We Are darts
We create art with people in Doncaster to improve life, learning & health
Who are we?
We are darts.
We are change makers.
We are a Centre of Excellence for creative health and learning.
We are Doncaster’s award-winning creative health and learning charity.
We are the largest participatory arts organisation in the UK.
What do we do?
darts creates art with people in Doncaster to improve life, learning and health.
We make high-quality, inclusive, creative experiences across the borough of Doncaster and collaborate with partners worldwide. Our programmes are open to everyone, particularly those who have the least access to the arts.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is for anyone in Doncaster to learn and connect by taking part in the arts.
Our Mission
Our mission is for everyone to feel an accepted and valued part of the community, creating a healthier and more connected society.
Our Values
• Create: Making art allows us to see ourselves and the world differently
• Include: Everyone has a place and a voice
• Connect: Coming together to make art builds a sense of community
• Respond: We listen, adapt and act
• Evolve: Learning informs practice, improving the experience for all
Our services are:
Creative Learning – Every child in Doncaster takes part in great art and cultural experiences, supporting them to learn, build confidence and develop communication. Educators are supported to embed creativity across the curriculum through CPDL and supported development.
Creative Health – Everyone in Doncaster can access participatory creative activities, resulting in them feeling happier, healthier and more resilient. We want our creative health programmes to be widely used and valued by both residents and health and social care professionals.
Our approach
We are an experienced team of artists, creative professionals and support staff making high-quality, inclusive, creative experiences across the City and borough of Doncaster. Our programmes are open to everyone, particularly those who have the least access to the arts.
We develop creative approaches that respond to place-based health and learning inequalities, building robust evidence of impact before scaling or embedding these approaches to increase access.
darts has been designing and delivering creative programmes for 30+ years – our specialism is Doncaster, and the majority of our work is created with and for Doncaster residents.
We are a Centre of Excellence for creative health and learning. We are generous in sharing our learning and are committed to improving practice to deliver creative solutions that respond to population need.
Our experiences are always designed for the purpose of those taking part. We are person-led. Our sessions and artists respond to our participants’ needs collaboratively using co-design.
We are here for anyone in Doncaster to learn and connect by taking part
in the arts. For everyone to feel an accepted and valued part of the community. Creating a healthier and more connected society. The arts and creativity are a proven way to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
darts is a trusted and experienced professional partner, inspiring and developing the role of arts and creativity in public service together with our participants and collaborators.
darts. The art of taking part.
What do we mean by ‘Creative Health and Creative Learning’?
When we talk about Creative Health, we mean activities for people of all ages, from 0-110+.
Creative health is defined as creative approaches and activities that have benefits for our health and wellbeing. Activities include visual arts, dance, drama, music, creative writing, photography and film. Approaches may involve creative and innovative ways to approach health and care services, co-production, education and workforce development.
Creative health can contribute to the prevention of physical and mental ill-health, promotion of healthy behaviours, management of long-term conditions, and treatment and recovery across the life course.
Creative learning can improve emotional literacy and resilience in schools, personal social and emotional development in children and young people, or support teachers and early years practitioners to use creativity in their practice to meet curriculum or developmental targets.
For darts, this means that we:
- Collaborate with health and learning experts to design creative approaches that respond directly to place-based health and learning inequalities.
- Gather evidence to test these approaches and ensure they meet our proposed outcomes.
- Adapt and refine these approaches to ensure the best possible experience for participants, and genuine impacts on life, learning and health.
- Find ways to scale up our approaches so that they are accessible to those who need them.
Our home
The Point is our home – it is the place where we develop our approaches, train others in participatory practice, generate and share ideas, and showcase our work.
The Point is a vibrant public building with a range of flexible, multi artform spaces buzzing with creative activity, learning, sharing, and joy.
Find out how you can hire our spaces by clicking here.
We have:
- Spacious and inspiring Creative Health and Learning spaces
- Cafe and catering
- Gardens and spaces to sit, work, meet or think
- Flexible spaces to hire
It is a friendly welcoming building where lots of creative activity happens alongside a regular programme of inclusive and accessible events and activities.
It’s more than a place to just come and see. It’s about coming together
and being a part in the arts. It’s about the doing. For everyone to have a safe place to come to, and feel comfortable to express themselves, learn and connect.
"I’ve tried Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, counselling, anti-depressants and nothing has worked until now…this [darts-led activity] is the only thing that works for me."