Some news from us at 64 Million Artists…

After 12 years as Founder and CEO of 64 Million Artists, Jo Hunter will be stepping down from the role. “I am so proud of everything we have achieved, and still equally as passionate about the ability of creativity to make change but life looks very different for me than it did 12 years ago and I am ready for a new chapter with flexibility to learn, grow and flex my own creativity.”

It has been a challenging couple of years for anyone running a social enterprise. Grants are hard to come by, and whilst our creative facilitation and training work continues to thrive, it has become more and more challenging to support our public programme in the face of difficult financial circumstances.

In this moment of reflection, and with Jo stepping down, the board and team have taken the difficult decision to close our public programme. The 2026 January Challenge will be our last.

We are immensely proud of everything we have achieved. We have helped over 750,000 people reconnect with their creativity; supported a change in cultural policy with our Everyday Creativity and Cultural Democracy in Practice reports; significant research into the impacts of creativity and supported hundreds of communities, organisations and individuals make change along the way.

What’s next?

Our company culture will remain long beyond the end of the public programme. 64 Million Artists will continue to deliver its thriving creative facilitation and training programmes for clients.

We are so grateful to you for being on this journey with us and we are excited to work alongside you in this final phase of the public programme to use creativity as a change making tool.

We know that this news might feel hard, especially if you have enjoyed The January Challenge over the years. As a team, we are committed to sharing the 2026 resources as widely as possible and will support our brilliant online community and other communities across the country to self-organise for 2027 onwards! We’ll be launching the 2026 campaign soon, and as always, are really keen to hear from you.

Please do get in touch with any ideas, suggestions and reflections as we prepare to end this era of The January Challenge in 64 Million Artists style – celebrating the voices of as many people involved as possible.

With love and courage –

The team at 64 Million Artists