<< Back to: All You Need To Know
AccessArt celebrated 25 years in 2024, and over our time we have helped inspire hundreds of thousands of learners to explore their creative potential. Find out about how the organisation is structured, including our affiliations, below.
AccessArt was founded in 1999 by Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli, graduates of the Royal College of Art. In 2024, we celebrated 25 years – explore our timeline.
AccessArt is a UK Registered Charity (1105049) and a Limited Company. Our charitable aim is to further the advancement of art education.
We are a member of The Council for Subject Associations (CfSA), acting as a Subject Association for Art. We are also a member of the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA).
As experts in the field, the AccessArt team works across all educational settings, including all Key Stages, FE, HE, freelance artist educators, and a wide range of cultural organisations, to create a dynamic collection of resources that help users deliver an inspiring and relevant art education.
As well as our work in supporting education in England, we also have a large number of users in the rest of the United Kingdom and overseas who use our resources in their own settings. In 2025 we were awarded the InSEA Advocacy Award for Organisations.
For over 25 years, we’ve played a key role in redefining what excellent art education looks like, and we continue to advocate for the importance of a high-quality art education for all children and young people.
With over 23,500 members, we are a self-sustaining arts organisation, funded solely through membership income. This independence allows us to continually evolve and share inspiring resources, while staying true to our vision—something we’re deeply grateful for.
