A brand-new celebration of sport, games and community spirit is coming to the Isle of Wight this summer, helping to raise vital funds for local charities, including Independent Arts. The Wight Games Festival will take place from June to August across the Island, bringing together a wide range of activities in what organisers describe as a “joyful mash-up of traditional sports, games and quirky challenges.” From sailing, cricket and tennis to chess, colouring competitions and even welly wanging, the festival offers something for everyone. Designed as an inclusive, Island-wide event, the festival encourages people of all ages and abilities to take part, whether they are trying something new or returning to something they love. With activities that engage both mind and body, it reflects a shared focus on wellbeing, creativity and connection across the Island community.   The festival has been created by Mike Christie, founder of the Wight Proms Festival and long-time Ambassador for Independent Arts. Mike said: “It gives me enormous joy to give something back to the Island community. The Isle of Wight is packed with extraordinary clubs, groups and individuals doing brilliant things and this Festival is our chance to showcase that incredible variety. I wanted to create something where absolutely everyone can take part in something that interests them, whether it’s a traditional sport they already love or something completely unexpected that they haven’t even tried before. It’s about rethinking what we see as a ‘sport’, making the Festival fully accessible, bringing people together and, at the same time, raising money for three extremely important local charities who do amazing work on our Island.” At Independent Arts, we see the value of creativity and activity in supporting healthier, happier lives. Matt Hitt, Fundraising Manager at Independent Arts, said: “Independent Arts is an Island-based creative health charity, improving people’s health and wellbeing on the Isle of Wight through creative activities that enable people to live well and thrive. Mike Christie has been supporting Independent Arts as our Ambassador for a number of years. His support through the Wight Proms Festival has been invaluable, and his continued backing through the Wight Games Festival will help us continue delivering creative health workshops that support islanders’ mental and physical wellbeing.” The festival is free to take part in, with donations encouraged throughout. Funds raised will be shared between Mountbatten Isle of Wight, Independent Arts, and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust charity, supporting essential work across health, wellbeing and community care. Details of participating events and activities will be announced in the coming weeks. Those interested can register their interest via the festival website. Organisers hope the Wight Games Festival will become a regular fixture in the Island calendar, celebrating the diversity, creativity and community spirit that make the Isle of Wight such a special place to live. Find out more and register your interest: www.wightgames.co.uk

Independent Arts’ second annual Art Sale has raised £690 to support the charity’s creative health workshops and community programmes across the Isle of Wight. This year’s exhibition was a special one, featuring work not only from local artists but also from Independent Arts’ own practitioners, participants and staff, many of whom deliver or take part in the charity’s creative health projects in the Creative Hub, care homes and community settings across the Island. The exhibition featured a vibrant mix of mediums, including lino prints by Paul Armfield, oil paintings by Davina Smith and Trudie Wilson, photography by Julian Winslow, collage and prints by Evie Clarke, watercolours by Polly Zanardi, and ceramics and sculpture by Kirstie and Kit Hayler, alongside mixed media work by Lisa Anthony. Usually, exhibitions at Independent Arts’ Creative Hub gallery focus on artwork produced in community workshops and wellbeing projects. This special exhibition offered a one-off opportunity for local artists connected to the charity to exhibit and sell their own work, with 30% of all sales donated directly to support Independent Arts’ programmes. Ralph Ridler, Operations Manager, said: “We’re so grateful that so many of our amazing practitioners got involved and were so willing to sell their work to support the charity. It was fantastic to see so many new faces visiting the Creative Hub, taking in the exhibition, and purchasing great artwork for a good cause. The funds raised will help us to reach and support even more Island residents through our creative health programmes and workshops.” The event included a well-attended Private View evening and attracted many new visitors to the Creative Hub. Following the success of the Art Sale, Independent Arts has also expanded its retail offer at the Creative Hub on Newport High Street. The charity now stocks a small, bespoke selection of pieces by Island artists and makers, alongside their own range of creative gifts and seasonal items - with all proceeds helping to fund their work improving wellbeing through creativity. The next exhibition to open at the Creative Hub will be “Workshops for Wellbeing”, an annual showcase celebrating artwork created by residents across care and residential homes on the Isle of Wight.

