Wednesday 12th November 2008, 1.20pm, sees the official launch meeting of the Mark Speight Foundation. Volunteers from all over the UK, including Northern Ireland will gather in The 20th Century Theatre, Notting Hill to lay the foundations for this charity that has been set up in honour of Mark Speight who died earlier this year.
Oliver Speight, Mark’s father is officially launching the Foundation on Wednesday with an inaugural meeting where two London schools themselves have created works of art to help launch the foundation.

Speight of the Art Foundation has been set up as a recognised charity whose aim is to help unearth and develop children’s talent in art, whatever type of art this may be from textile design to graffiti.

The Foundation set up by Oliver Speight is a celebration of Mark’s boundless energy, love of art and his belief that art is a wonderful way for children to be able to express themselves. Speight of the Art has been set up to discover the future artistic skills and talent in children up to the age of 18, in all its various forms, including; portraiture, landscape, fashion design, architecture, graphic design, sculpture and modern art.

The Foundation will develop local/regional competitions and the winners will then participate in a national competition to find the ‘Young Artist of the Year’. Regions will set up their own judging and children will also have the opportunity to get involved and judge work. The ultimate aim of the Foundation will be to award children future scholarships in an area of art that they wish to progress in.

Two London children’s schools have prepared works of art to help celebrate the launch of this Foundation and they will be there to see their art exhibited at the 20th Century Theatre. Wormholt Park Primary School, in Shepherds Bush is supporting the Foundation as Mark himself opened their Art building in 2005. The other school supporting the launch is Gunnersbury School who will also be sharing their artwork.

Oliver Speight , founder and father says, “I believe this Foundation will become a channel for children to express themselves in a positive way through art This charity will reach children throughout the whole of the UK whom I believe will benefit through art and discover their own hidden talents. This will be Mark’s legacy to each and every one of them.”

View the gallery here