By Maddy Mussen

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If you missed out on Frieze London tickets this year, fear not — there may still be a way in. Just ask Michael Craig-Martin.

The Irish artist and painter has teamed up with EARNT, a collective that links volunteers to brands, to help transform a section of Barnes Primary School with a colourful mural.

But Craig-Martin needs some help. The 84-year-old former mentor of Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas is on the hunt for volunteers to paint the mural in return for complimentary art fair tickets to Frieze London.

With the mural Craig-Martin hopes to highlight the fact that the arts are no longer on the school curriculum and many state schools currently lack even basic art supplies.

“I know, from experience, that my use of vivid colours speaks directly to school age children and encourages them to explore their own natural creative instincts,” Craig-Martin said of the project. “The arts are an essential part of a rich and productive education, fostering the development of a child’s imagination, self-awareness and self-confidence, while simultaneously encouraging diversity and social empathy.

“It is a sad irony that those lacking most in creative imagination seem to be the ones passing the laws limiting access for ordinary children in state-funded schools. All of the arts — painting, dance, music, theatre — should be returned to the school curriculum immediately.”

Sign-up access will become available at 12pm on October 1 via the EARNT website. If successful, volunteers will be invited to take part in painting the mural on October 11 and 12 in return for their Frieze tickets.

But you’d better be speedy: EARNT’s events can be very popular, making the fight for a volunteering spot quite competitive. In 2023, thousands of people flocked to its website to sign up for EARNT’s collaboration with The River Cafe, which unlocked VIP bookings at the restaurant in exchange for picking up litter by the Thames.

“State schools across the country are facing financial challenges so to have the offer of a mural and something to make everyone’s lives brighter is really moving,” said Sue Jepson, headteacher at Barnes Primary School. “We are thrilled to hear this will be part of a series of projects that EARNT is rolling out. We first worked with EARNT back in 2022 and since then annually they have delivered us 50 to 100 volunteers to help improve our school.

“We think they have saved the school around £35k so far. What’s really special is seeing the community rally round us — rather than us constantly having to ask the parents and teachers for help!”

Lauren Scott-Harris, founder of EARNT, added: “This incredibly special project is about making art more accessible to all. We believe every child deserves to see their environment come alive with colour, and I’m excited that, through this collaboration, our volunteers will also have the chance to experience Frieze London as part of the city’s wider celebration of art. It’s wonderful to be doing this just ahead of Frieze Week, when all of London is buzzing with creativity.”