Who we are
The White Room is a charity and creative studio space that removes barriers to making art for people with learning disabilities and other under-served community members. We foster self-expression, celebrate creativity, and promote greater inclusion in the creative arts.
What we do
Our creative space enables artists to access materials, professional support, and a judgement-free space where they can develop their art practice as part of a creative community. Our arts facilitators work one-on-one with artists, encouraging them to experiment with different mediums and ways of expressing themselves.
Beyond the creative space, we work to build greater inclusion in the arts scene through:
Staging artists’ exhibitions
Fostering partnerships
Staging community arts workshops
Promoting the sale of artists’ work
Our work enables artists to express themselves, build a sense of purpose and pride, and connect with others through the shared language of creativity. It also allows the public to celebrate the artistic talents of the people we work with.
Our history
Since our beginnings in 2014, The White Room has grown from a few art supplies in a chest on wheels to a dedicated community studio.
Originally part of disability services agency SkillWise, staff could see the positive impact art activities were having on the people they worked with. This prompted staff to advocate for a dedicated space for making art. At the time each room at SkillWise HQ was painted a different colour and the room chosen for the art making space was the one painted white. And so The White Room was born.
We have evolved over the last decade, now encompassing a large studio and a busy schedule of exhibitions. We are also increasingly taking our work out into the community, supporting traditionally under-served people to make art. We continue to advocate for removing barriers for people to participate in the art scene, and we continue to see the positive impact art making has on the people we work with.