Image: Felix Clay
Sometimes, we just need one person to believe in us, to give us the chance to flourish and make great things happen. For many, Ruth Rogers, owner of The Canvas – a café, community area and creative space – has been that person. The London-based venue opens its doors to anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the world. Whether it’s feeding the homeless or organising mental health talks, Ruth will be on board, so we caught up with her to ind out how The Canvas works.
If The Canvas was a picture, it would be of open arms – the idea is that we trust people to be amazing, so we provide space for them to do their thing and develop ideas. We have three areas to the business: a café, Creative Venue and Community Hub. Our cafe is 100 per cent vegan, which is important to us, as we believe it’s a form of positive activism. Every wall at The Canvas has a question on it, and each customer is invited to answer it – this brings a sense of belonging and ownership, which makes The Canvas feel like it’s theirs. Our Creative Venue nurtures new artistic work – we host talks, yoga with dogs, free film screenings and so much more. Finally, we have our Community Hub, which is offered free of charge to groups aiming to improve the lives of others; we’ve had groups that support men with mental health issues, for example. Overall, The Canvas is a space which encourages positivity and human connection.