Please find below a list of UK organisations that offer support of various kinds to parents in the arts.
This list is not exhaustive and we we aim to continue adding to it as we hear about more initiatives. Please use the form at the bottom of this page if you wish to submit suggestions for other relevant UK organisations.
Aplpip Arts (Somerset, England) Inclusive residency program
www.aplpiparts.co.uk
Artist in Residency in Motherhood (everywhere)
Conceptual residency
An Artist Residency in Motherhood is the reframing of parenthood as a valuable site for creative practice, rather than an obstruction to be overcome. Conceived by Lenka Clayton
https://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/
Artist/Mum (Online/UK)
A publication in progress recording conversations with artists (who are also mums)
@artist_mums
Babes in Arms (Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill, UK)
Collective / Community
Babes In Arms is a collective of artist mothers living in Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill, who have come together through a shared experience of the inspiration and the difficulties that are attached to being an artist or creative whilst also trying to raise a child.
@babesinarmsart
https://www.babesinarms.co.uk/
Babe Station (London, UK)
Artist project exploring the relationship between making art and motherhood
Running free writing workshops for new mothers
@babe___station
Birth Rites Collection (Online/UK)
Collection and network
The first and only collection of contemporary artwork dedicated to the subject of childbirth. Also holds a biennale competition and a Birth Rites Summer School
www.birthritescollection.org.uk/
Bring Your Baby Gallery Tours (Bristol, England)
Gallery tours for people with babies, led by Jane Porter
@bringyourbabygallerytours
Brocket Gallery (London, UK)
Gallery and residency programme
The residency programme is now open to artist parents who can bring their child(ren) on the residency with them.
@brocketgallery
https://www.brocketgallery.com/
Cample Line (Dumfries, Scotland)
Gallery
Cample Line offers a programme of family friendly exhibitions, screenings, talks, walks, workshops and events, amplifying a diversity of voices, places and experiences and promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion.
@campleline
https://www.campleline.org.uk/
Creative Mothers Project (Leeds, England)
Network and studios
The Creative Mothers Project are a grassroots project in Leeds, bringing mothers and children together in creative sessions, sharing parenting, creativity and exploring what it means to be a Mother Artist.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativemothersproject
@creativemothersproject
Creative Parents (Glasgow, Scotland)
Community
Based out of GOMA in Glasgow and communicate via @glasgowgoma insta account
Cove Park (Argyll & Bute, Scotland)
Residency programme
Cove Park’s unique programme of residencies, commissions and collaborative projects respond to and support the diversity of contemporary artistic practice in all the art forms. Cove Park’s accommodation is ideal for single residents. However, they create specific residencies for families and individuals with caring responsibilities and have accommodation suitable for individuals coming with those providing support. Partners and families are welcome to visit during the weekends.
Email: information@covepark.org
https://covepark.org/
@cove_park
Desperate Artwives (Online/UK)
Network
Established in 2011 by Artist and Mother Amy Dignam whilst pregnant with her third child it quickly grew into a strong collective of female artists most of whom are mothers but also includes women who have other caring responsibilities who wanted to bring together reactive and proactive art to challenge stereotypes, call up social issues and create a visible international platform from which to do this.
@desperateartwives
www.desperateartwives.co.uk
Digital Institute for Early Parenthood (Online/UK) Associate Artists Programme The Digital Institute for Early Parenthood’s (DIEP) groundbreaking educational modules and workshops use outstanding biographical works of art to: – help medical and midwifery students understand their impact on mothers’ and fathers’ pregnancy, birth and new parenthood experiences. – teach college students about the reality behind the cultural portrayal of conception, pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. https://www.diep.org.uk/
Eye Mama (everywhere)
Community
Eye Mama project is a global photography platform showcasing the mama gaze. Based on instagram, its a community, and now a photo book, that invites photographer Mamas worldwide to showcase their experience of mama-hood home and family in current times, the dark and light of care. their personal truths.
@eyemamaproject
https://eyemamaproject.com/
Fieldwork Studio (South Wales, UK)
Arts organisation
Fieldwork Studio is an artist-led organisation in South Wales offering artist professional development support & residencies, and are developing an artist-filmmaker residency for women, LGBTQ+ artists, mothers and those with caring responsibilities.
