Welcome to
The Holding Palette
The Holding Palette CIC develops and delivers creative mental health programmes in schools and communities across Greater Manchester.
We use art-making, metaphor and psychologically informed facilitation to make emotional support easier to access, helping people understand feelings, build emotional capacity and strengthen connection before difficulties escalate.
We are artists and art psychotherapists. We primarily support children, young people and families through structured Therapeutic Arts Programmes and specialist clinical art psychotherapy services. Our work also includes The Inkstone, our initiative for artist-led creative participation, making and belonging.
Our Mission
T​o make creative approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health more accessible, creating spaces where people can express themselves, explore their feelings and build meaningful connections with others.
What’s happening
1 / River of Change
A six-week therapeutic arts programme for young people that explores transition, identity and belonging through art-making and metaphor.
Project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund through Trafford Hongkongers CIC
Dates: 13/10 to 24/11 (Thursdays) and 17/10 to 28/11 (Saturdays)
2 / The Inkstone: Family Water-Lily Pond
A six-week parent-and-child creative participation programme bringing families together through ink, water, colour and shared making. Project funded by Trafford Council's Live Well Trafford project through Trafford Hongkongers CIC
Dates: T.B.C
3 / Vessels of Colour
A series of four monthly creative wellbeing workshops for people with caring responsibilities. Each session explores a different aspect of emotional wellbeing through the metaphor of vessels, using a variety of art materials and creative approaches. Participants are welcome to join individual sessions or return each month.
Funded by Forever Manchester through the Circle Funerals Fund.
Dates: T.B.C
4 / Creative Wellbeing Workshops for Hongkongers
A series of six monthly creative wellbeing workshops for Hongkongers living in the UK. Each session explores a different theme through art-making, offering a welcoming space to express feelings and experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
Participants can join individual sessions based on their interests. No previous art experience is needed.
Commissioned by Bonham Tree Aid.
Dates: 24/11/2026, 26/1/2027 and 23/2/2027 (9:30am to 11:00am);
27/4/2027, 25/5/2027 and 29/6/2027 (6:30pm to 8:00pm)
Clinical Art Psychotherapy
Art psychotherapy is a form of psychological therapy that uses art-making alongside the therapeutic relationship to explore and work through emotional and psychological difficulties.
Our clinical services are delivered by HCPC-registered art psychotherapists, providing individual therapy and therapeutic group work for children and young people in schools. We work closely with schools to offer professional, confidential therapeutic support tailored to pupils' individual needs.
Our Network
We are proud to work alongside a growing network of funders, commissioners, community organisations, schools, creative partners and sector networks. Each relationship supports our work in a different way, from funding and referrals to programme delivery, collaboration, participation and shared learning.
Project collaboration
Our Creative Home
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