Jeffrey Parkinson runs free, open access art classes at Peabody centres around London. A former fine artist, Jeff provides reference material to work from, a wide range of mediums and encouraging advice throughout.

 Anyone’s welcome, use provided materials or bring your own – see these art classes as free studio space in the city. These classes provide a welcoming space for creativity. From joining in these classes, it’s clear to see the commitment and enjoyment regular attendees gain from visiting on a weekly basis. Jeff talks about clients coming for therapeutic purposes, to better their art skills or just for companionship and a chat. The warmth and welcoming nature of the classes make it no surprise people return so regularly – that and the free Tea and Cake which comes alongside!

How is community formed within the art class?

Within communities, you’ve got different age groups who require different things – you’ve got to be able to deliver those things that have got an empathy and knowledge of what they need. 

What do you think about who uses the centres and how?

Well that’s a crucial point. A building is only a building – it’s the people that make it. What they do and how they function. In this particular building [Darwin Court centre] its a residential for the over 50s. There’s not always a lot of intercommunication between people. It’s the older generation in the building that live here – it’s a sheltered housing situation. People want their own individual privacy – these classes are what bring people together. Not everyone is happy to give that a try… They don’t know each other. That’s part of the challenge – whenever I meet anybody, I try to engage them in the class.

“A building is only a building – it’s the people that make it”

Do you host any other events with Peabody?

I only run the art class here, but over time, you get to meet different people – and it’s only over time that you get to see their needs. It isn’t always just art they need. They need a bridge of humanity to express their ideas and what they’re about. In the art class we have tea and cakes to share between us – that is part of it. Someone might have had a hip operation and they are next to someone who is about to have a hip operation. It’s confidence shared between people. Thats what you’re talking about – people and an identity – to get that you need the knowledge. I’m currently running 3 of these classes for Peabody and they’re all very different. Each of them are attached to different job centres – they come and do art to relax as it can be very stressful looking for a job. It can be soul destroying if you’re being rejected or not being replied to. So art can be referred by the medical centres so that they can relax.

 For the 20th anniversary of Peabody owning the Bruce House centre, art class participants painted a mural in the courtyard below the Centrepoint housing for young homeless people. Everyone in the room was given space in the mural to make their own. “We did this mural, these are all the clients in the room. For example that’s Damian, you know he’s into the animal stuff. The planet, that’s Steve [Latner]- who you met – he uses spray paints.

I was phoned up 3 weeks before this mural happened. The lady from Peabody called me up and said ‘we need a mural, in 3 weeks time, can you do it?’ so I said ‘well its a tall order in 3 weeks – what size is it, what does it need to be? But I’ll do my best.’ We painted it in the rain under an umbrella as there was this deadline – the Mayor and all the top people had to be here to open it – it had to be finished you see.

 Jeff and I also spoke about the multi-use nature of the Bruce House building – with other parts owned by charities Centrepoint and Look Ahead – do clients tend to come to the classes from these facilities?

We had one guy in the class from Centrepoint – the homeless centre with 6 month contracts. He was pretty good at art. He said to me ‘I’m gonna run away, I don’t like to be inclosed’ So I said ‘just walk around the park and just try to build up a stable routine even though you’re in the park’— I think I can eat better on the move’ he kept saying ‘I’m gonna go, I’m gonna hand my keys in’ he was very good at art. He just disappeared, then I heard he’d handed the keys in, and that was it. Some of the hostels where I’ve done my art classes the clients just want to go back on the streets – their friends are there. Some people say they get better fed on the streets than they do in the hostels.

Join the art class:

Monday 
2-5pm @ Darwin Court
SE17 1AD

Friday 
10-12pm @ Bruce House
2-5pm @ Bruce House 
WC2B 4AW

Contact: parkinsonjeffrey18@gmail.com