The Crouch End Open Studios show at Hornsey Library is a chance for local artists to exhibit and raise funds for teenagers with mental health problems.

Haringey Mayor, Councillor Lester Buxton attended the opening event last Saturday and spent time talking to some of the 57 local painters, printmakers, sculptors and ceramicists with work on show.

The Crouch End Open Studios show runs until November 20 at the Original Gallery and around 40 of the artists donated a piece of work that was sold to raise funds for Haringey mental health charity Open Door.Ham & High: Some of the artists taking part in the Crouch End Open Studios exhibition at Hornsey LibrarySome of the artists taking part in the Crouch End Open Studios exhibition at Hornsey Library (Image: Marie Mangan)

A total of £3,000 was raised on Thursday (November 15) to help fund the counselling service for young people. Open Door director Ruth Glover talked about the scale of the problems facing young people, and how the charity is meeting those challenges.

"We are so grateful to all the talented and generous artists who made this happen," she said.

"Referrals to Open Door have increased by 77 per cent, since the pandemic. We have more young people than ever who need our help, and our funding does not match this demand. This support from the Crouch End Open Studio will make a tangible difference to the mental health of teenagers in Haringey."

Ham & High: Open Door director Ruth Glover spoke of the growing need for counselling services for teens in the boroughOpen Door director Ruth Glover spoke of the growing need for counselling services for teens in the borough (Image: David Winskill)

Cllr Buxton spoke movingly about the growing demands for services like Open Door.

"I'm so grateful to the artists of Crouch End Open Studios who have donated their wonderful work," he said. "The funds raised will support Open Door and allow it to continue to provide its amazing services supporting young people’s mental health."

Artist events will take place at the gallery on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, including Jo Angell giving an informal talk and showing sketches and paintings from her recent artist residency in County Kerry at 3pm on Saturday and an artist talk and film screening with Andy Metcalf and Giles Perring at 4.30pm with an opportunity to meet the artists at 2pm on Sunday.

Crouch End Open Studios Group Show runs until November 20 at Original Gallery, Hornsey Library, Crouch End.