The Lowry offer a wide range of creative opportunities for schools, colleges and Universities including workshops, resources, INSET for teachers, and access to performances and exhibitions.

They deliver more than 300 formal learning workshops every year across a range of subjects and topics including visual arts, dance and drama.

The Lowry's Learning programme also has strong links to The Lowry’s award-winning Theatres and Galleries to ensure that schools, colleges and universities across the North West have the opportunity to engage with the best of International theatre, Dance and Visual art as we bring it to Salford.

They work closely with teachers, children and young people to ensure that the learning programme the Lowry offers is exciting, engaging and educational. To do this they have a Teachers Advisory Panel that is made up of Primary, Secondary and FE teachers who advise us them on their learning programme.

The Lowry’s School blog is another way that they make sure that the voice of teachers, children and young people is at the heart of their Learning programme. They regularly share feedback on the blog from children, young people and teachers as well as images of their work to celebrate their participation in the learning workshops.

If you haven’t already, have a look and keep up to date with the brilliant work local Schools are doing.

The Lowry are always looking for more feedback, ideas or input so feel free to contact Lynsey Merrick - Participation & Learning Manager - Lynsey.merrick@thelowry.com by e-mail to get involved.

Keep up to date with learning blog by visiting: http://www.thelowry.com/get-involved/learning/learning-home/

The project will be based at The Crib in Burnley Central Library and sessions will run weekly from July to September/October. You will need to be motivated and reliable, be able to attend most of the project sessions and complete other tasks outside of session time.

On this project you will:

• Meet and work with professional artists

• Discover things you never knew about Burnley

• Develop your creative skills in photography, film making, sound recording, creative writing and/or visual art

• Develop your leadership by sharing your skills with others

• Gain a national qualification at Level 3 with 35 UCAS points

Apply online at

www.surveymonkey.com/s/cribcreative2013

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Thursday 20th June

For more information please contact Rachel Hawthorn

Email: rhawthorn@burnley.gov.uk

Telephone: 01282 425011 ext.3218

www.facebook.com/cribcreative

To find out more about Arts Award go to www.artsaward.org.uk

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Please register for our monthly e-bulletin featuring news of events, jobs and opportunities that focus on children and young people: 
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Shared future: Manchester refugee celebration, Saturday 22 June, 12pm – 5pm

Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL

Free entry, everyone welcome

• Music, dance, poetry and theatre performances

• Refugee awareness-raising exhibitions, activities, films and talks

• Food tasting from around the world

• Children’s cultural arts and crafts activities

• Prizes including tickets to the International Roots Festival, RNCM, 7pm that night

Throughout the day there will be a colourful array of activities to help you learn more about refugee journeys and experiences. Choose from an engaging range of film screenings, games and talks.

Come and sample food from around the world from 1pm from countries including Eritrea, Somalia and Pakistan.

Children can enjoy arts and crafts activities.

Performances will run from 12.30 – 5pm and include music, dance, poetry readings, drumming and theatre by refugee artists, community groups and schools.

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Heritage Lottery funds online project and outreach work to make better use of traditional english folk in learning

A programme to create the world’s biggest online portal of English folk music, song and dance manuscripts has been given the go ahead. The Met has been chosen as the Northwest Hub to work with English Folk Song and Dance Society to bring the learning and participation elements of the project to schools, educators and community groups in the region.

• Work in partnership with education organisations, to increase awareness and knowledge of folk in education by training music educators and teachers, provide educational resources, regional learning events, and creative projects in primary and secondary schools and the wider community
• Partner local cultural organisations to deliver community projects comprising of participatory events and concerts, archive and history projects 
• Carry out essential conservation work to the collections, preserving them for generations to come, and training volunteers in archive and conservation work
• Provide training and volunteering opportunities to up to 223 individuals and involve around 20,000 people in activities, performances and events

Full info: http://www.efdss.org/front/The%20Full%20English/the-full-english/214283

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The company will meet every fortnight on Thursday's 4.30pm - 6pm from September - June at St Augustine's Building and will hopefully include the opportunity to create a performance piece with professional choreographers during summer (dependent upon funding). 


 This year we are also hope to include two new strands to support those who are unsuccessful in the company and to further develop those whose experience is already extensive. There will be a weekly class open to those who audition and aren't successful which will support their development in dance and prepare them for the audition the following year. They will be included in whole group activities such as watching professional companies and taking part in Arts Award, an accredited qualification. We will also be offering those who are successful in the company the opportunity to be part of the new Youth Board. The board will be responsible for making decisions about the development of the company, which choreographers we work with, where we perform and other practical decisions. 

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Bolton Community College was the host venue for two days of quality creative activity, aimed at giving 120 young people from Bolton Secondary schools and alternative education projects throughout Borough, the opportunity to complete three sections of their Bronze Arts Award.  The event took place in May, and saw the development of a new partnership between, Curious Minds, Bolton Octagon, Stone Soup, Bolton Community College, 9 Secondary Schools (inc. one SEN) and an alternative education project ‘Switch’.

Stone Soup, working on behalf of Curious Minds coordinated the two days, where students took part in a range of sessions including Stage Combat led by Keith Wallis, Tattoo Art, a performance & workshop by Bolton Octagon’s ‘Dramatically Healthy’ and a Q&A session, delivered by a professional actor. The two days allowed participants to explore art forms beyond what they would normally experience within the school curriculum and encouraged students to expand their creative potential, whilst working towards a valuable piece of accreditation.

