Face Time

Over 60 works of art by international leading artists will be offered for sale in aid of The Art Room in Face Time, a week-long exhibition at the Threadneedle Space, Mall Galleries, London.

Working in partnership with the Threadneedle Foundation, The Art Room, a national charity offering art as a therapeutic intervention to children and young people, have invited artists to contribute a clock or original piece of work for this important fundraising exhibition.

Painters, sculptors, illustrators, architects and photographers have all contributed to Face Time and many have chosen to produce a clock face which reflects a key element of The Art Room’s methodology and practice.

Face Time artists include:

Emma Alcock, Nicola Bayley, Paul Benney, Alison Berrett, Tess Blenkinsop, Anthony Browne, Sarah Campbell, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Lauren Child, Robert James Clarke, Lara Cramsie, Martin Creed, Miranda Creswell, Emma Faull, Eleanor Fein, Jennie Foley, Antony Gormley, Christopher Green, Nicola Gresswell, David Anthony Hall, Maggi Hambling, Kevin Harman, Andy Harper, Simon Hitchens, Gareth Holt, Patrick Hughes, James Hugonin, Kassandra Isaacson, Cambridge Jones, Jim Kempton, Roger Law, Andrew Lawson, Briony Lawson, Amanda Levete, Peter Liversidge, Alastair Mackie, Lucy Mcmillan-Scott, Harland Miller, Patrice Moor, Susan Moxley, Matt Moser-Clark, Simon Norfolk, Charlotte Olympia, Angela Palmer, Cornelia Parker, Martin Parr, Korky Paul, Jan Pienkowski, Peter Randall-Page, Vanessa Raw, Jane Ray, Matthew Rice, Jenny Saville, Gerald Scarfe, Francesca Shakespeare, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Jason Shulman, Jon Snow, Joseph Steele, Kieran Stiles, Tony Thomson, Tessa Traeger, Emmie van Biervliet, Paul Vanstone, David Walser, Richard Wentworth, Marcia Williams, Lisa Wright, Sam Zealey.

Many of the artists have chosen to transform a clock face in aid of The Art Room. As a UK charity working with children and young people using art to increase their self-esteem, self-confidence, independence and avoid exclusion from mainstream school, the Art Room works with tangible items which the children can transform into works of art. The clock is a favourite project for students working in our Art Room studios as we invite them to create a self-portrait. Student’s transformation of regular items such as clocks, aprons and chairs can help work towards increasing self-esteem and confidence, and introduces the children to a sense of empowerment through their own creativity.

Face Time has been made possible through the generous support of the Threadneedle Foundation and The Mall Galleries. The Threadneedle Foundation is a key supporter of The Art Room and, together with the Mall Galleries, has facilitated this exhibition. Flora Fairbairn, Independent Art Curator and Consultant has been instrumental in advising on the exhibition.

Alison Jefferis, Head of Corporate Communications, Threadneedle Investments and Chair of the Threadneedle Foundation says “Funding a vibrant arts sector has never been solely at the hand of government, and nor should it be. Both public and private sources of funding – individuals, families, small businesses and large companies - have a role to play and we are delighted to support the important work of both the Mall Galleries and The Art Room. The Threadneedle Foundation builds partnerships that use art, education and sport to engender lasting social change. We are proud that we can facilitate this unique collaboration between our inspirational charity partners, Mall Galleries and The Art Room.”

The Art Room supports children and young people aged 5 to 16 at The Art Rooms in Oxford and London to offer art as therapy for those who are facing challenges in their lives. Our aim is to help those most in need; they may be disengaged from mainstream education, disruptive, withdrawn, or have learning difficulties. Since it started in 2002, The Art Room has grown and has been able to help more children each year - with proven positive results. We see over 1000 students each year and we have ambitious targets to open new Art Rooms across the country, aiming to create a national network which will reach many more children. In 2012, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge became the Royal Patron of The Art Room in recognition of our practice.

Works in the exhibition will be offered for sale from Tuesday 17 June and following the show online. This annual fundraising initiative is an integral part of our fundraising and all sales from the exhibition will go directly to The Art Room.

Juli Beattie, Founder Director of The Art Room says “Face Time promises to be a unique exhibition of diverse and wonderful creations. We are enormously grateful to the Threadneedle Foundation for their continued support and for sponsoring this exciting and creative exhibition. We are most grateful that the Mall Galleries are hosting this exhibition. Many of the artists contributing have been long term supporters of The Art Room and we appreciate their generous support of our work. All the money raised by Face Time is essential to our practice and will enable us to provide art as therapy to many more children at a time they most need it.”

The Art Room has grown since its foundation in 2002 and later this year will have nine studios in Oxfordshire, London and Edinburgh. Our aim is to support more children and provide art as an invaluable therapeutic intervention before exclusion from school. We rely on our many supporters and in particular our Patrons and the artists contributing to this exhibition. As Jon Snow, Patron and TV Broadcaster says “Every school in Britain needs an Art Room. All of us need space, a time, a place to gather our confidence and self-esteem and overcome our challenges. We are very proud of what The Art Room does and believe that through partnerships like this with Threadneedle and the Mall Galleries we will continue to grow and give more children the opportunity to experience the sanctuary of an Art Room session. As Patron and, in this instance, an artist contributing to Face Time, it is a pleasure to remind oneself of the powers of creativity and strength of art to change lives.”