Studio Upstairs: Leading Creative Recovery

Studio Upstairs is an arts and health charity with studios in Bristol and London providing support for people with mental or emotional difficulties to thrive in an artistic therapeutic environment. Our range of services enable our members to build towards a better quality of life and we strive to provide a safe space in which everyone can benefit as part of our creative community.

Many studies show that art can have a transformative effect on wellbeing, and lots of our staff have personal experience of how true this is. We use a holistic approach to help overcome the complex network of factors impacting on someone's ability to recover from enduring distress. Providing longer term support to our members helps tackle these in the most effective way, and break cycles of relapse. As one member explains:

‘The studio has given me purpose in life and the freedom to express myself creatively without limits.The staff are fantastic and I feel safe. I want to stay well and Studio Upstairs is helping me to achieve this’

As well as the Studio Members developing their own artwork they are encouraged to participate in communal activities including events and exhibitions, which are also open to the public. The space and staff are already familiar to them, so the Members are more likely to take up these opportunities, and this kind of interaction and activity improves their wellbeing, and provides social support.

This September we will be running a brand new Creative Carers programme for 12 weeks at our South London studio. These sessions will give carers the opportunity to access our therapeutic support and facilities, providing much needed respite and enabling them to continue to meet the demands of caring for others.

Our South London studio also has a gallery which showcases work by members and other local artists in a friendly and professional space with regular Gallery Nights. 

We are also excited to be taking part in the Bristol Affordable Art Fair, the Charity Private View is on Thursday 7th Sept, 5:30 - 9:30pm, with exciting raffle prizes and a first look at the artwork. We have been selected as the charity partner so if you use this link to purchase your ticket, valid for the duration of the fair, you’ll also help contribute towards the important work we do at Studio Upstairs.

www.studioupstairs.org.uk