Since2019, Barkingside Art Club has proudly been part of the Redbridge Outdoor Arts programme, delivering our Inclusive Outdoor Arts Hub and Spectrum Studio to ensure that SEND children, young people, and families can fully access and enjoy the borough’s vibrant outdoor arts offer.
Each event is designed to be welcoming, accessible, and creatively rich, with art workshops tailored for all abilities. Our approach ensures that everyone—regardless of need or experience—has the chance to explore, express, and connect through the visual arts.
We are also committed to nurturing the next generation of creative leaders. Through our Creative Ambassador programme, young people receive real-world opportunities to gain confidence, develop skills, and share their talents. Many of them run their own pop-up art shops at our events, selling handmade artwork, crafts, and cultural goods while learning valuable entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
These inclusive outdoor art workshops and sketchbook hub are affordable at £1 per child, and all proceeds go directly towards supporting ongoing & future programmes for SEND children and families in Redbridge.
At the heart of our work is the belief that creativity belongs
NEW! Become a Redbridge Outdoor Arts outdoor inclusive art hub Creative Champion
Take part, get involved, and sign up to become a Creative Champion.
Collect stamps. Build your art portfolio. Celebrate creativity all summer and autumn.
To become a Creative Champion, you must:
Sign up at the Sketchbook Hub or Spectrum Studio
Attend all four outdoor arts events
Take part in workshops, sketchbook sessions, and exhibitions
Complete your sketchbook with drawings, reflections, and artwork from each session
At the final event, participants who complete the full journey will receive:
An exclusive art kit
A Barkingside Art Club Scholarship
The opportunity to achieve a Silver Arts Award
This initiative encourages creativity, consistency, and confidence through fun and inclusive activities.
Join Our Outdoor Art Workshops at Ken Aston Square & Ilford
Take part in a creative day led by young artists, students, and ambassadors from Barkingside Art Club.
Morning Session: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
SPECTRUM STUDIO
Spectrum Studio – Inclusive Creative Space
Located inside the Aldborough Room at the library,
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
A calm, sensory-adapted zone with:
Visual aids & tactile materials
1:1 support & quiet creative activities
Adapted versions of workshops
Prebookable for SEND families needing extra flexibility
OPEN CALL LOCAL
PopUp Art Shop by Creative Ambassadors, Art Students, and Local Artists
We are proud to host a Pop-Up Art Shop featuring work by Creative Ambassadors, Barkingside Art Club students, and talented local artists.
We are also welcoming local craftspeople and child-friendly businesses to take part in this vibrant community event.
Join us in celebrating creativity, culture, and community through a unique showcase of handmade goods, original artworks, and creative products designed for families and art lovers of all ages.
If you are a local artist or small business interested in participating, please get in touch to reserve your stall.
We believe creativity exists within everyone—regardless of age, background, or education.
To make the most of our inclusive space, each artist and young person will have one artwork exhibited as part of the Mobile Art Gallery group exhibition, celebrating diverse voices and creative expression from across our community.