We’re looking for passionate and skilled individuals to join the Independent Arts Board of Trustees. As a pioneering creative health charity on the Isle of Wight, Independent Arts uses the power of creativity to improve health and wellbeing across our community. Our work supports people of all ages to live healthier, happier and more connected lives, and we’re now seeking three new trustees to help guide and grow our impact. Who We’re Looking For As part of our planned succession programme and following a recent skills review, we’re especially interested in hearing from people with professional experience in the following areas: Healthcare or Social Prescribing Information Security / Cybersecurity Young Trustee (aged 18–25 years) We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive board. If you need any adjustments to apply or to support your involvement as a trustee, we’d love to hear from you. Please note: due to the local focus of our work, trustees must live on the Isle of Wight. What’s Involved? Trustees are senior volunteers who support the strategic direction of the charity. The board meets four times a year at our Creative Hub in Newport (early evening), alongside some informal opportunities to get involved in events and activities. You’ll be helping to shape the future of Independent Arts, working alongside a friendly and committed team led day-to-day by our Chief Executive and staff. How to Apply If you’re interested, we’d love you to get in touch. We strongly recommend you: Read more on our Trustees page Download our Trustee Recruitment Pack for more details Request an informal chat by emailing: [email protected] To apply, please email: A cover letter explaining your interest and relevant experience A CV, if available Names and contact details of two referees Email to: [email protected]: Trustee Application What Happens Next? Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an informal interview and given the chance to observe a trustee meeting and meet the team socially before appointment. All new trustees receive a full induction, including visits to workshops and the opportunity to learn more about the charity’s day-to-day work.

On 1st February, Independent Arts’ Youth Group, Arts Lab, proudly unveiled their latest project, the Save Our Future mural, now on display at Skates on Newport Quay. This striking artwork is a testament to the creativity, commitment, and environmental consciousness of the young artists. A Bold and Thoughtful Design The mural’s design is both graphic and evocative, using a deliberately limited colour palette to capture the many shades of the sea while enhancing its visual impact. The mural juxtaposes the ideal of a pristine, healthy ocean with a depiction of a polluted environment, highlighting the devastating effects of plastic pollution on marine life. A key feature is the innovative wire fish sculptures—powerful symbols of the waste that plagues our oceans. Crafted during dedicated wirework sessions, these sculptures contrast sharply with the vibrant, healthy ocean scene, reinforcing the urgent need to protect our environment. Inspiration and Creative Process Named by the young artists themselves, Save Our Future represents their passion for environmental change. The project began with brainstorming sessions and mind maps, where the group chose to champion the cause of cleaner oceans. After exploring murals across Newport and voting on their mural’s form, they decided on a painting/sculpture hybrid. Their sketches were digitised, projected onto plywood for scaling, and developed into a cohesive colour scheme. The group also experimented with sculptures made from donated beach waste, inspired by the giant wire fish waste bin on Brighton Beach. Voices from the Community Evie Clarke, who runs the Arts Lab project, shared her enthusiasm: "We’ve had such a fantastic time making our mural, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received throughout. I’ve seen such a positive change in our brilliant young people during this project. It’s been wonderful to hear what they care about and to see them take responsibility for making a difference for all of our futures. They have shown great teamwork, creativity, and dedication! I am so proud to have been part of this project and to see the mural come to life. I’d also like to thank our amazing volunteer, Bella Cuoghi-Smith, who has been a fantastic support, a friendly face, and a listening ear to our group." Richard Quigley MP also praised the initiative, stating: "Well done to Independent Arts’ youth group Arts Lab on their fantastic new mural… Projects like this make such a difference and bring communities together." About Arts Lab and Future Projects. Arts Lab is a creative experimentation group for young people aged 11–16, exploring youth-led social action through art. In addition to their annual exhibition and community projects—including contributions to local events like the carnival—Arts Lab is now working towards their next exhibition in May 2025. Continuing the Save Our Future theme, this exhibition will address issues such as homelessness, wildlife preservation, endangered species, and challenges posed by social media and cyberbullying. Sessions run every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Independent Arts’ Creative Hub, including during school holidays. Young people interested in joining can contact [email protected]. Independent

We're excited to announce that our new Spring What's On Guide is ready and waiting for you! Brimming with an inspiring lineup of creative sessions for all, this guide is your passport to a season of artistic wellbeing on the Isle of Wight. You can collect your copy at the Creative Hub or from various local spots across the Island. Since not everyone is online, we’d love your help in getting the word out: If you have a workplace, community space, or any venue where our guide can be displayed, please consider helping us share it. Interested in collecting a few copies from the Creative Hub and distributing them to places where they can be seen? Your support would be invaluable! If you’re keen to help or need more details, please get in touch with us. Together, we can make this spring a season of creativity and connection. Thank you for being a vital part of our community! *Edit 27/04/25 We’ve spotted a small error in our What’s On guide—please note that East Cowes SingAbout takes place on Thursdays from 2–4pm, and SingAbout Lake is on Fridays from 10:30am–12:20pm. Apologies for any confusion, and we look forward to welcoming you!

Discovering Landscapes a new project from National Landscapes with Independent Arts - The Isle of Wight National Landscape is for everyone to visit, enjoy and take care of. The project Discovering Landscapes will open up routes for Isle of Wight residents to begin a journey of Nature Connection and develop a relationship with the landscape. The project will focus on those who have previously faced barriers in accessing the landscape. Independent Arts are delighted to have been invited by National Landscapes to join the project as one of three delivery partners and have devised Earth Star as their creative response to the aims set down by National Landscapes to increase nature connectedness for Island residents. Programmes Manager Kerry Tindall explains:  ‘Earth Star is offered as part of this exciting National Landscapes project to ten home educating families and fifteen home educated children on the Isle of Wight. Our programme opened in early January, and in the weeks running up to our first trip out into the landscape at Carisbrooke our group have been exploring wayfinding. The idea of wayfinding is so interesting both personally, literally and educationally, and has given us great opportunities to wrap geography and ethnology and human experience into our creative planning.  During these chilly, icy January weeks we have been looking at the life and work of 19C. Newport born, artic explorer Edgar Greenshield who spent many years living with the Inuit people of the artic and sub-artic regions.  These people crossed the great polar ice fields by studying the sastrugi (repeating patterns of sculpted ridges in the snow formed by prevailing winds). It has been a lot of fun learning together with our group about this process of navigation following directional winds, and comparing how we move through and experience our landscapes and surroundings today, when we have so many digital and gps aids to do the job for us! We’ve had some great table discussions, and the group have made their own way maps with some surprising and very personal way marks. It will be interesting to see how they begin to choose their own way marks from the areas of the landscape we will be visiting over the next six months. In these early workshops we have also been recreating sastrugi patterns using spray paints and folded papers with some really striking results!’ The project will run for seven months with Independent Arts, and there are plans for several visits out into the landscape with home educating families.

Our Autumn "What’s On" Guide is here, packed with creative activities, workshops, and events running throughout the season at Independent Arts! You can pick up a copy at our Creative Hub in Newport or find it at locations across the Isle of Wight. Drop by the Creative Hub to grab a copy of the Autumn guide, filled with activities for all ages. Whether you’re interested in joining yourself, bringing friends, or finding something fun for the family, this guide has it all. We know some people may not have easy online access, so we’d love your help reaching them! If you know someone who might benefit from our sessions, please share a guide with them. If you can display a few guides at your workplace, community centre, or other local spaces, it would be a huge support in helping us reach as many people as possible with these creative opportunities. If you’d like to help distribute the "What’s On" Guide or need extra copies, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Your involvement makes a real impact in connecting the Island with enriching and accessible arts activities. A huge thank you to everyone who helps share our guide and promote the arts within our community. We’re looking forward to a fantastic autumn season full of creativity, connection, and inspiration. For more information or to get involved, please contact us.

We're thrilled to announce the release of our "What's On" Guide for this summer at Independent Arts! Packed with information about our exciting activities and events, the guide is now available at the Creative Hub and various locations across the Isle of Wight. Pick Up a Guide We invite you to drop by the Creative Hub to pick up your copy of the "What's On" Guide. Whether you're looking for engaging activities for yourself, your family, or your friends, our guide is your go-to resource for all things creative this summer. Help Us Spread the Word We understand that not everyone has easy access to online resources, and we need your help to reach those who could benefit from our sessions. If you know someone who might be interested, please share a guide with them. Additionally, if you're able to display some of our guides at your workplace, community centre, or any other local venue, we'd greatly appreciate your support. Your efforts in spreading the word make a significant impact in connecting people with our creative offerings. Get in Touch If you're interested in helping us distribute the "What's On" Guide or need more copies for your premises, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Your involvement helps us reach more people and ensures everyone has the opportunity to participate in our wonderful activities. Thank You for Your Support Thank you for your continued support in promoting the arts within our community. Together, we can make this summer a memorable one filled with creativity and connection. For more information and to get involved, contact us.