Impact Arts celebrates 30 years of changing lives in Scotland and puts the call out for stories
On 22 August, the team at Impact Arts will raise a glass to three decades of life-changing work, as Scotland's leading creative engagement charity prepares to mark its 30th anniversary.
Article Source: Impact Arts
Last Updated: 18 July 2024 13:32
Since it was established by Susan Aktemel in 1994, Impact Arts has embarked on a mission to tackle social inequality using creativity and art, improving the lives of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people in communities all over the country. Over the years the charity has been behind hundreds of projects, from large-scale public art to music projects with the likes of Amy Macdonald and Hector Bizerk, live theatre to pop-up cafes, and interior design workshops to creative learning with those in the criminal justice system. Since 1994 more than 300,000 people have been engaged in or supported by their work, with projects winning numerous awards and accolades.
Early projects included the creation of the Woodlands Mosaic Bollards in Glasgow’s West End in 1997, which continue to bring colour and vibrancy to the area today. Other community artworks have included the Linkes Mosaic Mural in Knightswood, first created in 2005, and local young people creating stained glass windows to brighten the Pineview Housing Association homes in Drumchapel.
In 2003 Impact Arts launched Fab Pad, which supported hundreds of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to sustain their tenancies through creative interior design workshops. The project was delivered right across central Scotland, including at one point taking over a whole floor of the Red Road flats in North Glasgow with a “showroom” and workshop, helping many tenants to transform their homes on a budget while learning valuable new skills. The project ran until 2015, and continues today as Make It Your Own, supporting vulnerable tenants to help transform their home lives.
Today Impact Arts continues to push boundaries with its life-changing charity work from its bases in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Irvine. It continues to welcome older communities struggling with social isolation, improving the wellbeing and attainment of children via art therapy, and empowering teens and young adults through employability programmes such as Creative Pathways, and CashBack to the Future, which is currently running with groups in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and North Ayrshire.
Since 2023 Impact Arts has been based at The Boardwalk in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City, transforming the building into a purpose-built creative and accessible events venue, boasting a 180-capacity theatre, seven studios and meetings rooms capable of hosting everything from dance rehearsals and creative workshops to corporate events and conferences. The Boardwalk is proving a popular choice for businesses and public bodies looking to support the broad work of the charity when booking event space.
As well as being home to many of Impact Arts’s own projects, The Boardwalk also hosts many of the country’s leading creative organisations, from permanent theatrical tenants like Solar Bear and Birds of Paradise, to dance studios brought to life by the likes of S-MB Company and The Work Room, and transformative creative engagement charities like Playlist for Life and Inspiring Scotland.
On 22 August The Boardwalk will host a special 30th anniversary celebration, with stakeholders, former participants, and friends of Impact Arts invited to relive highlights from past projects and see recent work by a range of groups including some of the work created as part of this year’s Cashback Summer programmes.
Today the charity launched its call for those who have been impacted by their work to get in touch and share their stories which it will incorporate in its August celebrations. People can fill in a form online at forms.office.com or email 30thAnniversary@impactarts.co.uk
Fiona Doring, Chief Executive Officer of Impact Arts, said: “Impact Arts was born out of the recognition that taking part in arts and creative activities can be life changing. For 30 years we have built on this philosophy to support the people and communities across Scotland, who are least likely to have access to the arts, to tackle the big issues preventing them from achieving their potential.
Impact Arts has been at the heart of positive change for thousands of people’s lives and as we turn 30, we are taking time to reflect upon and celebrate the stories of all of these individual people for whom engaging in arts projects has been transformational.”
Sponsored Links
Latest Lanarkshire News
Enjoy the best of Belfast at Christmas with Stena Line
A beautiful city with a rich history and a giant adventure to be found around every corner, there is no shortage of incredible festive experiences to enjoy in Belfast.
READ MORE
Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur wins Turner Prize 2024
Jasleen Kaur, whose exhibition Alter Altar at Tramway uses a vintage Ford Escort, worship bells and Irn-Bru to celebrate the Scottish Sikh community, has won this year's Turner Prize.
READ MORE
TRNSMT reveals superstar first acts for Glasgow Green 2025
50 Cent, Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, The Script, Fontaines D.C. and Gracie Abrams are included among the much-anticipated first wave of artists announced for Scotland's biggest music event.
READ MORE
Christmas Dinner bookings surge at Crutherland House
Crutherland House Hotel & Spa has reported a remarkable rise in bookings for Christmas lunch, highlighting a growing trend of families seeking the magic of dining out this festive season.
READ MORE
Loch Lomond Shores Christmas Festival is a Christmas cracker this year!
A family rollercoaster, giant snow globe, children's rides, stalls, street food and a packed live entertainment schedule makes Loch Lomond Shores FREE Christmas festival the perfect Christmas day out!
READ MORE
Brewer gives away free pints to celebrate mockumentary launch
Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn lifts the lid on the beer industry with a mockumentary starring real employees and comedians Paul Dockery and Katie McKenzie.
READ MORE
Family festive fun at the National Museum of Rural Life
Celebrate the season with festive family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life this December.
