SOCIAL ART AT SOCIAL DISTANCE
9.04.2020

We hope that you, your family and friends are keeping safe, well and remaining positive in these challenging and uncertain times. 
 
The White House has been closed for a few weeks now and we have spent this time, like many others, trying to understand our new role and how we can be of most use and find ways to keep going.
 
This is a challenge for us, whilst our team work remotely and are also feeling the effects of being isolated from our White House community. 
 
But of course, we want you to know – WE ARE STILL HERE.
 
We miss you, we miss making together, we miss doing things with people that make art and life social. Art for us isn’t just about the act of making but the process of bringing people together. One which, for now, has to adapt and shift into new forms. 
 
Our work is inherently social and about togetherness, so we have been thinking of ways we can continue to maintain and nurture connections responsibly and ethically through our programming, whilst of course practicing safe social distancing and shielding. 
 
We’ve been having conversations with our team, artists, partners and community members to come up with a plan for The White House programme over the coming weeks and months that ensures we continue to support artists and our community:

Artists in Residence at Home  
We will continue to honour all existing contracts with artists. Our artist residency programme will continue, with artists already working on projects working remotely from home. We are exploring ways to share research and updates and host participatory activities and virtual community groups. Our response will be bespoke to suit each artists’ practice and project – we are aware not everything works online and some things we’ll save until we can gather together again.
  
Front Room to Front Room
We’ll continue to support our freelance community facilitators, we’ve been working closely with them to come up with Front Room to Front Room, a new take on our regular Front Room Programme. From creative activities to do at home, online classes and groups and regular community recommendations for reading, listening and watching - direct into your front room!

Staying Connected
We’re staying in touch in lots of different ways. Whether through virtual Zoom meetings with our team and White House Keepers (our community advisory group), regular phone check in’s with community members, virtual studio visits to support our artists, and posting news and phoning those who aren’t able to get online. 

You can stay in touch with us and receive regular news via Email, Instagram and Facebook and by subscribing to this newsletter on our Website.

Support 
We’ll also be providing support through signposting to various community aid networks, services, and funds for those that need additional support or help in this period. If you or anyone you know needs support and don’t know where to turn, please get in touch. 

Our current situation seemed unimaginable just a month ago and we are aware that the situation is changing everyday. We will continue to be responsive and adapt in order to best support you and stay connected.  
 
Be kind and look after one another. 
 
Sending love from us all at The White House, 
 
Charlie, Dave & Kirsty x

9 April 2020 - CLICK TO VIEW OUT LATEST NEWSLETTER HERE