Collage Arts

Image: Susan Rosenberg; Detail: Mountain Summer 5; www.rosenberg-art.com

Collage Arts (formerly Haringey Arts Council) is a leading arts development, training and creative regeneration organisation based in the Haringey Cultural Quarter. For 25 years the organisation has created opportunities for greater participation in the arts and creative industries for the whole community through a range of learning programmes, business support services, facilities and resources.

We seek to provide greater access and support to under-represented sections of the community including black and minority ethnic communities, asylum seekers, women, people with disabilities, young people leaving care and ex-offenders by offering skills, experience and opportunities in music, film, performing arts, visual arts, and multimedia, which can lead onto progression routes in further and higher education, employment and entrepreneurship.

Collage Arts provide a platform for local established and emerging artists, musicians, creative businesses, film makers, writers and designers through regular events like: the Chocolate Factory Open Studios, Karamel Music Club, Karamel Comedy Club, Community Festivals, showcases, exhibitions, conferences and other creative events.

As part of our commitment to cultural regeneration Collage Arts has developed two buildings, Chocolate Factory 1 & 2, for the artistic community providing affordable studio spaces.

Collage Arts vision for the Chocolate Factory complex has been the creation of a vibrant centre in the creative industries where people from all social backgrounds can participate and for this to be the key catalyst within the development of the Wood Green Cultural Quarter. From two derelict and unusable buildings, a community of over 200 artists and creative businesses has been established, based in the heart of the Cultural Quarter.  This is a thriving hub of creative talent and excellence producing a diverse mix of artforms including visual arts and design, music, film and technological innovation in varying forms.

As part of our commitment to education and social inclusion, we have established a range of youth programmes, both accredited and non-accredited creative learning programmes over the past 15 years around music, performance, film and media (accredited by OCR, Open College Network and NCFE awarding bodies).  Currently, we offer Creative Apprenticeships in conjunction with businesses based at the Chocolate Factory.  Young people have the opportunity to work and study simultaneously, earning a wage whilst studying towards a Diploma in Creative Digital Media Level 3. This programme is available free for young people aged 16 to 18 years old and part-subsidised for 19+ and acts as a vocational route into the creative industries and a non-traditional route into Higher Education. This programme is funded by the Skills Funding Agency and delivered in partnership with North Herts College.

Collage Arts is the lead partner of the ASPIRE2 partnership offering a pan-London Training for Work youth project with targeted support to young people aged 16-19 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET.

This project supports young people with learning activities, advice/guidance and mentoring support, and industry support and helps improve career prospects and opportunities in the Creative Industries and other sectors like Active Leisure, Retail, Hospitality and ICT.

This project is co-financed by European Social Fund, Young Peoples Learning Agency and managed by the Skills Funding Agency.

Collage Arts is a delivery partner of the South-West London cluster project TRANSITION led by Wandsworth Borough Council.  This project focuses on positive activities for young people living in South-West London who are NEET (or at risk) and supports them into further education, employment and apprenticeships.  This project is co-financed by the European Social Fund, Young Peoples Learning Agency and managed by the Skills Funding Agency.

Collage Arts is part of the STELLAR partnership led by WAC Performing Arts and Media College running a pan-London youth project for 14-19 year olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (or at risk of becoming NEET) and wishing to improve their prospects and opportunities in the creative industries. Stellar offers information, advice, training and guidance, followed by a supported 6-months creative industries placement. This project is co-financed by European Social Fund and London Development Agency.

From 2009 to 2011, Collage Arts was the lead partner of EURO-ASPIRE, a project connecting European organisations that informally educate people in and through creative activities.

This peer network engaged in purposeful dialogue exchanging philosophies and practice, creating and harnessing synergies and developed a common European framework to validate non formal learning in the creative and arts sectors. Funded by Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme.