5 Years of Precious Moments
By Alina Uspenskaya, Founder and Director | Published 29th January 2021
As a teenager, I was never the prettiest or most academically gifted girl at school. With very little confidence, I was often too shy to make friends.
When I turned 15, I realised that I love to sing and went to study music. As I progressed through my music classes and started to perform, I became less afraid to speak up and be the centre of attention. I became more conscious of my strengths and abilities. By the time graduation day came around, I had lots of friends and a vision for my future. All thanks to the confidence and social skills I gained through my musical experience.
Alina Uspenskaya visiting Integrated Theatre Company Kroog 2 in Moscow, 2019
I'm lucky that I had the opportunities to join a music school, study art history, and visit famous galleries and theatres. These experiences have shaped who I am.
...But I never stopped thinking that not every child has a chance to engage with the arts, to visit a museum, or to play an instrument. I wanted to share the fascinating world of arts with other children, especially those who are most excluded. These thoughts led me to create ArtSocial Foundation.
I also knew how art can bring people together. That’s why, at ArtSocial, I've been building a community that discovers the arts together. We discuss, learn, grow and have fun, united by the purpose to give more children and young people the transformative joy of the arts.
Alina Uspenskaya meets a student at Otakar Kraus Music School, Twickenham, 2018
Watching Childrens' Lives Change
I’m proud to see how far we’ve come in the first five years. More than six thousand children, young people and parents have participated in the projects we’ve supported. During this time, I've seen many instances of growth and transformation.
I will always remember meeting Rosie, a student of Otakar Kraus (OK) Music School – a charity we have been supporting over the last four years. As a baby, Rosie had several physical and mental health conditions, and even had to be fed through a tube. Affected by the trauma of constant medical intervention, Rosie didn’t speak until much older than average and was afraid of most sounds.
After hearing Rosie’s story, I had expected to meet a quiet and frightened child. But when I first met Rosie and watched her perform in a Christmas concert, I couldn’t believe my eyes! Here she was – a lively and confident girl singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Rosie's performance was perfect, and she genuinely enjoyed performing in front of an audience.
Alina Uspenskaya and Rosie at Otakar Kraus Music School, Twickenham, 2018
Because of the girl’s special needs she couldn’t join the mainstream music activities. But at the OK Music School specialised music therapists tailored lessons to Rosie's needs, enabling her talent to flourish.
Watching such incredible transformations has been a motivating force. On difficult days when it's easy to be taken over by doubt, I think of Rosie and other children like her. They deserve a chance to develop their skills and thrive and we can't let them down.
Rosie is now a talented singer who enjoys singing in public and has taken music exams
Working with Teams on the Ground
As I've progressed on my ArtSocial journey, I’ve been inspired by the many people working hands-on in their communities. Art, music and drama therapists, museum educators, teachers, artists and charity specialists. These people are devoted to helping the most excluded children develop, believe in themselves and find a sense of belonging.
Specialists and teams working on the ground are often overstretched and underfunded. ArtSocial has a unique role: besides funding arts-based activities for children, we also support the professional development of the specialists working with them. We partner with the teams on the ground and encourage them to start new projects or refine their existing ones. This way our work has a long-term impact.
...And the results of such partnerships are encouraging. With our support, a Moscow-based theatre studio ‘Kroog 2’ established a stable income stream. We've helped OK Music School to reach 30% more children. And a few months ago, young patients of Russia’s leading children's hospices have started receiving art psychotherapy. We initiated this project and developed it with our partner Art Therapy Studio ‘SAMO’.
Working with teams: Alina visiting an art therapy project with the Flourish Foundation at the Ritsona Refugee Camp in Greece. March 2018.
Growing the ArtSocial Community
Nothing that I have mentioned could have ever happened without the ArtSocial community. Our Patrons Club, donors, brands and corporate partners have all been vital to our success.
ArtSocial started as a group of friends attending an art lecture – the first fundraising event I organised back in 2015. At this point, I hadn't even established the foundation, but this is where it all began. And nearly everyone who attended that first lecture has stayed with ArtSocial to this day.
Where It All Began: ArtSocial’s first event, January 2015
I’m grateful to have met so many more purpose and growth-driven people who have joined us on this journey. Together we’ve visited artists' studios, private collectors' houses and art fairs. We went behind the scenes of theatres and museums: The Royal Opera House, Tate and V&A. We have even had a go at drawing Matisse-inspired portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.
Clockwise from top left | 1. ArtSocial patrons visit Paula Rego’s studio | 2. ArtSocial Patrons visiting Mary McCartney’s studio | 3. ArtSocial patrons take part in a Matisse workshop at The National Portrait Gallery | 5. Our visit to OKMT | 6. ArtSocial patrons visit Paula Rego’s studio
The funds we raised have helped to open up the world of arts to the children and young people who would have otherwise been excluded.
The ArtSocial community also includes brands, art-world insiders, artists and businesses who have contributed their time to speak at or host our events. We've also received many lot donations to our Christmas auctions and been proud to see people endorse our work.
Looking back at the many acts of generosity, I’m more than ever assured that it's collaboration and joint effort that turns a vision into reality.
ArtSocial visit to the National Portrait Gallery conservation department
ArtSocial visit to the National Portrait Gallery conservation department
What's Next for ArtSocial?
A five-year mark is an occasion to look back and express gratitude for all the successes, failures and lessons learnt. We could not have imagined the position in which we would find ourselves now, as we begin our next five years.
A global pandemic has triggered a major mental health crisis. Millions of children and young people who had no previous mental health problems are now in desperate need of specialist support.* Children with special needs and disabilities are even more excluded and isolated than ever. And children receiving hospital treatment face an even greater risk of emotional trauma.** Whilst there is a lot of focus on the impact of Covid on physical health, emotional health is overlooked. Many support services and hospitals' bedside interactions have been reduced. The consequences of this on the mental wellbeing are inevitable.***
Now it’s time for us to act faster than ever before. In the current climate, we also face the challenge of being unable to host Patrons Club events and fundraising galas. We are relying on the generosity of our community more than ever! And are very grateful to everyone who has remained with us during this stormy part of the journey.
Thank you to everyone in our ArtSocial community for their support!
ArtSocial Patrons visit to Otakar Kraus Music School, 2018
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100% of your donation will directly support vulnerable children and young people throughout the pandemic.