In 2001, printmakers Sam Jones and Ella Ritchie set out on an eight-week project to improve arts education, overturn prejudice and develop opportunities for artists with learning disabilities. Seventeen years later, their project has grown to become South London’s most influential inclusive art collective – and has just moved into a state-of-the-art studio space at the newly launched creative hotspot Peckham Levels.
Intoart supports its artists in furthering their practices with the provision of facilities including art and design studios, an exhibition and event programme, and a mentoring scheme. Its vision is for people with learning disabilities to be visible, equal and established artists.
The collective’s recent successes include the inclusion of works by Mawuena Kattah in the Arts Council’s national loan collection and Ntiense Eno Amooquaye being awarded the Artists’ International Development Fund to research and develop new work at the Texture Museum in Belgium.