Artisanctuary
Authors(s), Creator(s) and Contributors: Annie Donovan, CEO, KIM Inspire
Publication Date: 28/04/2026
Categories: Case Studies, English
Supporter(s)/Funder(s): Arts Council Wales and The National Lottery Community Fund
Partner(s): Delivered by KIM Inspire. Arts Partners - Ruthin Craft Centre, Verity Pulford, Kirsti Brown, Tara Dean and Angie McCormick (Artist who became a staff member) H&S Care Partners - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Flintshire County Council
Introduction
Artisanctuary is a 12-month arts and mental health project delivered by KIM Inspire in North Wales from April 2025 to March 2026. Working with professional artists, Ruthin Craft Centre and health partners, it provides ceramics, glass, drawing, printmaking and mixed media workshops for adults experiencing mental ill health, neurodivergence, anxiety, depression and isolation, while also supporting staff wellbeing.
By the end of the project, it had exceeded targets, engaging 65 local participants and delivering 114 workshop sessions. The project was created to improve confidence, reduce anxiety and loneliness, build skills, support recovery and increase access to high-quality arts opportunities for people who may otherwise face barriers to participation.
The Challenge
We wanted to explore how mental health conditions and neurodiversity can be improved through the arts.
The Creative Health Report states “The arts can make an invaluable contribution to a healthy and health creating society, offering potential resource that should be embraced in health and social care systems which are under great pressure.”
Arts and health initiatives positively contribute to well-being through feeling inspired, a sense of belonging, positive social connections and feeling part of a local community. Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Well-being, 2017, APPGAHW.
Embedding the arts within health and social care systems remains a challenge. KIM Inspire wanted to give local people, with mental health and ND needs, the support and provision to overcome this challenge.
The Approach
After months of design and preparation, Artisanctuary was established in April 2025 and delivered in partnership with professional artists Verity Pulford, Kirsti Brown, Angie McCormick, and Tara Dean, alongside Ruthin Craft Centre and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
114, half day workshops were provided over 3 terms of 9-10 weeks per term. 65 local participants attended of which 6 were staff members. Participants were referred into the project from a range of statutory and third sector organisations, as well as self-referrals through the KIM mental health service.
Activities included: Beginner and intermediate courses in glass, ceramics, fine art, and mixed media; Taster sessions and summer workshops and off‑site learning at Ruthin Craft Centre.
In addition, the artists were supported through supervision and training in Mental Health First Aid and Safeguarding.
A dedicated creative learning space equipped with a kiln and specialist tools was developed at The Hub.
The programme was intentionally structured to provide progression pathways from beginner to intermediate levels encouraging individual progression. The longer-term aim was for participants to continue to create independently from the charity, as a step away from mental health support.
The Impact
65 participants. Outcomes have exceeded expectations: better mental health; first experience of a gallery; new creative identities; engaging with exhibitions/competitions; using kiln/other equipmen and art education opportunities that are not available locally
Evaluation was undertaken through observation, staff/artist conversations, questionnaires at the end of courses/sessions and on-going feedback via an online form.
"I'm not creative in my thoughts so it helped to think outside the box. It brought me back to basics in who I am and what's important to me even if it made me cry. I learned freeze and fuse techniques, Tak fusing, coral pieces, test tiles, seascapes on different compositions to take forward into different aspects of my work"
"It helped me broaden my vision and not be afraid to try different things. I've been doing drawings at home ready for the next class"
"Artisanctuary has given me a different outlook on emotions and how to express them and more confidence in art and more confidence in general"
"I seem to have embraced glass more since The World of Glass Exhibition. It gave me hope, seeing other people's work there and in Ruthin Art Centre. I was being too particular, too much of a perfectionist and seeing others work in a proper gallery was inspirational"
Lessons Learned
We reflected continuously on adjustments, potential improvement opportunities and next steps eg reflecting on use of the art room, reducing class numbers to 8 improving comfort and teaching capability. We revisited engaging ND people and the additional resources needed, eg adjusting lighting, using headphones. Places have generally been oversubscribed creating a dilemma around equal access while maintaining high quality learning. We have needed to offer additional support to prepare some individuals to undertake the new challenges.
The Legacy
Artisanctuary has improved many peoples' lives. We will offer more opportunities to join our established courses and we are ready to support our current participants with their individual aspirations. We aim to build our external network, increasing exhibition opportunities encouraging further participation for those who choose to take part with increased independent creativity.
"Artisanctuary has put me on the right path to becoming an artist. I can see a future of becoming an artist and that's what gives me motivation each day"
Website and Social Media Links
Annie Donovan, annie@kim-inspire.org.uk
Contact Details
Annie Donovan, annie@kim-inspire.org.uk
Tags: Glass, Ceramics, Print-making, Art development, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Community, Adults, Holywell, North Wales
