we make space for healing creative pauses

Through our own battles with cancer, chronic disease and mental illness, we know first-hand that a simple creative pause has the potential for powerful healing.

Our vision is to make the practice of art a powerful connector, widely accessible and integral to enhancing health, for people of all ages. 

We work with hospitals, outpatient units and GP clinics to address isolation, loneliness and anxiety, through open-access, free, therapeutic art programmes for patients and healthcare professionals. Our initiatives extend to the community at large - reaching isolated groups; schools and workplaces to educate in the benefits of creativity for wellbeing. 

Our resources are entirely crowd-sourced, with drawings sent in from people of all ages, worldwide; a monthly Artist in Residence scheme and a growing catalogue of celebrities contributing sketches to colour in.

We received UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award in June 2021 for our work and have both been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) on the King’s 2025 Honours List.

who we support

  • healthcare professionals

    we donate our creative resources to doctors, nurses and hospital support staff to help these key workers take a moment for themselves.

  • hospital patients

    we deliver therapeutic art programmes across hospital units and wards to provide distraction from pain, emotional release and connection to the outside world

  • isolated communities

    our initiatives extend to the community at large, reaching isolated and marginalised groups to facilitate creativity for mental wellbeing

our programmes

“Such a novel and therapeutic way of connecting people together through art.”

Golnar Aref Adib, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry
UCL and Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

our impact over 5 years running:

 
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hospitals & community groups reached

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creative programmes delivered

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global art contributions

guest contributors

  • Coldplay

    music band

  • Fearne Cotton

    writer / broadcaster

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“A Space Between is a brilliant initiative to help connect people with a simple act of creativity”

— Coldplay, music band

 

get involved

  • support

    Join our community of donors supporting our current and future work

    donate

  • get creative

    From creative activities to greeting cards, our unique ASB products are designed to help you connect with yourself and others thorugh the practice of art.

    shop

  • take time for yourself

    We have over 400 community drawn colouring-in designs for you to download for free and experience first-hand the therapeutic benefits of art.

    colour

  • become an artist in residence

    Each month, a different artist creatively support our programmes.

    apply