@fieldwk_studio
Forgan Arts Centre (Fife, Scotland)
Arts organisation
Home for art and craft development, production and experimentation. Forgan Arts Centre are launching a residency programme in 2024 which includes childcare and artist accommodation for people with children/family.
@forgan_arts_centre
https://www.forganartscentre.co.uk/
Fermywoods (Northampton, UK)
Gallery
An inclusive arts organisation who are committed to working flexibly and are supportive of those with care responsibilities
@fermynwoods
https://fermynwoods.org/
The Fores Project (Kentish Town, London)
Parent-friendly artist residency programme
@theforesproject
www.foresproject.org
Glasgow Women’s Library (Glasgow, Scotland)
The only Accredited Museum in the UK dedicated to women’s lives, histories and achievements with a lending library, archive collections and innovative programmes of public events and learning opportunities.
@womenslibrary
https://womenslibrary.org.uk/
Hastings Art School (Hastings, UK)
Arts Programme
An accessible arts programme built around a flexible schedule supportive to those with care responsibilities. HAS sprung up after its founder, Julia, found it almost impossible to complete her MFA whilst being a single parent to two small folk, and decided to provide another way to gain an arts education. HAS is parent/artist run.
@hastingsartschool
www.hastingsartschool.com/
HER MIT Projects (Bristol area, England)
Residency
HER MIT Projects was established in the autumn of 2018. It provides space for artists to try things out and for the audience to be close to the work.
Natasha MacVoy, Curator and Organiser
https://www.hermitprojects.com/
Hidden Mothers Art Project (UK)
Artist Project
Hidden Mothers is a public art project by @tereza.buskova, focusing on the empowerment of mothers and women facing isolation in the UK today.
@hidden_mothers_project
https://www.terezabuskova.com/
How Not to Exclude Artist Parents (UK)
Guidelines for Institutions and Residencies written by Hettie Judah and a group of artist mothers, among them Catherine Kurtz, Cecile Johnson Soliz, Chloe Bonfield, Elsa James, Emma Franks, Emma Hart, Emma Talbot, Eva Rothschild, Gaia Fugazza, Helen Benigson, Holly Blakey, Ingrid Berthon-Moine, Joanne Masding, Kate V. Robertson, Laima Leyton, Laura Ford, Macarena Rojas, Magda Bielesz, Maureen Nathan, Melanie Jackson, Naomi Frears, Rana Begum, Rosalind Faram, Sarah Boulton, and Selina Ogilvy.
www.artist-parents.com
INFEMS (UK)
Collective
INFEMS are a feminist art collective who curate from an intersectional perspective and have invited artist (m)others to exhibit or hosted them via residencies and as guest curators.
@infems_artcollective
www.infems.com
Jelly (Reading, UK)
Community
Jelly is a female led arts organisation. Our 3 co-directors are mothers at differing stages of parenthood. Jelly’s flexibility and supportive way of working allows freelance, residency and associate artists to continue to develop their creative work whilst navigating the needs of family life. We invite and encourage artists children and their families to be involved in the fabric of the organisation.
@thejellyreading
https://www.jelly.org.uk/
Kupfer Project Space (London, UK)
Project Space/ Family-friendly residency
Kupfer is a project space that functions as a platform for experimental exhibitions.
The space is run by the curator Kiki Mazzucchelli and the visual artist Penelope Kupfer, who are both mothers
Email: contact@kupfer.co
@kupferproject
https://kupfer.co/
Let’s Make Art (UK)
Artist Project
Let’s Make Art (Alice and Karen) supports parents through family workshops by creating opportunities for them to make their own work alongside their children.
@letsmakeartuk
Liminal Gallery (Margate, UK)
Project space / gallery
Liminal Gallery challenges the status quo, presenting the diverse and resonant voices of today’s artists from across the UK and Ireland. While historically women and minorities have been wildly underrepresented in the art world, Liminal Gallery stands as proof that change is happening. Run by Louise Fitzjohn.
email : info@liminal-gallery.com
@liminal_gallery
https://www.liminal-gallery.com/
MAPPING MATERNAL SUBJECTIVITIES, IDENTITIES AND ETHICS (MAMSIE) (Online and London, UK)
MaMSIE (Mapping Maternal Subjectivities, Identities and Ethics) is a network based at the Department of Psychosocial Studies, Birkbeck, that creates spaces for interdisciplinary conversations about motherhood and the maternal more broadly.
www.mamsie.org/
Maternal Art (Todmorden, England)
Publishing and promoting art about the maternal
https://maternalart.com/
Maternal Journal (Groups around the UK and in New Jersey, USA)
Community
Award-winning creative journaling for pregnancy, birth and beyond by Laura Godfrey Isaacs & Samantha McGowan. Maternal Journal have also produced a podcast series.
