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 Renfrewshire News

Scottish groups receive funding from Asda Foundation to transform community spaces

Asda's charity, The Asda Foundation, has awarded £150,000 to eight community groups across Scotland through its Investing in Spaces and Places grants.

READ MORE

STUDIOCANAL announces Paddington is set to visit Scotland

Statues of everyone's favourite bear will be taking a seat in locations across the UK and Ireland in early October!

READ MORE

Is the IRN BRU Carnival in your future

Tickets for this year's IRN-BRU Carnival launch with the chance to win on Glasgow's streets!

READ MORE

The October Activity Programme from OneRen is back... sign up today!

Brought to you by Active Schools Renfrewshire, OneRen's activity camps are back for the October holidays!

READ MORE

Asda invites customers across Scotland to donate pre loved books for kids

Asda invites customers across Scotland to donate pre-loved children's books for onward gifting to families who have fewer books of their own.

READ MORE

Final Countdown: One month left to enter photography competition

Time is running out to enter Caledonian Sleeper's photography competition aimed at encouraging everyone to capture views of the most scenic locations on route between Scotland and London.

READ MORE

Glory for Scots speakers at national awards

The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2024 were crowned on Saturday at a celebratory ceremony in Ayrshire.

READ MORE

Autumnal styling, sandwiches and scones with Dobbies

For October, Dobbies Garden Centres has launched a brand new autumn edition of its hands-on planting experience, combined with a tasty Afternoon Tea.

READ MORE

Renovated tennis courts are big hit with the public

Renfrewshire residents have been picking up a racket to take advantage of newly renovated tennis courts in the area.

READ MORE

SAY Award unveils Longlist

The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today reveals the 20 outstanding Scottish albums on 2024's Longlist.

READ MORE

BBC Debate Night returns for 2024

BBC Scotland's topical TV programme Debate Night returns later this month and they are searching for people to be part of the big studio audience.

READ MORE

New Scottish music awards receives over 3000 nominations in first 48 hours

The recently launched Scottish Live Music Awards (SLMA), in association with GO Radio, has seen an overwhelming response, receiving over 3000 nominations in just the first 2 days.

READ MORE

New Clan jerseys feature design links to rich heritage of Scotland

Almost 1000 fans turned up to see the launch of the Glasgow Clan's new season jerseys at Braehead Shopping Centre.

READ MORE

Edinburgh Butter Company announces search for the Best Croissant in Scotland

The Edinburgh Butter Company is excited to announce the launch of Scotland’s first-ever croissant competition, open to bakers across the country.

READ MORE

Renfrewshire communities encouraged to participate in Spotless September

Renfrewshire residents who want to help make their local neighbourhoods cleaner and more inviting places to live, work and visit are being encouraged to take part in Spotless September.

READ MORE

Get ready to be blown away... Twisters returns to 4DX at Cineworld

Hold onto your popcorn, because Cineworld is thrilled to announce the whirlwind return of the blockbuster hit Twisters to 4DX screens nationwide, due to an overwhelming tornado of popular demand!

READ MORE

The Force reawakens at Vue venues in Scotland this September as the Star Wars saga returns to the big screen

Film fans are invited to revisit a galaxy far, far away this September as every main Star Wars film brings some of cinema's most iconic heroes and villains back to the big screen.

READ MORE

Great Scottish Run: 4 weeks to go

Are you ready to take on Scotland's greatest running event at this year's AJ Bell Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on Sunday 6 October?

READ MORE

Unique venue offers the perfect stage

Festival-goers attending the fourth Music at the Multiverse festival at the weekend enjoyed fantastic live music, sunshine and showers in one of Scotland’s most spectacular outdoor venues.

READ MORE

Thousands from Northern Ireland set sail for Scottish universities

Students go FREE with Stena Line on Cairnryan and Liverpool routes.

READ MORE

Iconic buildings across Renferwshire set to welcome visitors for Doors Open Days 2024

Spectacular venues across Renfrewshire will welcome visitors as part of Doors Open Days, which includes a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Paisley's weaver poet, Robert Tannahill.

READ MORE

Scottish Borders winter light trail, Monteviot Lights, returns for a second year

Prepare to be enchanted once again this winter as Monteviot Lights returns to Monteviot House & Gardens!

READ MORE

Book early for Breakfast with Santa at Cardwell Garden Centre

Santa Claus may be coming to town, but he's also coming to Cardwell Garden Centre to join youngsters for a series of special festive breakfasts.

READ MORE

Galoshans Festival 2024 Returns for Spooktacular 10th Anniversary

Get ready for ghoulish grins and festive fun - Inverclyde’s beloved Galoshans Festival returns for its 10th anniversary!

READ MORE

Renfrewshire Council launches survey to get residents views on events programme

Renfrewshire Council has launched a survey to find out what residents think of its events programme as it approaches the end of its current three-year plan.

READ MORE

Social Bite encourages Scotland to hop, skip or jump to help end homelessness

Participants can choose any novel way of racking up 100 miles this September to help raise crucial funds for those who need it most in the UK.

READ MORE

Entertainers launch brand new Michael Jackson tribute show, Man in the Mirror

Today, on what would have been Michael Jackson's 66th Birthday, entertainers launch their brand-new show; Man in the Mirror – A Tribute to Michael Jackson.

READ MORE

Annual Salvesen Lecture at University of Edinburgh will address ADHD in Women and Girls

Distinguished Senior Consultant Physician and psychiatrist Lotta Borg Skoglund will present groundbreaking research which challenges outdated views on female ADHD.

READ MORE

Montpeliers founders among winners at the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub awards!

The winners of the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards have been revealed!

READ MORE

Paisley Arts Centre reopens after multi million pound refurbishment

Paisley Arts Centre is proud to announce its grand reopening following a stunning multimillion-pound refurbishment that has transformed the venue into a premier cultural hub in the heart of Paisley.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links