Open Arts
helping to manage mental health and wellbeing through creativity
Open Arts have a new venue!
Garon Park Community Centre,
(first road on the right as you come off the roundabout to Garon Park, behind Kids Kingdom)
A safe and supported space for you to work on your own projects or use the art materials available.
Up to 15 people per session. Sessions are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10.30 to 1.30pm and 2pm to 4pm
We ask for £7.50 for the morning session and £5 towards the afternoon session, but understand that may be difficult so please speak to Jo to see about the possibility of pay what you can.
Open Arts fundraiser
£10 can buy you a treat for your ears and support Open Arts!
The CD contains 5 suites for Violin and Piano composed by John Smith.
Played by Ian Douce on the violin and John on the piano, together with traditional tunes played by John on the violin.
All the suites were inspired by various art exhibitions.
CDs are available please contact Jo 07580 982 462 / jo.keay@nhs.net to arrange purchase.
Thank you
Open Arts art courses
starting Tuesday 24th September
10am to 12 noon £20 per session (art for wellbeing)
1pm to 3pm £10 / £5 (art for mental health)
These art courses aims to increase confidence and skills by having fun with new art techniques. We hope that by the end of the course you will feel confident to move on to join other groups or classes in your local area, or just to move on in whichever way suits you best.
£20/ £10/ £5 concession per week (if this is difficult please speak to us about paying what you can)
If you have a care coordinator they may be able to apply for a personal budget or carers budget on your behalf.
Wellbeing morning sessions are open to all 16+
Open Arts educational visits to RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Take part in a mixture of drawing, printing, clay and weaving activities inspired by our seasonal walks around the garden.
Thursday 30th January and Friday 25th July 2025
Art workshops with Sally Chinea at 'Open Space'
These sessions are open to all.
£26 each session
The money raised supports
the Open Arts mental health programme
On the first Thursday of the month
10am to 12 or 1pm to 3pm
To book please email jo.keay@nhs.net and pay via justgiving.com/page/openartsessex
Open Arts Extra - studio screen Project
Thursdays 2pm to 4pm £10 per session
Under the theme of Open Arts, a simple sketch or image or word designed and transferred onto fabric which you will then paint. Work together as a group on the composition to amalgamate the designs into one large hanging which will be used as a studio screen
A 3 week course exploring the process of Batik
leading to a panel for a totes bag.
£45 for the course
(please commit to all 3 sessions)
Dates TBC please get in touch if you are interested
Wednesday Wellbeing Days 11am to 3pm
Yoga followed by Mindfulness art making
11.00am till 12.30pm yoga with Hayley
followed by Mindfulness art with Sally 1pm to 3pm
TBC 9th and 16th Oct Yoga / wet felt flowers
Please bring a packed lunch
£40 each day
October workshops on Thursdays 10am to 12
£20 per session
3rd, Silk painting flag/panel
10th, Wet felt flowers
17th, Figurative sculpture using modroc
24th, Halloween themed salt dough garlands
31st Needle felt poppies
Batik silk scarf
Wednesday 6th, 13th and 20th November
10.30am to 1.30pm £25 per session
Over the three weeks you will be supported to learn and create one batik silk scarf
with artist Sally Chinea
Luxurious to wear for a party or as a special gift
Festive workshops
Thursday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th November 10am to 12 noon
£20 each session with artist Sally Chinea
7th November, needle felt personalised bauble
14th, Scandi gnomes
21st & 28th lino cut design and print your own Christmas cards
Christmas workshops
on Wednesday 4th, 11th, 18th December
10.30 am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm
with artist Sally Chinea
£25 each session
4th, Scandi gnomes
11th, Needle felt robins
18th Partridge and Pear tree decorations in felt
Festive workshops on Thursdays
5th December 10am to 12 Make Fairy/pixie boots £20
5th December 1pm to 3.30pm reusing textile fabrics make upcycled fabric tinsel £10
12th December 12 to 3pm OPEN ARTS Christmas get together donations welcome
19th December 10am to 12pm Wet felt a tea light holder lantern £20
19th December 1pm to 3.30pm Mandala dot baubles £20