Who are we?

Established in 1994, Impact Arts is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s leading third sector organisations. We tackle inequalities in Scotland though fun creative engagement techniques, specialising in using the arts to tackle poverty, improve health and as a way to excite, involve and create meaningful impacts for the people and communities we work with. We understand the power of creativity to bring powerful and positive changes to lives, especially where other interventions might have struggled. 

Since we were established we have engaged across 30 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and almost 300,000 people. In 2022/23 alone we:

• engaged 3,416 people through creative projects, events and exhibitions
• delivered 2,950 creative workshop sessions
• supported 91% of 616 young people to positive destinations and to achieve qualifications

“Myself and my colleagues have worked in partnership with Impact Arts for a number of years and can confirm their ability and competence, and the level of quality that they bring to projects. We continue to explore opportunities to develop our partnership, and the project further. Impact Arts’ staff work with enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism, and have had a noticeable impact on the young people that they have engaged.” - Lisa Hogg, Barnardo’s Scotland.

What do we do?

Impact Arts uses creative engagement as a ‘hook’ from which to establish relationships of trust. This provides an opportunity for people & communities to share their often hidden feelings, vulnerabilities, goals and aspirations. This enables us to achieve a wide variety outcomes and achieve transformational change. 

According to Culture Counts, this approach is proven to achieve profound impacts, including:

• Arts programmes can address and reduce social inequalities
• Psychological studies show that arts can play a strong role in child development
• Participating in the arts can improve mental health by reducing stress and isolation, and improving self esteem
• Investing in arts and culture can attract new populations and businesses to a local area, aiding regeneration
• Creative activities modulate emotions by promoting emotional regulation strategies, which have an effect on mental health.

Our work within schools includes services such as Art Therapy which is a form of psychotherapy that uses art and creative activities as its primary mode of communication and expression. Our own evaluation and feedback has highlighted that the children we work with through art therapy, affected by adverse childhood experiences will:

• Develop strong coping skills
• Be better able to manage positive transitions
• Enjoy stronger relationships
• Have improved confidence & communication skills
• Have improved engagement with education

We also offer alternative curriculum programmes such as ReConnect, which is an innovative Alternative Curriculum programme that engages young people from S1-S4 who are experiencing challenges with engaging (or declining to engage altogether) in mainstream education, and P7 children who are identified as at risk of not making a successful and positive transition to secondary education.

Our experience tells us that school refusers often are those experiencing bullying or extreme social anxiety and/or those engaging in anti-social behaviour. The project supports identified young people to develop confidence through accessible creative activities which will at the same time challenge the young people to engage in team-work, employability and enterprise activities, and creative learning and problem solving.

What is our session about?

Examples of the types of activities you can expect when you participate:

Stop motion and filmmaking

Participants will be introduced to a variety of short film making techniques including reverse, time lapse and various methods of stop motion.  This activity will allow participants to create multiple individual and/or group short films using their own digital and/or visual artworks, found and household items.  The finished creations will be collated into a showreel and presented at a showcase in spring of 2024.

Comic book/zine/storyboarding

Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate on the production of a comic book or zine, exploring themes of interest to them.  This will create opportunities to try out a number of artistic techniques including visual art, creative writing, poetry, digital art and photography.

All of our sessions are facilitated by highly skilled and experienced artists and supported by a creative assistant.

What will you gain by attending?

By attending sessions with Impact Arts you will have the opportunity to work with skilled artists and gain artistic and creative skills.  You will also gain skills and confidence by working in groups of like minded people on exciting projects!  We focus on improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing through creativity in a fun non-traditional setting.

What do past participants have to say?

“It was relaxing and creative.”

“I learned that not everything has to be perfect, as long as we're happy creating it.”

“I like that we got to make anything you can imagine.”

“I enjoyed making my project come to life.”

“My favourite thing about today was the atmosphere.”

“It improved my communication, teamwork and listening.”

“It was entertaining, interesting and fun.”