READ MORE
Christmas tree season arrives at Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is marking the official start of the 2024 festive season with its delivery of 50,000 real Christmas trees, available at stores across the UK now.
READ MORE
Glasgow music festival The Reeling announces extended 2025 dates and performances from Dougie Maclean, Eddi Reader and Valtos
A popular trad music festival is set to return in 2025 – and it's adding an extra night due to demand!
READ MORE
Final date added as 30,000 expected at biggest itison Drive In Movies Christmas
itison Drive In Movies Christmas adds final date after unprecedented demand with tickets for Elf & Love Actually on sale on Wednesday 27th November at 7.30am.
READ MORE
Revolutionary swim teaching tool launches in Scotland
A pioneering visual teaching tool has launched across Scotland, making swimming lessons more accessible to everyone.
READ MORE
Festive favourites back on the big screen at Vue in Scotland
To mark the countdown to Christmas, some of the most loved holiday classics are being brought back to the big screen at Vue venues in Scotland this festive season.
READ MORE
Asda Foundation supports lonely over 60s this Christmas
Asda and Asda Foundation pledges almost £1 million to help combat loneliness and isolation in the older generation this festive period through its 'Don't be Gnome Alone this Christmas' campaign.
READ MORE
IKEA Christmas tree offer launching in Scotland this month
IKEA is giving shoppers a £20 voucher for every real tree purchased for £29 in its Scottish stores from 23rd November – with pre-orders available now.
READ MORE
Aldi Scotland is set to sell the cheapest real Christmas trees this festive season
Aldi Scotland announces the return of its freshly cut Nordmann Fir trees, with prices starting from just £13.99.
READ MORE
Cumbernauld Theatre opens applications for their Christmas Appeal 2024
Cumbernauld Theatre Company has opened applications for its 2024 Christmas Appeal, offering tickets to festive productions productions Pinocchio (for ages 7+) and Special Delivery (for ages 3 - 7).
READ MORE
Destination Christmas unveiled at M&Ds
Destination Christmas, a magical festive feast of entertainment is set to open at M&D's Scotland's Theme Park this Saturday, 23rd November!
READ MORE
Scottish stars Skerryvore launch biggest show to date for 20th anniversary
Legendary Scottish band Skerryvore have today unveiled plans to stage a special one-off concert – their biggest to date – to mark their 20th anniversary.
READ MORE
Scottish pubs to help tackle loneliness this Christmas
17 pubs across Scotland are calling on their customers to help spread a little Christmas cheer by writing cards to people facing loneliness and isolation this Christmas.
READ MORE
Ahead of their production of Sunshine on Leith, Lanark Amateur Musical Society have launched a 500 miles walking challenge!
Members of the club have set a fundraising challenge to walk 500 miles each (or around 1million steps) before their production of Sunshine on Leith kicks off at Lanark Memorial Hall in March!
READ MORE
Music lovers have a lot to look forward to at Vue venues across Scotland
Music lovers have a lot to look forward to at Vue venues in Scotland – including a very special Andrea Bocelli screening this weekend.
READ MORE
Gavin & Stacey star kickstarts initiative to support the elderly this Christmas
Supermarket teams up with national treasure Larry Lamb to reimagine its in-store cafes as 'Chatty Cafés' and help spark conversations this Christmas.
READ MORE
Celebrate Hope: Book Week Scotland 2024 Ignites Inspiration across Scotland
Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland 2024, returns from 18-24 November to uplift the country with its theme of Hope.
READ MORE
Imagine Theatre announces exciting new season of pantomimes across Scotland
Imagine Theatre proudly present a thrilling lineup of magical family pantos jam packed with laughter, music, song and dance featuring some of Scotland's favourite stars!
READ MORE
CBeebies announce Beauty And The Beast for their 2024 Christmas Panto
Modern Films Family in partnership with CBeebies are excited to announce that this year's CBeebies Panto is Beauty and the Beast and that it will be in cinemas during November and December.
READ MORE
Garden Centre unveils festive dining for the whole family
From enjoying a jolly time at Santa's Breakfast to indulging in a delicious Festive Afternoon Tea or enjoying some seasonal drinks and cakes, customers at Dobbies are in for a treat.
READ MORE
New contemporary dance degree launches in Scotland
A leading Scottish performing arts institution has launched one of the country's first artist-led Contemporary Dance degree courses.
READ MORE
Beat the Street East Kilbride 2024 winners announced
Local residents, businesses, and community groups across East Kilbride have together spent the past six weeks walking, cycling and wheeling as part of the Beat the Street challenge.
READ MORE
The Glencairn Glass launches, The Last Dram, crime fiction anthology to raise money for charity
The Glencairn Glass, the world's favourite whisky glass made by Scottish company Glencairn Crystal, has launched a collection of gripping crime fiction short stories by up-and-coming crime authors.
READ MORE
Christmas lights switch on events across South Lanarkshire announced
The countdown to Christmas is underway with lights scheduled to be switched on at events across South Lanarkshire!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links