A Sefton-based non-profit dedicated to making creative activities accessible to everyone is hosting a free community celebration in Southport this weekend.
Art Ease CIC will hold its Free Community Open Day & Celebration on Saturday 25th July from 1pm to 4pm at The Big Onion Community Hub, located in Town Hall Gardens, Southport.
The drop-in event is open to all ages, with no prior booking needed. Visitors can drop in throughout the afternoon to try out free creative workshops, enjoy refreshments, enter a raffle, browse local merchandise, and meet the team.
Founded in June 2024 by local artist Emmeline Porter (known as Emmy Oranges), Art Ease works across the North West to reduce loneliness, support mental wellbeing, and remove barriers that prevent people from taking part in the arts.
Emmy said: “Our Open Day is a chance to celebrate everything Art Ease has achieved over the past year and to say thank you to the community that has supported us along the way.
“Everyone is welcome to come along, meet the team, try some free creative activities, enjoy refreshments and find out more about what we do. Whether you’ve been to one of our workshops before or are discovering Art Ease for the first time, we’d love to see you there.”
The organisation has delivered creative sessions to more than 150 people across the borough so far, working alongside 10 local community groups.
Funding from The National Lottery will allow them to deliver 80 fully funded creative workshops across 2025 and 2026. The team has also partnered with Sefton Social Prescribing to run weekly Mindful Drawing classes linked with local GP practices, alongside delivering sustainable craft workshops for Earth Day 2025.
Having recently joined Lancaster University as an official student placement provider, the non-profit maintains a 100 per cent positive feedback record from participants. Art Ease aims to continue expanding its work with local healthcare services and community groups across Sefton in the coming year.
For more information, visit: www.artease.org.uk