Ep 29 – Jo Bridgwater from After School Art Classes with Jo Bridgwater + Studio
Jo Bridgwater is the founder of After School Art Classes with Jo Bridgwater + Studio, where she teaches photography, painting, drawing, mosaics, beads and buttons, and fibre arts to children in Masterton. Living with autism and a leg‑length difference, Jo brings empathy, structure and creativity to her work, drawing on her Bachelor of Art and Design and a lifelong love of making things. Alongside her classes, she creates pet portraits, digital artwork and merchandise designs, and is developing her studio photography practice.
In this episode, host Julie Woods talks with Jo about building a creative business, adapting to fluctuating energy levels, and listening closely to what young artists want to learn. Jo shares how she turned a barrier in traditional teaching into an opportunity to create her own art‑education space, how she balances part‑time work with running a studio, and how community support – including King Street Artworks – has helped her grow. She also reflects on resilience, creativity and the joy of helping children explore art in many different forms.
