Arts Drop is a pioneering initiative developed by the arts charity the Creative Learning Guild, in partnership with Arts & Health Clinician Elaine Burke, with funding from The National Lottery.

We use a clinically approved framework to work with artists and cultural organisations to develop arts activities that boost the emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children.

During the pilot in Calderdale, we have worked in collaboration with over 20 artists and cultural organisations ranging from theatres, museums, libraries, visual artists and musicians. Through a process of mentoring led by an Arts and Health Specialist, over 60 arts and creative activities were developed. These are specifically designed to engage vulnerable children. All activities can be done easily at home using arts materials that we also provided in the Arts Drop pack. Bringing creativity into children’s lives during lockdown to boost their emotional wellbeing. Over 2,650 packs have been created and distributed since early May 2020.

Arts Drop has also received national recognition through our inclusion as a case study for the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance. We were included as one of 50 case studies in England in their report 'How creativity and culture are supporting shielding and vulnerable people at home during Covid-19' presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group for 'Arts, Health & Wellbeing'.

The initial concept and development of Arts Drop has been funded by The National Lottery. The pilot of the initiative to the Calderdale region has been funded by the Arts Council Bridge Organisation for Yorkshire and Humber IVE, Open Minds service run by Calderdale Council and the Community Foundation for Calderdale.

We have also received support from YPO who are one of the UK’s largest public sector procurement organisationsand from individuals via our fundraising page.

As part of the initial roll out of arts activities and resources to 1000s of vulnerable children in Calderdale, we worked with a variety of organisations. Ranging from local authorities, community groups, arts and cultural organisations, funders and partners. We’re happy to bring the Arts Drop model to other areas of the country or adapt it to reach more children. Please take a look at our collaborate pages and contact us to find out more.

We are experts at working with and mentoring artists and organisations to create arts activities that successfully engage a wide range of children and young people to boost their emotional wellbeing.

Find out more information about how to collaborate with us.

We are passionate about using a clinically approved framework to ensure that the arts activities created will boost emotional wellbeing. The process is led by an Arts & Specialist who works in collaboration with the artists and cultural organisations.

If you’re an individual artist or cultural organisation wanting to create an activity as part of a new Arts Drop roll out, please find out more here.

If you're an organisation or group and you want to work with us to launch Arts Drop with your community, please find out more here.

Arts Drop is run by Arts & Health Specialist Elaine Burke.

Every Arts Drop activity is designed by our mental health specialist to purposefully support a specific aspect of wellbeing.

Arts Drop draws on research and health expertise and is guided by 7 key principles* that are proven to help children and young people thrive:

• Connecting with others
• Being physically active
• Learning new skills
• Finding calm & taking notice
• Developing imagination
• Making choices
• Understanding self

Each Arts Drop activity postcard fulfils at least two of these principles. Activities are designed to be emotionally safe and promote mental wellbeing.

*Modeled on the NEF and Children’s Society ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ with additional consideration of the Marmot Review and key child development theory from Bowlby and Piaget