@maternaljrnl
www.maternaljournal.org
Mawddach Residency (Wales, UK)
Residency programme
A small artist and writers residency in the Eryri National Park, Wales who host parent residencies and offer a range of bursaries to help the residencies be more accessible
@mawddachresidency
www.mawddachresidency.com/
Metal Culture (Southend, UK and online)
Family friendly artist residencies in Southend in Essex, and flexible online residencies.
https://metalculture.com/
M(other) Art Collective (UK)
Community
(M)other is a collective of artist-parents based in the North West of England
@m.otherartcollective
Mother Art Prize (London, England)
International art prize and exhibition
Part of Dyana Gravina’s Procreate Project
https://www.procreateproject.com/portfolio/mother-art-prize/
Mother House Studios (London, England)
Studio complex
The first and only artists studio model with Integrated Childcare
@motherhousestudios
https://www.motherhousestudios.com/
Motherlore (Bristol, UK)
Magazine
Motherlore is a writing magazine on care, mothering, motherhood, matrescence and mother nature
@motherloremagazine
https://mossandmilk.co.uk/
MOTHEROTHER (Newcastle, UK)
Community
MOTHEROTHER is an inclusive support network for artist parents and carers, hosting artist meetings, social gatherings, exhibitions and residency opportunities.
@motherother.ne
https://www.motherother.org/
Mothersuckers (Cardiff, Wales)
Curators, artists, producers
Maternal arts project founded by Zoe Gingell and Eve Dent
http://mothersuckersproject.blogspot.com/
Mothers Who Make (UK-wide/Global)
Network
Our international grassroots movement is dedicated to supporting the dual role of mothers and maker/artist/creative.
https://motherswhomake.org/
Mothers who Make Coventry (Coventry, UK)
Celebrating artist mother in Coventry, Warwickshire and West Midlands. Supported by Coventry Biennial
@motherswhomakecov
Mothers who Make East Kent (East Kent, UK)
Mothers who Make East Kent aims to connect local mother makers through peer support meetings, sharing event, workshops and online discussion
@MWMeastkent
MotherShip CiC (West Midlands, UK)
Community Organisation
Arts organisation in the West Midlands connecting communities through culture and creativity, championing women, particularly mothers and children.
@mothershipprojects
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bykxy9Vi8HPT6xPr769FC12yvd9fA0dA/view
Mothers Who Write (Kent, England/ Snowdonia, Wales)
Community
Writers retreats in Kent and Snowdonia for writers who are also mothers, run by Rebecca Schiller
@motherswhowrite
https://www.rebeccaschiller.co.uk/
Natal Notes (Online/UK)
Natal Notes is a series of weekly creative workshops, to engage, encourage and give voice to our true selves via creative writing and arts based prompts.
Founded by Fanny Pogson
@natalnotes
https://linktr.ee/NatalNotes
Outside In (UK)
Community
A platform for artists who encounter significant barriers to the art world due to health, disability, social circumstance, or isolation.
@outsidein_uk
https://outsidein.org.uk/
Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts (UK)
Community
PiPA was created by Actor Cassie Raine and Director Anna Ehnold-Danailov in 2015, to address a lack of provision for parents and carers in the performing arts.
https://pipacampaign.org/
Parents Who Paint (Stroud, UK)
Community
Parents who Paint meet once a week on a Friday 10-12:30 at Tinkly Gate, Woodchester to paint together with different prompts and materials offered. Parents and babies welcome!
@fiercewomenart
Performance and the Maternal (Cardiff, Wales)
Research project, archive and manifesto
This project seeks to better understand the condition of the maternal through a study of maternal performance.
Lena Šimić & Emily Underwood-Lee
https://performanceandthematernal.com/
PLAYgroup (UK based)
Blog
Substack by historian Emily Baughan writing about early childhood and its intersections with neoliberalism, the state and the family.
