Lewis Paterson, Acting Principal, was delighted to welcome HRH the Duchess of Cambridge to Wester Hailes Education Centre on Wednesday 24th February to visit the Art Room studio. During her visit, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Art Room, met Art Room students, Art Room practitioners, friends and supporters of The Art Room and members of the school and wider community.

Her Royal Highness said she was thrilled to be able to visit The Art Room and was most impressed by all that she saw. The Duchess was extremely touched by the warm welcome she received.

Lewis Paterson said of this special occasion “The Wester Hailes Education Centre was extremely proud to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and mark the special partnership with The Art Room. For our students and the wider community, the visit was an important occasion to showcase the work we are engaging with to improve the lives of our young people and our endeavour to support students both of WHEC and in the wider community. Since The Art Room opened in 2014 we have seen the benefits the sessions can have on our individual pupils, and through the close working partnership with our Guidance Staff and Art Room practitioners we look forward to seeing continued change for the better.”

Juli Beattie OBE, Founder Director of The Art Room, said of the visit “The Art Room was delighted to be able to show HRH Royal Patron of The Art Room our very first Scottish studio and the position it holds in the Wester Hailes community. Our presence in Edinburgh represents a new phase in our growth. The needs of the local community are imperative and our work relies on our partner schools having the vision to host an Art Room studio offering early intervention to the children and young people. We are delighted to be working at WHEC and the integrated partnership is vital for the success and sense of community we have experienced.”

To veiw more photographs from the visit click here.