Exclusive Books teams up with Little Artist School to support talented kids

Exclusive Books CEO Grattan Kirk shared details of the company’s latest initiative supporting the Little Artist School, a Johannesburg-based art charity for underprivileged children.

The Little Artist School, founded three decades ago, provides a safe and creative space for children from shelters and orphanages in downtown Johannesburg. With 130 students currently enrolled, the school operates without government or lottery funding.

The collaboration sees children’s paintings transformed into wrapping paper, tote bags, and journals, now commercially available at Exclusive Books stores nationwide. All proceeds go directly back to the Little Artist school, which relies entirely on donations.

“The kids paint during the day and after school, and then their beautiful artwork is commercialised; we turn it into wrapping paper, gift bags, and journals,” says Kirk. “Every cent goes back into the Little Artist School.”

Kirk says the initiative reflects Exclusive Books’ ongoing commitment to fostering literacy, creativity, and long-term empowerment rather than short-term aid with kids who are 'angels'.

"We don’t go outside schools or libraries,” Kirk explained. “Our mandate is to foster a love of literacy, writing, illustration, and open-mindedness, to give children purpose.”

In addition to supporting the Little Artist School, Exclusive Books has also helped rebuild a library at H.A. Jack Primary School, reinforcing its focus on education and community development.

The CEO also addressed the role of technology and changing reading habits. Despite the rise of e-books and AI-driven reading apps, he believes there’s a growing appreciation for the tangible experience of reading.

"People tell us it’s their ‘me time',” says Kirk. “They’ve had enough screen time, they just want to sit down with a real book.”

Kirk credits BookTok, the social media community on TikTok that celebrates reading, with attracting a new generation of young readers.

“It’s actually become cool and hip to read a book again,” he noted.

As the festive season approaches, Kirk encouraged shoppers to choose wrapping paper and gifts from the Little Artist School collection, available in most Exclusive Books stores.

"Come to the store, buy the art, buy the gift wrap, all that money goes back into the school,” he said.

The initiative perfectly aligns with Exclusive Books’ mission: to cultivate creativity, literacy, and opportunity, one page and one piece of art at a time.

To listen to Kirk in conversation with Bongani Bingwa on 702's Breakfast show, click below: