Season of lights: How We Brought New Energy to a Beloved Event

Every year, the Art Classes Group hosts two maįor art exhibitions as part of its bi-annual programme. These exhibitions have become a much- loved tradition, bringing together learners, families, and the local community. But even long-standing traditions need fresh ideas to stay exciting. This winter, we set out to make the experience feel new, meaningful, and even more engaging than before.

Written and designed by: Marinela Caldarus, Artistic Director at Art Classes Group

A New Approach: Giving Artists Their Own Voice

One of the most important changes we introduced this year was interviewing our artists about their work. Instead of staff members explaining the pieces, the creators themselves, children, young people, and adults shared their thoughts, inspirations, and artistic journeys.

We displayed these interviews alongside their artwork on specially designed boards, allowing visitors to not only see the art but also understand the story behind it. This made the entire exhibition feel more personal and interactive. Visitors connected more deeply with the artists, and the artists felt proud seeing their words and ideas displayed for everyone to read.

What the Day Looked Like

The programme offered something for everyone. The exhibition displays were set up in a busy community area, attracting both planned visitors and curious passersby. During the presentations, young people completing their Arts Awards talked about their creative journeys, while adults from art, sewing, and wellbeing sessions shared how art has supported their confidence and wellbeing.

A guest caricature artist delivered an engaging workshop, teaching visitors how to draw caricatures in a fun, hands on session. Later, families enjoyed face painting, personalised caricatures, and creative activities for children. The food table, complete with colourful decorations and a chocolate fountain, added to the festive atmosphere and kept everyone happily refreshed.

Showcasing Our Creative Community

Amrita and Aanchal, our presenters, introduced the wide range of programmes offered throughout the year. These include Arts Award qualifications, teenage art clubs, adult art and wellbeing programmes, sewing classes, holiday activities, SEND inclusive sessions, and volunteering opportunities. The exhibition not only celebrated completed artwork but also highlighted how many creative pathways are available to the community.

Celebrating 20 Years of Arts Award

This year’s event coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Arts Award programme. Art Classes Group has joined the celebration marking 20 years of Arts Award, a programme that’s been inspiring people to explore their creativity, develop leadership skills and grow as artists through our workshops. To mark the occasion, Trinity College sent goodie bags for every participating child. Watching the children receive their certificates and gifts was a wonderful moment and a reminder of how important encouragement is in a young artist’s journey.

Creativity from Our Adult Classes

We were proud to showcase the work of our Adult Art & Wellbeing and Adult Sewing classes. In art, participants explored pop art, portraiture, and impasto

techniques, producing bold, expressive, and textured pieces. In sewing, learners created lap blankets, patchwork, crochet projects, and aprons, demonstrating skill and creativity. Their work added depth to the exhibition and impressed visitors with its diversity and personal expression.

The Team Behind the Event

The event would not have been possible without the hard work of our staff and volunteers. And we are happy that we received support from more than 12 young volunteers who helped prepare displays, organised registration, set up activity areas, decorated food tables, supported the workshop, and welcomed visitors throughout the day. Their dedication ensured the entire event ran smoothly and felt warm and inviting for everyone who attended.

Keeping Repetitive Events Fresh and Exciting

Reflecting on this year’s exhibition, we learned that the best way to keep a recurring event engaging is to allow it to grow and evolve. Giving participants a meaningful voice, offering hands-on creative experiences, and creating personalised moments all helped to make this year’s exhibition feel special and new. It reminded us that even familiar traditions can shine in new ways when approached with creativity and community in mind.

Ending on a High Note

The exhibition was attended by over 120 visitors, many of whom came with their families to enjoy the creativity on display. Guests shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting how welcoming and inclusive the event felt. Visitors were inspired by the diversity of artwork from children, young people, adults, and SEND artists, and many commented on the friendly atmosphere that made everyone feel part of the celebration. The event also received an amazing response on social media across all platforms, with visitors and supporters sharing their favourite moments and artwork. In a special highlight, The Duke of Edinburgh selected our post to feature on their official page, further showcasing the impact and reach of our exhibition.

A Heartfelt Thank You

The Winter Art Exhibition 2025 brought our community together once again but this time with a fresh spark and a renewed sense of excitement. We look forward to seeing how this beautiful tradition continues to grow in the years ahead.