Heidi Pendergrast
Project: Arts In Action
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire
About Me
I am a socially engaged mixed media artist and educator with a deep passion for community work, helping individuals uncover and share their hidden stories. With 20 years of experience as a leader in arts education within mainstream schools, I recently transitioned to focus on community engagement. I founded an organisation dedicated to supporting those who have fallen through the gaps by the traditional education system or who exist on the margins of society. Through this initiative, I have launched community programs and developed an accredited educational program for children outside the school system. Recently, Arts Council England funded my latest collection of ceramic sculptural works, centered on themes of faith and human narrative, which was successfully exhibited and sold at The Herbert Gallery. I am married and have brought up 4 children .
About My Project
Arts In Action works in the community, producing and creating socially engaged, co-created community projects and has tenders with multiple agencies and organisations. We have an educational strand which provides group sessions for children aged 4 to 18 who are not in traditional mainstream education, and are home educated due to choice or due to school failure, school trauma or additional needs. Many are affected by adversities such as Neuro diversity, SEND,LAC history, mental health and anxiety. At AIA they can achieve GCSE and A levels in Art, textiles, graphics, 3d design and photography. We have just launched Arts In Action CIC which is a not for profit and which provides free projects, groups and services for the general community and targeted groups of people in need. Including those who have experienced adversity, trauma, disability, mental health, addiction and more.
