35 years of creating art that matters.
Every number represents a person, an artist, a partnership or a community whose life has been enriched through the arts.
Over the last five years:
REACH
Connecting people with inspiring artistic experiences across the UK and internationally.
121,380 - Audience members
11,460 - Workshop participants
410 - Performances
35 - New shows
1,650 - Creative workshops
16 - Countries reached
SUPPORTING ARTISTS
Supporting artists to develop their practice, build careers and realise ambitious ideas.
2,310 - Artists engaged
32 - Mentoring and professional development opportunities
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
Working with organisations, venues and festivals to create greater impact together.
45 - Partner organisations
320 - Venues
25 - Festivals
MEASURING IMPACT
The difference our work makes to the people and communities we work with.
91% Participants reported that Key Club (Monthly arts club for autistic young people) helped them feel accepted and valued.
100% Key Club parents and carers felt their participants needs were well catered for and supported.
100% of respondents agreed that Turtle Opera had a positive impact on participants' musical, creative and social development.
- Musically: 60% strongly agreed, 40% agreed
- Creatively: 80% strongly agreed, 20% agreed
- Socially: 80% strongly agreed, 20% agreed
THEIR WORDS
JOY-4-SCHOOLS
"It is so rare to find an organisation that has such a clear understanding of the needs of our community. Everyone was made to feel welcomed and valued and the students went away feeling like superstars." Teacher, Special Educational Needs School
ART IS KEY
"I arrived feeling anxious and unsure, but I left feeling confident, inspired and proud of myself. I made genuine friendships, discovered new ways to express myself creatively and realised the importance of staying connected to others who understand my experiences. HIV doesn't have to be a barrier in life." Participant
KEY CLUB
"If there was no Key Club I don't think I'd be the same person I am today. I don't know what would have happened to get me out of the house and interacting with people, especially people my own age." Participant
"When she goes into new situations now she's not nearly as daunted because of Key Club. She's learned to take her time getting to know people. As a parent, that's what we want – to know your child can cope in those situations." Parent
TURTLE SONG
"Thank you for bringing joy to my mum, for accepting her just as she is and for making her truly happy. I hadn't seen her smile like that for a long time. For one day she was my beautiful, intelligent, kind and fun-loving mum again." Daughter
"The talent and creativity you brought with such passion, patience and humanity has been an inspiration. We all feel uplifted by your work." Relative of participant
"The programme created such a homely and positive atmosphere where everyone could simply 'be'. It truly helped me grow as an individual and has been one of the highlights of my degree at Oxford." Student musician
"Mum loved both events and in her last few months, when she was bed bound, the one thing that brought her to life was the video. I lost count of how many times I played it to her." Daughter of a participant
"Participating in Turtle Song opened my eyes to the transformative power of the arts. It inspired me to pursue a career in learning and participation within music and theatre." Student musician
"Fridays mean the world to him. He is truly happy for a while and, as his carer and wife, that is lovely to see. Turtle Song is fantastic – compassionate and uplifting to all of us, both carers and people living with dementia." Partner of a participant
"Turtle Song was an amazing experience. Seeing participants sharing ideas for songs and finding value in their creativity, despite the challenges of dementia, had a lasting impact on me. It has also proved invaluable professionally – I've had really positive feedback in job interviews whenever I've talked about my experience." Student musician
KEY WORDS
"Key Words didn't just help young people overcome barriers to writing. It helped them overcome barriers to feeling included." Teacher
"I expected the project to improve my students' confidence with writing. What it actually changed was how they saw themselves. They discovered that their ideas, creativity and unique voices had value. That, for me, is inclusion." Teacher
"The students had the chance to have their ideas, their way of being and their voices confirmed and validated in the most joyous celebration of difference and neurodiversity." Teacher
TURTLE OPERA
"Working on Turtle Opera was a wonderful experience. As someone who is autistic myself, the project also helped me overcome some of my own anxieties and reminded me just how important projects like this are, not only for the participants but for everyone involved. It was a privilege to volunteer with such a supportive team." Student musician
"My daughter has made many friends through Turtle Opera. Her confidence has grown and she no longer feels alone knowing there are other autistic young people like her. I can't thank the project enough." Mother of participant
THEATRE BOX
"The facilitators created a safe space where students developed their skills with confidence. It was wonderful to see them participating so eagerly and producing something they could be proud of." Teacher
"It sparked my imagination and I learnt some amazing skills." Participant
"I enjoyed the creativity and using our imagination. I learnt about stage design, acting, sound, lighting, directing and producing." Participant
Behind every statistic is a personal story. These case studies show how creative participation can build confidence, develop skills and change lives.
LOOKING AHEAD
We'll continue to create art that matters by supporting artists, removing barriers and enabling more people to experience, create and participate in the arts.
CASE STUDIES
KEY CLUB
Building confidence and resilience.
Participant "A" joined Key Club, our monthly creative arts programme for autistic young adults, as one of its earliest members. They told us that meeting new people and trying new things made them anxious and that they needed time to feel comfortable in new situations.
In the early sessions, they tended to keep to themselves during social time and preferred working independently. Group activities and collaborating with others were more challenging and they often needed encouragement to share ideas or ask for help.
Over time, that changed. As their confidence grew, Participant "A" became a calm and valued member of the group, forming friendships and contributing more to conversations and creative projects. They learned to communicate when they didn't understand something and became much more confident expressing their opinions and working alongside others.
