Our Community Engagement programme helps us to build partnerships with local communities, with a focus on connecting with organisations working with older people and especially those who may not ordinarily access or be aware of our historic site.

The programme started in 2019, as part of our Heritage Lottery Funded project to restore The Great Chamber. Groups we have worked with include Islington-based organisations St Luke’s Community Centre, The Stuart Low Trust and Blind Aid. We also worked with our neighbours at the Barbican Centre.

In late 2023, we invited our residents and staff to join members of The Stuart Low Trust for a series of ten Inspiring Interiors Drawing Masterclasses facilitated by Martine from PomegranArt Workshops. The focus was on providing accessible and enjoyable workshops for older artists from all backgrounds and levels of experience, using our historical rooms for inspiration. The work was displayed in a wonderful exhibition at The Charterhouse. Other events we have delivered have included the popular Sensory Garden & Poetry Tours in partnership with The Poetry Exchange. Community groups have included The Claremont Project, The Men’s Shed at St Luke’s Community Centre and Blind Aid.

In Autumn/Winter 2024, we were delighted to receive further funding for a series of eight Neighbouring Histories Creative Masterclasses. This was a partnership project with Barts Heritage with participants from The Charterhouse, Barts Hospital and Stuart Low Trust. We ran photography and creative writing workshops across two sites: The North Wing at Barts Heritage during the period of their major restoration project, and a different location at The Charterhouse each week including in our our Gardens.

The Masterclasses were facilitated by Martine at PomegranART Workshops  and Nichola at Creative Writes. Martine worked on a one-to-one basis with participants on their individual photography projects, and Nichola facilitated creative writing workshops in response to the inspiring spaces & stories across both sites. A display of the work is on view to the public in the Chapel Cloister between March  – May 2025, and it will tour to Barts Heritage and the Stuart Low Trust.

Inspiring Interiors Drawing Masterclasses and Neighbouring Histories Creative Masterclasses funded with thanks to Museum Development London.