SWINDON’S largest children’s visual arts organisation celebrates its six-year anniversary by sharing six lessons and wins since they’ve opened their doors.
Let’s Create Art Club, founded by artist Rachel Bray, allows children to explore painting, drawing, sculpture and design in a safe, fun, and pressure-free environment through after-school clubs, weekend workshops and holiday art camps for children aged four to twelve.
“I started Let’s Create Art Club in 2020. In a pandemic!” said Rachel. “I grew the club organically responding to the demand I was receiving to make art and creativity accessible to children and young people. I’ve learnt many things in my first six years in business, some easy and some a little harder, but all taking me into 2026 with more confidence and experience than when I started.
The six lessons:
- Creativity transforms lives. Giving children a dedicated space and time to create has shown me the true power of imagination and self-expression.
- Connection is everything. Watching the children, parents, and staff who work with Let’s Create Art Club build genuine relationships over the last six years has really shown me how business is really all about people.
- Being consistent beats being perfect. In making regular and small improvements in our clubs and sessions across Swindon, I’ve found that the changes have had a long-term and positive impact on the business.
- It’s important to celebrate. Whether it be from a child’s proud smile, to becoming a finalist in the ICAP Awards, appreciating all joyful moments keeps me driven and passionate.
- Growth isn’t linear. The reality of running a business is that it comes with ups and downs, where you really must have faith in yourself, your offer and what you want to achieve. Let’s Create Art Club would not be celebrating it’s anniversary without having had that belief, especially in the early years when taking the leap from employee to business owner.
- Knowing when to have a break changes everything. I’ve realised since starting my business that by giving myself permission to take time and carve moments for a break is not a weakness, but a necessity and in fact, allowed me to keep going.
2025 wasn’t the easiest year for Rachel, facing a year of personal loss whilst running a business was a journey.
“Being in 2026 and knowing how far my business has come is a real source of happiness and pride,” said Rachel. “2025 wasn’t a kind year for my family’s health, with two losses and two critical illnesses. During that time, I learned to narrow my focus to the here and now.”
Rachel’s six wins:
- We started, grew, and sustained a business through the Covid-19 pandemic, rising costs, family loss and critical illness.
- We became a finalist at the Institute of Children’s Activity Providers (ICAP) awards in the category ‘Rising Star – Outstanding achievement in growth and vision for the future’.
- We held a record breaking 474 sessions throughout 2025, adding two additional weekly afterschool clubs. It is our biggest year to date!
- Every holiday camp sold out, including our longest ever camp in the summer of 2025, which was four weeks.
- We’ve gained consistently fantastic reviews and feedback in our first six years from both parents and children. One recent review from a child said “Infinity out of 10!” when asked how much she enjoyed her day.
- We have been engaging with the community; creating art for multiple care homes in our local area and being part of the Big Dog Trail in 2023 and running competitions for local children.
“We have had so many highs over the last six years and as a businesswoman it has been a journey of resilience and learning to get Let’s Create Art Club to the place it is now. I’m grateful to all the staff, parents, carers and young people who make our sessions so special and who keep coming back.”
“I can’t wait to see what the next six years brings,” concluded Rachel.
Let’s Create Art Club is a member of the Institute of Children’s Activity Providers (ICAP), ensuring the club meets high standards for safety, inclusion and engagement.
To book a place at Let’s Create Art Club’s upcoming February half term art camp or to discover more information about an art club near you, visit: www.letscreateartclub.co.uk.
Article from Scott Media