One project demonstrated just how far they had come. The group was creating a television news programme and Participant "A" had prepared an interview with a partner. When their partner was unexpectedly absent on the filming day, they were understandably disappointed. Rather than withdrawing, they considered the alternatives and volunteered to become the programme's News Anchor.
Writing their own script, rehearsing their links and stepping confidently in front of the camera, Participant "A" took on a role that would once have felt impossible. They adapted to an unexpected change, embraced a new challenge and completed the project with confidence.
Their journey reflects what Key Club is all about: providing a supportive environment where autistic young adults can develop confidence, creativity and social connections at their own pace, discovering strengths they may never have realised they had.
The Participant “A” who joined us in October 2023 would probably never have imagined doing something like that.
Finding a Voice
Participant "B" has been attending Key Club for more than five years and has become a valued member of the group. Although they have a speech disorder that can make verbal communication difficult, Key Club provides a supportive environment where they are given the time and space to express themselves. This has helped build their confidence and reinforced that their voice is valued.
Over the past year, Participant "B" has become increasingly confident, making a particular effort to welcome new members and engage with others. Beyond Key Club, this growing confidence has also contributed to them securing part-time employment after a period of unemployment.
As part of Key Club TV, Participant "B" chose to present a filmed feature about the history of the English flag. Recognising that speaking on camera would be challenging, they independently prepared flashcards, rehearsed their presentation and carefully adapted their delivery during filming.
The finished interview was both informative and engaging, demonstrating not only their knowledge but also the confidence, independence and communication skills they have developed through sustained participation in Key Club.
Eleven Years of Creativity and Growth
Participant "C" joined Key Club in 2014 at the age of 18 and remained a committed member until reaching the upper age limit of 30 this year. Over eleven years, they embraced every opportunity, taking part in visual art, animation, theatre, filmmaking, radio and creative writing, while developing a particular passion for performance and storytelling.
As their confidence grew, so did their ability to collaborate with others. They became a supportive and encouraging member of the group, helping to create a positive atmosphere while developing their own creative skills and confidence.
Alongside Key Club, Participant "A" completed college, learnt to drive, secured employment and, more recently, completed the first draft of their debut novel.
At their final Key Club session, they surprised the group by bringing cakes and cards for everyone before speaking about how much the club had meant to them. It was a moving reminder of the lasting impact that long-term access to creative opportunities can have on confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging.
KEYWORDS
Student A – Finding confidence through creativity
Student A joined Key Words as a shy and isolated Year 10 student with significant language difficulties. Through writing a play based on his own experiences, he discovered a way to share his imagination and passions with others for the first time.
Completing and seeing his play performed gave him confidence in his writing, helped him form new friendships and inspired his family to explore future opportunities in dance and theatre after school.
Student B – Discovering a love of writing
Despite being a bright student, Student Y's dyslexia meant he lacked confidence in English and rarely volunteered to read or write in class.
Key Words gave him the freedom to tell his own story without being held back by his dyslexia. As his confidence grew, so did his willingness to write, speak in class and engage with his peers. Watching his play performed in front of his proud family was a milestone in his creative journey.
Student C – Unlocking hidden potential
Student C struggled to find her place at school despite having an extraordinary imagination and creative talent.
Through Key Words, she flourished, writing an ambitious science fiction play that revealed her creativity and confidence. Teachers noticed a new sense of purpose across all her subjects, while her family encouraged her to continue exploring theatre by joining a local drama group.
Student D – Finding her own voice
Student D joined Key Words during a particularly difficult period at school. Living with dyslexia and behavioural challenges, she used her play to explore feelings of isolation and belonging.
Completing the project gave her a rare sense of achievement and became the first extended piece of writing she had successfully finished. It also gave her the confidence to tackle written work in other lessons.
Student E – Turning imagination into expression
Student E, who is autistic and dyslexic, had experienced significant challenges both at home and at school. Although highly imaginative, writing had always been difficult.
Key Words gave him the opportunity to explore themes of belonging through drama, helping him express experiences that had previously been difficult to articulate. The project also enabled him to build friendships and be recognised for his creativity rather than his difficulties.
Student F – Celebrating individuality
Student F's vivid imagination had rarely been recognised in school, where his handwriting and organisational difficulties often overshadowed his creativity.
Key Words enabled him to transform his passion for television and quiz shows into a fully realised play that was performed in front of an audience. For the first time, his unique interests became something to celebrate, boosting his confidence and showing him that his creativity was valued.
TURTLE SONG
Rediscovering Joy Through Music
When Peter joined Turtle Song, he was living with Young-Onset Frontotemporal Dementia (YFTD), a condition that often left him anxious and struggling with his speech. Before his diagnosis, he had attempted to take his own life three times and spent a year in hospital.
At Turtle Song, however, his wife sees a remarkable transformation. Music reconnects him with a part of himself that had seemed lost. A former choir member, Peter enthusiastically suggests songs and sings with what one student musician described as "a good set of pipes". During the sessions, he speaks more confidently and becomes calmer, happier and more engaged.
Fridays have become the highlight of his week. His wife says he is always excited to attend and, despite usually making her late, is ready on time for Turtle Song.
TURTLE OPERA
"Since my placement with Turtle Key Arts in 2014, all of my work has been with young people and music workshops. I would never have realised this was what I wanted to do if it weren't for those projects. I've since accepted a job facilitating arts workshops in prisons and I certainly wouldn't be here without Turtle Key Arts. I'm incredibly grateful that you give students opportunities like these." Student volunteer
