ABOUT US
Barkingside Art Club is an exciting new venture designed to bring us closer together as a community. The club provides a supportive space for local creatives, artists and art lovers to meet regularly with one another and share ideas. Our Creative-Meet Ups have a friendly and enriching environment which promote collaboration between creatives and business owners alike.
- Creating an inclusive club for artists
- Promoting Artists and their businesses
- Hosting Group Exhibitions & Events
- Bringing Members of the Community Together
- Educating children with SEN through Art
The club also gives adults and children the opportunity to take part in Art Workshops and Events. Our workshops have served adults as social or therapeutic retreats and as intense learning sessions. Our children’s workshops have helped children express themselves and make great strides in developing their artistic skills. Our principles are founded on inclusion, so our sessions are inclusive of people with SEN (Special Education Needs) and learning difficulties. In the past, we have helped many children with SEN become more involved in art and develop confidence at our workshops - Our artistic approach to teaching and learning is focussed on using art for a good cause.
As a club, we hold Group Exhibitions to showcase the work of our creatives and host national events such as The Big Draw and workshops for Lumiere London, the UK’s biggest light festival.
Getting the community involved in the arts is always important - so we offer creatives the opportunity to teach at workshops and help other flourish through creatives activities. The club also collaborates with local businesses on projects and events.
About The Executive Creative Director & Founder
Barkingside Art Club was founded by visual artist, Eliyah Qureshi, in 2017. The artist’s work is exhibited in galleries across the UK and internationally. Eliyah is often involved in national and community-based projects. She is also the co-founder and creative director of Dream Mx, a digital media company.
'From my personal...
... journey and experiences, I have learnt that it is very difficult to find social clubs and events who believe in inclusion, for children who have autism and others on the spectrum. I found it particularly difficult to find suitable and understanding assistance within mainstream schools. I also found that the local area is lacking in opportunities for artists. Artists and creatives needed a place to collaborate, exhibit their work and develop their craft. This encouraged me to create my own club which provides opportunities for artists and workshops to assist parents and children who are going through a similar situation. The club's aim is to bring local creatives, artists and businesses together to collaborate with one another and to educate them on the subject of SEN. Local creatives will also be given the opportunity to volunteer in helping children with SEN learn through creative activities or the skills they have to offer.”
- Eliyah Qureshi
Here at the Barkingside Art Club we are a small team of individuals dedicated to growing the art community in Barkingside. The club is managed by Eliyah Qureshi’s team, EQ Collective. After experiencing health difficulties, Eliyah decided to create a team to assist her in turning her vision into reality.
