Leading artists including Grayson Perry, Jenny Saville, Rob and Nick Carter, Veronica Ryan and Maggi Hambling are amongst those who have donated works for an exhibition at Sotheby’s in London to support the charity AT THE BUS, which offers school-based art as therapy on a double-decker bus to support the well-being of young people.
‘Art for AT THE BUS’ will include over 30 works to be exhibited at Sotheby’s New Bond Street gallery from 29th April to 7th May 2024. The works will be sold via online auction, powered by Artsy, and open for bidding from 29th April till 5pm on 10th May 2024. Proceeds of the sale will go to AT The Bus.
One in six children and young people in the UK have poor mental health and many struggle to attend or
engage at school (NHS Digital 2022). AT The Bus partners with schools so that students can easily access the service directly on their school site, either on the bus or in bespoke studios within the school grounds.
Art for AT THE BUS, 29th April – 7th May 2024, Sotheby’s New Bond Street
About
Founded in 2018, AT The Bus is a UK charity that supports the education, health and well-being of children and young people by providing art as therapy on a double-decker bus and at school-based studios in London and Oxford.
Concerns about children’s well-being and mental health have grown over the past few years, and the data suggests this concern is more than justified: in 2023 20% of 8-16 year olds had a probable mental health disorder and 40% reported a deterioration in their wellbeing since 2017 (NHS Digital 2023). The services that could help them are overwhelmed.
AT The Bus offers a unique and effective solution, delivering mental health support directly to young people in school where they are best placed to access it. It uses the Beattie Method, a relationship-based group intervention that was developed by AT The Bus Founder and Joint CEO, Juli Beattie OBE, following decades-long work with children and young people. Through the Beattie Method children and young people with complex needs are supported using art as therapy, helping them to re-engage with their education by building self-esteem, confidence, resilience and independence. AT The Bus has expanded considerably since September 2021, when UK schools fully reopened following lockdowns due to the Covid19 pandemic.
