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ACAVA artist Sally Booth scored a major success with her workshop for pupils at Merton Abbey School (left). Now the school is to organise a class trip to her studio in Cannizaro Park where she will take the youngsters around the park, encouraging them to produce their own landscapes.

Sally, one of several artists based at the Cannizaro Artist Studios, ran the workshop as part of an annual series agreed by ACAVA with Merton Council in return for use of the studios by their members. The Friends have always supported ACAVA's presence in the former potting sheds near the pond and agreed with the Council that the workshops should take place at a school in a deprived area, with an older persons group, and at a special needs facility. In May, Sally will be meeting Merton to discuss further work with the Wimbledon Guild and at St Ann's special needs school.

Last autumn, artist Andrew Aarons ran six workshops for Merton's young refugee group, showing them how to use visual arts to tell their own stories. The Cannizaro Studios themselves will be open once again to the general public on selected weekends this year. Last time, Pauline Etim-Ubah, Merton's Arts Development Officer - Projects, said: "Merton Open Studios are your chance to see local painters, sculptors, wood carvers, potters and other contemporary artists at work. Their work is affordable and available to buy."