Our Founder

Sir Ian Mills (1932–2022) founded Talk About Art in 2016, driven by a belief in the potential of creativity to transform the lives of children and young people living in the London boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich. Formed at a time of public sector austerity and a narrowing educational focus on academic subjects in schools, Talk About Art offered a unique programme focused on creative exploration and making for children who would not ordinarily have these opportunities.

 

Sir Ian set up Talk About Art to be an agile organisation that could respond to current events. Our biggest test was the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw absenteeism rise exponentially, combined with a decline in children's mental wellbeing. We responded by adapting our programmes to offer creative and inclusive workshops that fostered a sense of belonging, wellbeing and creative expression in schools.

 

It is not only our programmes that are built on creative, dynamic and inclusive principles, but our organisation too. We prioritise underrepresented and early-career artists in the delivery of our projects, fostering the development of their practice while embedding community centred methods. This approach allows Talk About Art’s programmes to benefit not only children, but the practitioners we work with too.

 

Our work is built on a lasting foundation. To ensure the durability of Talk About Art, Sir Ian Mills also set up the Elizabeth Legacy Fund in the name of his late wife, Lady Elizabeth Mills . This fund provides vital resources and ensures our organisation rests on a solid ground. His contribution allows Talk About Art to grow and to benefit even more children living in Lewisham and Greenwich.