Through its innovative Young Artists Programme, The Prince’s Drawing School makes it possible for children with an aptitude for drawing to achieve their full potential. StratREAL’s funding to the school has helped to provide serious, sustained tuition and mentoring for young people aged 10-18 from all backgrounds through accessible and affordable programmes.

The school’s After-School Drawing Clubs provide an artistic outlet for children aged 10 to 14 from local state schools. The weekly, after-school Clubs are held in community or art centres and allow children to draw from life, using a wide range of media from pencil to mixed-media. The StratREAL Foundation has contributed to the expansion of the programme to 12 Drawing Clubs in seven London boroughs and one in Glasgow, catering for a total of more than 300 children.

The most committed young students are given the opportunity to take part in Holiday Drawing Courses which focus on career development. These students are also offered extra tuition on Saturdays at The Prince’s Drawing School. Older students join the 15+ Drawing Club, tackling more complex approaches to drawing, including print-making and working from nude models. The Mentoring Scheme for 16-18 year olds allows students to work one-to-one with a tutor with the ultimate aim of further education or apprenticeships leading to careers using their high-level drawing skills.

Funding from the StratREAL Foundation has enabled the establishment of two Drawing Clubs, providing weekly classes for 50 children for three years. Each class lasts for one and a half hours, and provides two qualified tutors. StratREAL’s contribution has ensured the further training of four drawing tutors and facilitated the development of their tutoring skills through real-life experience.