About Arts Network
Arts Network is a user-led charity supporting and empowering people through creativity. We work with individuals and communities to build understanding around mental health, reducing stigma and creating change.
Our Mission
We use creative engagement to support people with severe and enduring mental health needs, helping individuals feel included, valued, and connected.
Our Aims
- Supporting people in South East London who have severe and enduring mental health support needs through creative activities.
- Raising awareness and understanding of severe mental health support needs by educating the wider public and stakeholders through exhibitions, events, and partnerships.
“You’ve got the safety to be vulnerable, safety to be yourself, safety to not worry about people’s perceptions of you.”
Our Membership
Founded in 1996, Arts Network offers a supportive, welcoming, and accessible space at the Mornington Centre in Deptford, London. We provide free, open-ended membership for people aged 18+ with severe mental health support needs.
Membership offers the chance to take part in creative activities, exhibitions, trips, volunteering opportunities and events. Our membership is designed to help learn new skills, build confidence, engage in peer support, and share personal and creative achievements.
Find out more about referrals here.
“It makes a massive difference to my day – it’s a very creative and supportive environment to belong to and to make artwork in.”
Our Approach
We are member-led and our creative programme is co-produced with the people who take part. We build long-term opportunities for members to get involved in every level of the charity, with lived experience and peer support at the heart of how we learn. We actively challenge stigma, discrimination and isolation, and work to improve social inclusion and health equity. We share our work with health professionals, partners and the wider public to help create positive change.
Arts Network is a non-clinical space. Our activities are not led by medically trained art therapists. Instead, we use creativity as a way of encouraging recovery, connection and new opportunities. Members choose how they get involved in group workshops and trips, individual projects, volunteering, accessing welfare support, or just having a place to be and socialise in a safe non-judgemental community.
“I love Arts Network for accepting me just as I am, this is the only place where I can take off my outside world mask.”
Our Public Programme
We also run a public programme of free drop-in workshops and events, with some activities open to all ages. Our member volunteers support these sessions, and we often work in partnership with other community organisations and cultural venues including galleries, museums and outdoor spaces.
Sign up to our newsletter here to stay updated on upcoming events and opportunities.
Who We Have Worked With
