Home - Flourish - showcasing artwork by care-experienced children and young people

Flourish - showcasing artwork by care-experienced children and young people

Flourish was the first national programme to promote artwork by young people with such a diverse history of care. It was set up as a response to looked-after artists' frustration about a lack of opportunity to show work. Artists may be looked after by carers, be fostered or adopted, in secure accommodation or have special needs. Flourish celebrates talent and hopes to encourage confidence and skills toward creative careers.

Flourish holds a new exhibition each year. It asks artists to make a formal application, giving details about their work and submitting an artist's statement highlighting aspirations and telling their story. Artwork is featured in a catalogue and promoted in a sensitive and open way. Artists are invited to the exhibitions, with the chance to hear feedback, and many attend a gallery for the first time. Flourish invites its artists to speak about the project at events and with the press, be involved with running exhibitions and inform the future of the initiative.

Flourish artists have gone on to university to study art, volunteered at galleries and held solo shows. Many artists have sold their work as a result of being exhibited. A Flourish board has been set up with artists from 2006, who select artworks for new shows and advise on policy.

‘This exhibition is unbelievably good; when I first came in I found it hard to believe the artists were so young – but what lives they have already lived!’
Visitor to Flourish

Flourish was initiated by Newham Children and Young People's Services, London.

Arts Award Welcome Badge

Flourish catalogues

Our latest catalogue is available to order now.

Flourish Catalogue Cover 2012

What’s new?

Flourish is no longer active due to changing attitudes to funding. This site hosts an archive of the accomplished artists we have supported over seven years.

Foundling café exhibition

Come along to see the full 2012 selection from the 21 May – 15 Sep 2013. www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Exhibition at Southbank Centre

A selection of brand new artwork as part of the Imagine Children's Festival, 11 – 24 February 2013 southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine

Call for submissions

Find out how to apply by downloading guidance and an application form here.

Flourish at Southbank

Flourish took part in a seminar led by YoungMinds, as part of the Imagine Children's Festival.
Find out more

Foundling exhibition

From 8 - 27 November 2011, the full 2010 and 2011 selections were shown at The Foundling Museum, London.
See how it looked.
www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Online film hosting

Flourish is showing four films and one audio track to coincide with the exhibition.

Aishling Collins
My life in a suitcase (8m)
Click to watch movie (YouTube)

Cynthia Lewis
Harriet (2m 3s)
Click to watch movie

Connor & Hayden Millen
Stupid nightmares go away! (1m 30s)
Click to watch movie

Redbridge summer university arts programme
History class (13m)
Click to watch movie

Michael Williams
Theory of a fat man (Audio recording, 2m 16s)
Click to listen (YouTube)

Arts Award Welcome

Flourish is pleased to announce it can now support young artists towards their Arts Award qualification. Find out more here - Flourish Arts Award