Community Arts

G52 Arts Project

GIFT started working with the community in Penilee from the beginning of 2022 by running a series of community conversations as well as launching a community questionnaire to establish the needs of the community. Penilee has a strong sense of community, but there is frustration at the lack of resources available, with many from the community telling us that there is 'nothing for kids or young adults in this area.' We found that people in the community are also extremely concerned about the rates of suicide among young people in the area, with one person commenting ‘far too many young people are taking their own lives as they feel they can’t talk to anyone, I’m sure we all know some young person that is struggling.  I think there needs to be somewhere local they could maybe meet up once a week.' 

In response to the concerns raised by the community, GIFT have been delivering a range of free art activities for children and young people aged between 5 and 17 through the Children’s Art Group and the Youth Art Group at Penilee Community Centre. GIFT is the only organisation based in Penilee offering direct support to children and young people in the community. Over 130 children and young people have been participating in the free weekly art groups on a regular basis, and numbers have steadily increased due to the positive word of mouth from the group participants and families of those that attend. The project supports the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Our team of professional Artists and HCPC registered Art Psychotherapists support the groups to participate in art activities such as painting, drawing, mask making, tie-dying, printmaking, paint pouring, modelling for animation, and photography. Check out our online gallery to find out what the G52 art groups have been doing.

“It’s a great place for kids and free; it’s amazing!”

Parent of child attending the children’s art group