The Time Out Art Class continues to flourish after two decades

What began over two decades ago as one art tutor's passion project has grown into a well-loved fixture of community life in Blackridge, thanks to grant funding totalling £12,289 over the past 12 years from Torrance Wind Farm community benefit funding through the Blackridge Community Fund.

Time Out Art Class meets weekly at the Craiginn Community Centre in Blackridge, bringing together around 20 people of all ages and abilities to paint, learn and connect.

The group's story is one of steady, organic growth.  In its early years, it ran entirely on goodwill, with members supplying their own materials and the tutor providing the easels.

A first formal grant of £800 in 2014 helped the group establish itself — at that point attracting up to 17 members — followed by a £2,500 award in 2016 that expanded its range of materials and enabled members to develop new techniques. Membership has since grown to around 20, and the classes have become something more than an art lesson: a safe, informal space where people living with bereavement, illness, stroke or loneliness can find friendship and mutual support.

The group's most recent award — £10,489 over three years from 2025 to 2027 — reflects both its track record and its ambition. Funding covers tuition from specialist visiting artists, outings to galleries and art venues, social events, and an annual exhibition.  That first exhibition, held in 2024, displayed 90 paintings and drew around 80 visitors from the local community, with tea and coffee provided free of charge.

Throughout its history, Time Out has remained deliberately accessible: no prior experience is required, costs to members are kept minimal, and artwork produced by the group is displayed in local buildings including the health centre, nursing homes and the primary school.  What the grant assessors consistently noted was not just the artistic output, but the wellbeing impact — for older residents in particular, regular attendance reduces isolation and builds lasting social connections.

From a handful of easels in need of repair to a three-year funded programme with a growing public profile, Time Out Art Class is a clear example of what a small, well-run voluntary group can achieve with modest but well-directed support.

The Blackridge Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Blackridge community council area.

Read more about the Blackridge Community Fund here.