PAST EVENTS

WHAT’S

ON?

ART EXHIBITION - 26th - 27th JULY 2024
'Journeys: Retracing Our Paths' celebrates the transformative power of art in reflecting the essence of our personal and collective journeys, works explore a variety of associated struggles, ranging from finding one’s identity to battling health concerns. 
Proceeds made through artwork sales, donation-based ticket sales and general donations will go to support Bharathy Girls’ Child Development Centre, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka

OUR MISSION

At Painting Progress we aim to empower communities in need, local and worldwide, through the provision of essential resources, educational initiatives, and artistic expression. We use art based events, where we  platform emerging artists to showcase their work, such as dynamic pop-up art exhibitions, spoken word nights and panel talks! All donations and ticket proceeds will contribute to our chosen social impact cause. Discover our three aims below! 


ARTIST PLATFORM

POVERTY RELIEF

EDUCATION

OUR STORY

“The difficult realities of the art industry quickly became apparent when I set on my artistic aspirations – a world where talent often took a backseat to privilege and emerging artists struggled to find a foothold amidst the established voices. The daunting prospect of navigating this path, along with the realisation of the inherent inequalities ingrained within the system, eventually led me to explore other career opportunities. 
 Nevertheless, I have continued to have a profound appreciation for the arts and a deep-rooted empathy for the struggles faced by emerging artists. This was part of the inspiration that eventually led towards the creation of Painting Progress. The realisation that art was often inaccessible, reserved for those with means, struck a chord. It became evident that the artistic landscape needed a transformation – one that would democratise access to art and provide a platform for budding creatives to flourish.

“Art being a universal language of expression can have a profound impact in fostering social change and amplifying voices for the marginalised and underserved communities.”

So, the idea of harnessing the power of art to raise funds for social causes was derived. Driven by this dual purpose – to empower artists and to effect positive change in society – Painting Progress came into being. We have endeavoured to create a space where art transcends boundaries and becomes a catalyst for meaningful transformation.
 As we continue to evolve and grow, our commitment remains steadfast – to nurture a community where art thrives, where barriers dissolve, and where art makes a social impact. We hope you join us on our journey – welcome to Painting Progress!”
- Bowrnamey Thirukkumar   [Founder of Painting Progress]-

We have partnered up with Bharathy Girls’ Child Development Centre whose mission is to: “To create better citizens by providing protection, better education and better physical and mental health to the poor, vulnerable and orphaned students’’.

BHARATHY GIRLS’ CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, MULLATIVU, SRI LANKA

Our role will be to provide support to help fulfil the organisation’s goals of having nutritious meals, aid towards bettering the home’s sanitary facilities, educational events and mental health support for the children. We will implement long-term sustainability by liaising with mental health charities and groups that travel from the UK to Sri Lanka with the aim of having trained professionals expand the support offered to the children.

MEET THE TEAM

Bow Thirukkumar
Founder | Director 
Athi Thirukkumar
Operations & Finance Lead 
Ismail Jan
Communications & Marketing Lead 
Elli Jason Foster
Exhibition Curator 
Bhairavi Yogasivam
Brand Ambassador | Fundraising Lead 
Kate Rykova
Social Impact Liasion
Jack Stewart
Artist Outreach

Let’s work together.

Interested in working together or volunteering? Fill out the form below and we will be in touch shortly!