THE ART OF COLLABORATION
Meet Ella Ritchie, director of Intoart, the studio channelling artistry in remarkable ways. Here, she talks about creating opportunity for all
Ella Ritchie bangs the drum for equal opportunities in art
What is Intoart? We’re a collaborative art and design studio in Peckham, south London, which was set up as a cooperative for people with learning difficulties. Our overall vision is to help people to be visible, equal and established. It’s a collective ethos – we have 20 artists who we work with closely as they develop their practices.
Why did you set it up? I started volunteering with people with learning disabilities in my second year at Central Saint Martins, and became acutely aware that the people I was working with didn’t have the same access to opportunity that I did. There is a lack of provision and ambition to extend arts education to all, meaning that a lot of talent goes unharnessed, so we opened Intoart in 2000 and we now provide a foundation course that then becomes a long-term relationship – some of our artists have been with us for 15 years.
How does the programme work? Five new people started last term, and we spend the first two years teaching them techniques such as screen printing, clay work and drawing. They then come in for a couple of days a week to work in our art or design studio, putting together exhibitions, creating products or developing their art.
How does it affect the artists’ lives? I think it helps them to form a different type of relationship, one that isn’t based on support worker and service user, but on equality. Feeling valued, and discovering what is possible can have a huge and long-lasting impact.
What counts as a success? It depends on the individual – I tend to look at significant moments rather than the end result. For some artists, simply managing to sustain two hours in the studio is a huge accomplishment, whereas for someone else, it is getting their work into a national touring show. I always say that it’s not just another day in the studio but an opportunity to progress and learn.
What support do you need? We’re half funded by the Arts Council and half funded by private donations – so money is always good! But we’re really looking for design ambassadors, anyone who can give us meaningful invitations to collaborate. One Christmas, we worked with John Smedley on a range of jumpers that were showcased in the store window, so any new potential partners would be great.
What’s coming up next? We recently had our Intoart Annual Exhibition at our gallery in Peckham, where we launched some new products, too. Then we were off to Tokyo with three of our artists to develop our 2020 collection. We just thought, why not?
For more information and ways to donate, visit intoart.org.uk