Another terrific year for LifewithArt! Yet again we ran a huge number of workshops across the UK and 2018 saw a dramatic increase in the number of music and drama workshops we facilitated. Once again, a big thank you to the tutors, co-ordinators, LwA operations team and of course our clients for all making this wonderful charity work seamless and providing so much joy for so many people. We mustn’t forget the wonderful photographic exhibitions, produced by all ages of people with varying disabilities, which add so much variety to our Art Centres. Work on our 2019 LifewithArt exhibition is already underway and I look forward to seeing the fresh, new photographs displayed in our charity arts centres later this year.

Special events included the RDA Arts and Crafts competition and workshops at the Teenage Cancer Trust “Find your sense of Tumour” conference. These are fantastically well received by the attendees, with both the jewellery and art workshops proving as popular as ever.

The new Art Centre has now been completed for the Orchard Vale Trust. This is a building, constructed mainly from timber, which can be built at a fraction of the cost of more traditional designs, but with better sustainability and environmental impact. I’m sure it will have many years of intensive use by the residents and local day care clients and I look forward to seeing some of the artwork produced there.

I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2019!