talk About Art is a charity, established in 2015 to offer free visual art projects, co-created with recent art and design graduates, in schools with high levels of pupil premium in Lewisham and Greenwich.

 

What sets Talk About Art apart from other art workshop providers?

 

While Talk About Art is dependent on external funding, we believe strongly that our programmes should be free to schools in our target areas to maximise opportunities for children who may otherwise not have access to the arts.

 

Talk About Art works specifically with recent art and design graduates from London universities providing them with career development opportunities and giving children visibility of future pathways into HE regardless of subject area.

 

Talk About Art provides co-designed programmes over a half term specifically in schools with a high number of children in receipt of a Pupil Premium.

 

Why a half term?

 

The children work with graduates to develop a project over a number of weeks. We have identified this time frame as one that allows for depth, quality and engagement while recognising the pressures that schools are under to deliver across a full curriculum.

 

Does Talk About Art work with all schools?

 

Talk About Art’s focus is on early years and primary schools in Lewisham and Greenwich with high levels of students in receipt of Pupil Premium. This is stipulated as a requirement by our funders

 

How do you choose which children take part?

 

We work across all year groups from EY FS to year 6. We encourage participation from all students across year groups. Past experience has shown us that this has the most positive engagement outcomes in terms of encouraging collaboration and participation.

 

What are the benefits to schools and children of working with Talk About Art?

 

There are many proven benefits to engaging with creative activities in school, such as improvements to well-being and mental health, learning across all subjects, confidence, problem-solving, communication skills, resilience and critical thinking.

 

Our USP is that we specifically work with children who are less likely to have a family history of further or higher education and by working with recent graduates we provide an accessible and enjoyable way for them to see a pathway to HE in any subject area.

 

Talk About Art projects are designed to support schools in developing their new core enrichment entitlement offer following the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review (November 2025).

 

Do you think dedicated engagement programmes, could be art, drama, sport, can address issues of absenteeism in school?

 

We understand that absenteeism often results from a number of complex factors. We however feel that creativity plays a significant role in helping a child to feel happy, confident and empowered in school, which in turn may help to reduce the likelihood of continued absences.

 

What does a project look like? What do the children do?

 

The development of a project is a collaborative process between the school and Talk About Art. The graduates we work with have specialised in architecture, design, ceramics and performance. Recent projects have included designing and making a ceramic tile installation, a sensory garden and an outdoor studio. Children are involved in every aspect of the project from planning to building to painting and presenting the finished object to peers.

 

Working with recent graduates, how do you ensure quality control?

 

Talk About Art’s team have over 20 years’ experience in gallery-education and developing projects within the community. We obtain references for all the graduates we work with and provide them with safeguarding training.

 

Do I need to be an art and design specialist to engage with Talk About Art in my school?

 

No, Talk About Art will provide all staff with informal training as to how art and design can be embedded within the school curriculum and suggest preparation that can be undertaken before the project starts.

 

What level of commitment in terms of resources does a school need to provide?

 

We ask the school to provide space, teacher/LSA support and basic materials such as paper, glue, pencils/pens, a photocopier and where needed, laptop and a printer.

 

How is Talk About Art funded?

 

Talk About Art is a recipient of core funding from the Elizabeth Legacy Fund, established by Talk About Art’s founder Sir Ian Mills, to cover salaries of two part-time staff. We fundraise on an on-going basis to cover project funding through Trusts and Foundations and individual donations.

 

As a funding proposition, does Talk About Art offer value for money?

 

Yes, Talk About Art works with over 800 children a year and has a lasting impact on the schools we work with. Each of our project culminated in a piece of work that can be installed in the school, providing a lasting legacy.

What are you fundraising for at present?

 

We are dependent on Trusts and Foundations and individual-giving to deliver funding for our projects. For the coming academic year (2026-27), we aim to deliver around ten projects of around £15k-£20k per project. We aim to increase this year-on-year to supporting 30 schools per year in 2030.