About The Smiley Art ClubWelcome to The Smiley Art Club, an independent art collective based in various locations across East London. We offer engaging art workshops for children aged 5-18 years old, catering to both home-educated students and those seeking enriching after-school activities.Our Mission:At The Smiley Art Club, our goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere that fosters creativity and imagination without boundaries. We provide a stress-free environment where every child can complete their artistic tasks at their own pace, ensuring a fulfilling and enjoyable experience for all.Meet Our Artists:Lio is a self-taught professional painter (@lio.sart) with expertise in acrylic painting. His artistic repertoire also includes oil painting, street art/mural painting, and sculpture. Naturally gifted at picking up new skills, Lio has developed a vast range of techniques that he loves to share with young artists in an accessible and engaging way. He has a unique ability to break down complex artistic concepts into simple, easy-to-understand steps, ensuring that every child, regardless of experience, feels confident in their creative abilities. Lio emphasises that art is about enjoying the process and encourages children to express themselves freely, reinforcing the idea that there are no mistakes in art—only opportunities for discovery and growth.Mathilde holds a BA in Fine Art Moving Image. She is a freelance artist dedicated to integrating nature and art in educational experiences. With over two years of gardening experience at Stepney City Farm + currently undertaking a level 1 course in Horticulture, and a background in assisting gardening workshops in primary schools, Mathilde emphasises the positive impact of connecting children with nature. Her workshops often incorporate recycled materials, flower and leaf printing, and outdoor lessons, promoting environmental awareness through art.Previous Projects:Last Autumn, Lio and Mathilde collaborated on a family art workshop series at Stepney City Farm, funded by Arts Council England. These workshops showcased their commitment to community engagement and artistic exploration.Important Information:All instructors have undergoneDBS checksto ensure the safety and well-being of your children.Some workshops are designed for specific age groups. Please check individual workshop descriptions for details.Photography Policy:During our workshops, we often take pictures to share on our social media platforms and to help promote future events. We always seek consent from participants before using any photos. If you prefer that your child's face not be included in any pictures, please let us know at the start of the session. Whenever possible, we will also try to take photos that do not show faces to respect everyone's privacy.Our Vision for the FutureWe are excited to launch our Autumn program with a carefully curated selection of workshops designed to ignite your child's passion for art. As we begin with this specialised range of offerings, we hope to foster a community of young artists who are eager to explore and expand their creative abilities. Our initial workshops will focus on foundational skills and creative exploration, but this is just the beginning. With your support and engagement, we aim to grow and diversify our programming to include a broader spectrum of artistic disciplines. Look out for workshops in stop motion animation and visual writing, and our young makers and after school programmes.Join us at The Smiley Art Club and let your child's creativity flourish in a nurturing and inspiring environment.Contact:hello@thesmilyartclub.comFollow us on instagram:theSmileyArtClub________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Workshop Policies for The Smiley Art ClubTo ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all our participants, please review our workshop policies:Payment and Enrolment:Full Payment Required at Sign-Up: To secure your spot in our workshops, full payment is required at the time of registration. This helps us manage our sessions effectively and prepare the necessary materials for all participants.Cancellation and Refund Policy:Refunds for Cancellations Made More Than 2 Weeks in Advance: If you need to cancel your registration, please notify us at least two weeks before the session start date. We will provide a refund if we are able to fill your spot with another participant.No Refunds for Cancellations Made Within 2 Weeks of the Start Date: Unfortunately, cancellations made within two weeks of the session start date are non-refundable. This policy helps us manage our resources and commitments to other participants.Minimum Enrolment Requirement: If the enrolment for your session does not meet our minimum requirement, we will notify you one week prior to the session start date. In such cases, we will cancel the session and provide you with a full refund.Missed Sessions:No Refunds or Transfers for Missed Sessions: Please note that we do not offer refunds or transfers to another session if you miss a workshop. We encourage you to ensure your availability for the full duration of the session when you sign up.We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with these policies, which are designed to ensure that all our workshops run smoothly and effectively. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.