Subscribe here: https://emilybaughan.substack.com/about?utm_source=subscribe_email&utm_content=learn_more
POST Photography Collective (Online/ UK)
Network
POST was conceived in January 2021, as a support network of photographers who are also juggling the demands of motherhood particularly during lockdown and homeschooling.
@postphotocollective
Procreate Project (London, England)
Arts organisation
We support the development of contemporary artists who are also mothers, working across disciplines. Founded by Dyana Gravina.
@procreateproject
https://www.procreateproject.com/
Raising Films
Community
Raising Films’ mission is to support, promote and campaign for parents and carers in the UK screen sector. Raising Films calls on the UK screen sector to recognise the value of its parent and carer members and ensure that the best possible working practices are available to them. We challenge the sector to find ways to prevent the loss of talent and enable the working parent and carer community to grow in number so that all voices can be heard. Since 2015 Raising Films has been carrying out groundbreaking research, building an online community, running training programmes, publishing resources and awarding the Raising Films Ribbon for best practice.
@raisingfilms
www.RaisingFilms.com
Repronomics
Project / blog
Ongoing research project by Jo Harrison exploring social reproduction and cultural reproduction as invisible and exploitable ‘labours of love’ under capitalism
@repronomics
Scottish Sculpture Workshop (Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
Caregivers Residency Programme
The care of others is central to the collective survival of our world yet is deeply undervalued within our society – this is often mirrored in the structures of support created for artists. The residency is for artists based in Scotland.
https://www.ssw.org.uk/open-call-ssw-x-counterflows-caregivers-residency/
Second Collective Belfast (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Collective
Second Collective is an organisation dedicated to supporting mature female artists by providing paid exhibition opportunities for fine artists, offering practical and mentoring support to these artists and by promoting learning opportunities and skill sharing opportunities for women in the fine art sector and beyond.
Email: secondcollectivebelfast@gmail.com
@secondcollectivebelfast
https://www.secondcollectivebelfast.com/
Spilt Milk (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Community
Spilt Milk Gallery is a Social Enterprise whose mission is to make motherhoods visible by promoting the work of artists who identify as mothers, and empowering mothers in the community through artist-led activity. By increasing the visibility of artist mothers, we aim to contribute to an inclusive culture where all voices and experiences can be represented and valued.
@spiltmilkgallery
https://www.spiltmilkgallery.com/
Stryx Gallery (Birmingham, UK)
Gallery and artist studios
Stryx is a female artist led studios, gallery and project space. Run by two mothers. We support artists through residencies and development programmes. We focus on supporting women and non-binary creatives. Stryx are M/others Who Make hub for Birmingham and deliver extensive community outreach programmes, including free children and family workshops, creative baby and toddler groups and peer support groups for mothers creatives.
@stryx_gallery
https://stryx.co.uk/
The Mothers UK (Online)
Stories and experiences of Mothers of all ages, with children of all ages.
@themothersuk
https://the-mothers.co.uk/
Turf Projects (Croydon, UK)
Artist run project space
Turf Projects puts on free exhibitions, runs free workshops (including family days), provides affordable artist studios, facilitates local collective and runs a residency programme. It has a comprehensive access and inclusion policy to support all those with access needs, with a mission to be as inclusive as possible.
@turfprojects
https://turf-projects.com/
Unperceived Existence (UK and online)
Exhibition platform
Unperceived existence explores the interplay between existence and perception through a series of solo exhibitions for women artists. Founded by Laura Bradshaw-Heap in collaboration with @mothermakers
@unperceived_existence
Woman Up! (UK)
Podcast
Evolving from the Desperate Artwives Collective, WomanUp! podcast speaks to and about artists, academics, writers and activists, midwives, carers and more all (m)others and all womxn. Those challenging ideas and ideals, questioning assumptions and provoking social change. Woman Up! is produced by Artists Amy Dignam and Susan Merrick
@woman.up.podcast
https://womanup.buzzsprout.com/
Week 45 Collective (UK)
Collective / Community
Week 45 supports any and all diverse Women Artists, including Mothers. They have open calls on their instagram and produce affordable exhibitions in central London Galleries and welcome submissions.
@weekfortyfivecollective
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The Art Working Parents Alliance 