National Art&Design Saturday Club

The National Art&Design Saturday Club gives young people aged 14–16 the unique opportunity to study art and design every Saturday morning at their local art and design college or university for free.

As well as 30 weeks of inspiring classes in areas ranging from painting and drawing to sculpture and stop-frame animation, Club members visit London's best museums and galleries and exhibit work in their own Summer Show at Somerset House. They are also given the opportunity to attend an inspirational Masterclass with one of the UK's foremost artists or designers. For the 2009/10 and 2010/11 programmes Masterclass leaders included Antony Gormley, Thomas Heatherwick, Michael Marriott and Naomi Cleaver.

The aim is to nurture the young people's talent, build their confidence and self-esteem, give them an insight into college life, and show them the pathway into further and higher education and to careers in the creative industries.

The idea of Saturday art and design classes for young people is not new. In the 1950s, '60s and '70s there was a post-war policy initiative that encouraged Saturday morning classes for 14-year-olds at their local art schools. For many artists and designers it was the start of their creative and entrepreneurial journeys.

The National Art&Design Saturday Club recreates the original idea but, for the first time, joins up all the participants to share knowledge, best practice and inspiration. The new national network provides a programme designed around a local delivery system, joined together by the Sorrell Foundation acting as catalyst and co-ordinator.

There are 100 colleges and universities with art and design courses that could run Saturday Clubs. Today, the programme involves 14 of them; we want to scale up to at least 40 in 3 years' time, to provide opportunities and offer inspiration for around 2,000 young people each year.

The National Art&Design Saturday Club was set up by the Sorrell Foundation, a charitable organisation inspiring creativity in young people. Currently, the programme does not receive any government funding. If you would like to give financial support to the National Art&Design Saturday Club 2011/12 please contact Angela Linton, on 020 7845 5860, or angela@thesorrellfoundation.com

If you are a college or university and would like more information, or would like to participate, please contact Gemma Scott, on 020 7845 5860, or gemma@thesorrellfoundation.com

View the 2010/11 Club members' self-portraits on Flickr
View the 2011/12 Club members' self-portraits on Flickr

Summer Show private view

Masterclass with Paul Priestman

Masterclass with Mike Davies

Some responses to the Saturday Club:

‘I’m really glad I was able to get a place on the course. I’m hugely inspired to do a foundation degree and have realised that art is really what I want to do.’
Club member

‘Coming to the college was worth missing my Saturday morning lie-ins for.’
Club member

‘This has been such an amazing experience and helped so much with my GSCE art. I have loved these classes and seeing my work in Somerset House was just amazing!’
Club member

‘I have tried new things I would never do in school as we don't have the facilities.’
Club member

‘This is the only club that my son has ever stuck at. He has attended every session with such enthusiasm, which, I believe says it all.’
Parent

‘What has stood out is that students' standard of work improved and their confidence has grown immensely.’
Alan Lemin, tutor, Plymouth College of Art

Participating colleges and universities 2011-2012: