The benefits of participating in the creative arts are no secret. Countless academic studies have shown that making art can help people deal with a wide range of mental health conditions as well as boost their confidence.
No one knows this better than Maria Todesco and Nicky Day, founders of CathARTic, a creative arts organisation based in Watford, Hertfordshire, that offers bespoke, hands-on activities, designed to be accessible to everyone.
“We quit our jobs in April 2018 with nothing,” Todesco tells The Big Issue of their decision to launch the venture. “No money, no contacts. We just did lots of cold calling and emailing because we believed in this.”
Together the duo lead art workshops for a variety of vulnerable communities, from those with early-onset dementia to bereavement groups for children.
The first thing that strikes you when you visit CathARTic, which is supported by Big Issue Invest, is the riot of colour. The walls of the space are adorned with artworks created
