The Big Give Christmas Challenge


Spread some magic this Christmas

Double your donation when you give online between 3 and 10 December towards the Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Your donation will support our charity's Art For All By All learning programme enabling us to provide artist-led creative learning for local people who would not ordinarily have this opportunity.

Watch this video to find out how your support will help people living locally

Why your donation matters

This year we celebrate 175 years since the birth of our co-founder Mary Watts. Today, we honour her artistic talent, philanthropy, and advocacy for social reform through the community engagement programme.

This programme upholds her vision that art can be transformative. It helps to inspire and uplift, and gives access to art and to craft for thousands of people across Surrey who might not otherwise have this opportunity. Through artist-led workshops, we help people to learn new skills, gain a qualification, build self-confidence and experience how art and craft can enrich their lives.

These workshops are delivered free-of-charge to groups supporting young people in overcoming challenges such as mental health challenges, to charities helping people with a learning disability to achieve their full potential and to organisations working with young offenders and women prisoners to rebuild a better future.

What your donation can deliver

  • £8 can provide a bag of clay for pottery sessions, helping groups get creative in our onsite pottery. Donate £4 andBig Give turns it into £8.
  • £25 can run the kiln for a bisque firing, meaning up to 40 terracotta tiles can be beautifully finished and cherished by their makers. Donate £12.50 and Big Give turns it into £25.
  • £80 brings a group from Women's Support Centre to Watts Gallery to spend calm and creative time making in our studios and exhibitions. Donate £40 and Big Give turns it into £80.
  • £150 means a community group can benefit from a session at Watts Gallery where they will have a tailored creative workshop led by an artist, and time to explore the Galleries and grounds. Donate £75 and Big Give turns it into £150.

The more I escape into my art, the more confident I become, as an artist and a person. It's a lifesaver.

- Anonymous, HMP Send

A close up photo of a woman's hand making marks on clay

We are grateful to the Borrows Charitable Trust, Robin Privett and the Big Give for their support.