Welcome to NIGAT
Northern Ireland Group
for Art Therapy
Promoting the use of art therapy,
and art and creativity to facilitate
personal development and health.
NEWS: NIGAT’s 33rd Art Therapy Summer School 2026: * rated as “Excellent” by all attendees * See https://nigat.net/events/summer-school/
Northern Ireland Group for Art Therapy
NIGAT formed in 1976 to have a wide membership that is open and welcoming to anyone interested in art therapy and the wider uses of the creative process to facilitate personal development and health. NIGAT was founded by Rita Simon in 1976 and Alice Graham was a co-founder. Rita was a pioneering art therapist in the UK in the early 1940s (1941 onwards) who introduced art therapy into Northern Ireland in 1952. She was also a founding member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) in 1964.
NIGAT’s aims were and are to: promote art therapy; Rita Simon’s approach to art therapy; and wider uses of the art process to facilitate creativity, personal development and health – as informed by art therapy principles. NIGAT became a Registered Charity in 1989 (Charity no. 103671 – 2016). It is a membership organisation which is administered by a voluntary Committee elected at the AGM from within the membership group. Due to its voluntary nature, NIGAT has no staff or office, but can be contacted by visiting our Contact section.
★★ Throughout 2026, NIGAT will continue to celebrate its 50th / golden anniversary and also 74 years since art therapy was first established in Northern Ireland by Rita Simon in 1952! From 2026, NIGAT is pleased to announce a formal and expanding collaboration with BAAT NI, the NI country committee of BAAT, and the Region 20 (Northern Ireland) group, one of BAAT’s many regional groups. ★★ This is inspired by the fact that Rita Simon was both a founder of NIGAT and one of the founders of BAAT. This develops the informal collaboration that NIGAT and BAAT NI have engaged in since the establishment of BAAT NI in 2021 and the local regional group (Region 20) which formed in 2008. See our Art Therapy page for more detail.
In the UK, the profession of Art Therapy / Art Psychotherapy is statutorily regulated by the HCPC. In Northern Ireland, it is recognised both as one of the Allied Health Professions (Department of Health NI) and one of the Psychological Professions (Department of Health NI). The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) introduced a strategy for developing psychological therapy services in 2009. In the Strategy, a Stepped Care Framework was adopted to guide decision making in relation to the provision of psychological therapies. Consistent with this, and as advocated by NIGAT and BAAT NI, art therapy practice is broad, applicable across the Stepped Care model in Northern Ireland – see NIGAT’s Art Therapy page for more information on this. Across all these Steps of care, art therapy / art psychotherapy practice must be underpinned by good governance, ethics, and professional standards, which include: getting explicit informed consent, risk assessment and management, good record-keeping, engaging in outcome and therapeutic alliance evaluation and quality assurance, and ensuring safe and effective evidence-based practice.
Prior to art therapy’s establishment as a registered profession in the UK, Rita used the terms ‘art therapy’ / ‘art as therapy’ / ‘art as a therapy’ interchangeably to refer to art therapy. After its establishment as a registered profession in 1997 (state registration) and 2001 (statutory regulation), Rita. consistent with UK legislation, used the term ‘art therapy’ for the profession and its practice. Since 2001, the two interchangeable titles of ‘Art Therapist’ and ‘Art Psychotherapist’ are protected under criminal law. The HCPC further states that “an unregistered person may be committing an offence even if they do not use the designated title directly”, e.g. if they describe the service they provide as ‘art therapy’ or ‘art psychotherapy’). To practise art therapy / art psychotherapy in the UK, a person must be HCPC Registered.
NIGAT’s Art Therapy approach
NIGAT and BAAT NI advocate an approach to Art Therapy / Art Psychotherapy that adheres to the HCPC’s Standards and BAAT’s Code of Ethics and underpinned by sound governance. This is consistent with Rita’s methods. This art therapy approach is aligned with evidence-based practice and contemporary research on effective psychotherapy. Our approach is integrative / pluralistic and trauma-informed. Its core stance being person-centred and collaborative, as aligned with co-production principles. The approach draws on person-centred theory and psychodynamic theories, including attachment theory and mentalization. It is characterized by a caring, warm, respectful and inclusive professional way of being. As noted above, art therapy practice is broad, applicable across the ‘Stepped Care model’ in Northern Ireland – see NIGAT’s Art Therapy page for more information on this. All art therapy practice is supported by mandatory clinical supervision and ongoing personal reflection and continuing professional development.
Enquiries about NIGAT and this approach are welcome.
Donations to NIGAT, Registered Charity
NIGAT is a not-for-profit Charity in Northern Ireland run by a voluntary committee. NIGAT promotes art therapy in Northern Ireland which is an evidence-based way of supporting mental health and relieving stress and trauma. To support these aims and NIGAT’s work promoting art therapy for people of all ages (children, young people, adults of all ages) and in many settings, please consider making a donation.
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Our vision of the future is one where everyone has an understanding of the value of art therapy and has the opportunity to experience the power of the creative process.