About
A warm hug and a wake up call.
When people come together, they can do amazing things. We’re Art with Heart, and we’re shaping change through people led-creative projects. We design performances that galvanize action, take portraits that alter perspectives, broadcast conversations around equality, design creative projects that generate community pride – and share knowledge in training workshops!
We create work that centres around things that matter to the communities we work with, exploring subjects like mental health, gender equality, sexuality, ageing and familial relationships. And it’s all held together by the things that matter to us – equality, accessibility and representation.
Our theatre work includes award-winning one-woman show Declaration, exploring mental health and ADHD. Stan, a bilingual play for children, written in English and BSL, exploring communication, friendship and the family unit, and Secret Diaries, a queer coming of age story based on the hilarious and unflinchingly honest real-life diaries of a lesbian teenager growing up in the 80s and 90s.
Exhibitions include 100 Deeds, an interactive exhibit addressing gender equality in the 21st century and Old Stock, New Stock, a photographic exhibition combatting stereotypical portrayals of older people in stock photography. Other projects include Box Tickers, a four-part podcast series marking the 10th anniversary of the Equalities Act and Kiss my Heart, an interactive story sharing experience for two, taking place in a pink tent.
Our aims
Create relevant, meaningful artistic experiences that support personal and collective growth to instigate social change.
Provide spaces and platforms for under-represented voices and unheard stories.
Provide opportunities for professional development, supporting participants to realise their potential.
Engage our local community through activities that provide lasting impact while removing barriers to accessing the arts.
Our story
Founded in 2010 by Sarah Emmott, Art with Heart began as a one-woman band delivering workshops and performances. Rachel Moorhouse commissioned the company to perform as a part of a festival she was curating. Quick to form a friendship and with a passion for socially engaged arts practice, Sarah and Rachel felt like collaboration was on the cards – and soon enough, Sarah invited Rachel to direct her play Secret Diaries.
Fast-forward a few years and the two decided to put their eggs in one basket and create Art with Heart as you know it today. Since then, we’ve been associate artists at the Lowry and were invited to join the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Culture and Social Impact portfolio alongside some of the most established and successful arts organisations in the region.
We have been commissioned to create and deliver work for some of the UK’s leading cultural organisations such as Southbank Centre, The Lowry, Contact, Z-arts, Gallery Oldham and Museum of London. As well as working with some of the regions finest freelance creatives including: Keisha Thompson, Jackie Hagan, Jon McGrath, mandla, Connor A, Chelsea Morgan, Megan Holland, Jenny Gaskell, Nasima Begum, Deborah Pugh, Raffie Julien and Triple Dot Makers.
Salford born & bred
Our Salford roots go way back. We’ve lived there, studied there, sold suitcases there– and we can even tell you the best spot for fireworks on bonfire night. We love making work across the Greater Manchester region but decided to make the city our home for good in 2016 when we became Associate Artists at The Lowry and moved into UTC @ Media City College.
Since 2018, we’ve been based in Islington mill, where we’re part of a wonderful community of artists and a stone’s throw away from local communities and schools.
What we do
Training
We offer professional development workshops for artists and students, training opportunities for organisations and one-to-one training and mentoring for artists.
Education
We have over two decades of experience designing and delivering work in educational settings, focusing on creative thinking, communication and confidence.
Performance
We create, produce and deliver professional performances which tour to arts venues and unexpected places locally and nationally.
Participation
We support people to unlock their creativity and spark their curiosity by delivering artistic projects in open and inclusive environments.
“Blows the middle-class, nuclear-family catering purpose of theatre right out of the water. This is about using the arts to inspire social change.”
The Mancunion
“The work of Art with Heart is a must see, the positive change they are making is incredible.”
The Public Reviews
“A company that have got a clear vision to take sensitive subject matters and tackle them head on, so that we can all understand together.”
John Tomlinson, Sheffield Theatres
“One of the most energetic, driven, inspiring bunch of theatre makers I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Their generosity and skill at engaging so directly with their audience to create work that really is for and about them. They are a company out there in the middle of it all and making the world a better place one performance at a time.”
Deb Pugh - Movement Director
“This isn’t just art for art’s sake, this is art aiming to make a real, tangible difference for people – delivering community support in a long-term way.”
Zoe Roberts, Kill the Beast
“They work extremely hard and leave no stone unturned in their commitment to creating the best possible experience for both their audiences and the people they work.”
Matt Eames - The Lowry Theatres Programmer and Producer
Awards
Equalities Award
Heart of Salford, 2018
ADHD Foundation Partnership Award
The Purple List 2017
Sarah Emmott
Theatre Production of the Year
Co-operative Awards
We've worked with
Access at Art with Heart
Across the arts’ industry people don’t have equal access to cultural experiences. We’re dedicated to helping change this.