Prior to the event, 12 teachers were trained as Bronze / Silver Arts Award Advisors, and were paired with Arts Professionals who provided mentoring support to ensure the schools first experience of AA was a valuable and worthwhile one. The mentoring continues by experienced arts organisations, which have a proven track record in delivering Arts Award, to a wide range of young people all the way through to their final moderation.

There’s so much more going on that what I was aware of. I’m excited to get more involved in the future
Karen Lees from St James’ High School

This has been the catalyst to kick start a new Arts Award Schools Network within the area, enabling schools to embed Arts Award within the learning and support young people by signposting them to quality provision within Bolton. Share best practice.

The project has created a sense of excitement within high schools in Bolton and opened up a dialogue between schools and arts professionals.

The process had benefited the school community by allowing us to work together, share talents, resources, experience and expertise 
Lisa Thompson (Rumworth SEN School)

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Picture: Manchester Camerata REmix Project - Co-Funded by Curious Minds: http://tinyurl.com/rmmccm

The Offer...

We recognise that many MyPlace centres have excellent arts and culture facilities and are perfectly positioned to engage those young people who don’t or can’t access arts and culture by other means.  We know that MyPlace centres are staffed by passionate and committed people who want to provide their young people with the best possible opportunities. 

We also understand how difficult it is to build and sustain an arts and culture programme.  Funding can be tricky to secure, the landscape is constantly shifting, and building relationships with potential partners can be time consuming.  For this reason, we would like to offer the support of an expert Cultural Agent to develop the arts and culture programme in a limited number of My Place centres.

The programme of support will be tailored to your needs and we anticipate that this might include working in partnership with you to:

•             Write a cultural strategy, which emphasizes high quality arts and culture provision.

•             Identify potential funding sources.

•             Prepare a funding bid for submission.

•             Develop relationships with local arts and culture organisations.

•             Raise staff awareness of the local arts and culture offer so young people can be effectively signposted to opportunities.

Together, we will identify a Cultural Agent with exactly the right expertise to help make this happen.

We will bring:

•             5 - 10 fully funded days of the expert help of a Cultural Agent to help you develop your programme.

•             Our knowledge, contacts and expertise in arts and culture with young people.

•             Access to networking and marketplace events to make new contacts and partnerships.

You will bring:

•             An identified member of staff who will work with the Cultural Agent, with a commitment to spend 5 - 10 days on this work themselves, which may include consulting your young people.

•             Genuine enthusiasm and commitment to creating an Arts and Culture strategy and putting it into action.

•             Your participation in evaluating this programme.

How to Express Interest

If you are interested, please submit:

•             Any relevant information about your MyPlace centre and your current plans.

•             A statement no longer than two sides of A4 explaining why you are interested and what you hope to get out of this, including your initial thoughts on how you might use the time of the Cultural Agent.

via email or post by 5pm on the 28th of June 2013.

To Kelly Allen (kelly.allen@curiousminds.org.uk ), Engagement Coordinator, Curious Minds, Lodge House, Cow Lane, Burnley, BB11 1NN. 

This support is to be used in accordance with your needs between July 2013 and March 2014.

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Walk the Plank would like to announce a unique opportunity which is open to an individual in the early stages of their theatre-making career. 

They're inviting the next generation of theatre makers to showcase their talent and are looking for ambitious and motivated people with big ideas and exceptional abilities who want to make work that engages audiences outside of traditional venues.

The successful applicant will be offered a bespoke placement with Walk the Plank with tailored training and development opportunities and the possibility of collaboration with the company on existing projects or in making new work.

For full details including how to apply go to: http://www.walktheplank.co.uk/about-us/news/

Application deadline: 10am, Wednesday 3 July

Interviews week beginning 8 July

Start date: depending on the proposal, earliest possible start date 1 December 2013

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4th & 5th July 2013, 10 am - 4.15 pm

Cornerhouse, Manchester

Special Rate Fee: £100 per person

This new, two-day introductory course provides a toolkit of resources and information to help you prepare for work as a successful freelance practitioner with young people in the arts.
 
It examines key areas of current legislation that impact on working as a freelance practitioner with children and young people - including insurance, child protect and health and safety. This course will provide project management tools in marketing, partnership working and evaluation and will signpost to areas of good practice; providing examples of how you can make yourself attractive to prospective partners, funders and commissioning organisations.
 
This course was developed by Lesley Wood. Lesley has a vast experience as a freelance trainer for Artswork as well as working across the education, arts and cultural sector as a successful freelance practitioner, project manager and consultant.

To book a place contact:
Rachel Hall - Manager, Learning and Skills, Artswork
T: 02380 332491
E: rachel@artswork.org.uk
W: www.artswork.org.uk

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Accrington Academy students and staff, working with Creative Agent, Jez Dolan and a range of exciting artists, including artist-in-residence Salina Somalya, have developed through co-funding through Curious Minds the exciting Access All Areas festival for later this June.

June 25 

Ideas and thought provoking thinking comes from TEDx Accrington at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25 June at Dunkenhalgh Hotel and kicks off the week. 

Accrington’s Year 5 primary school children get inspired by David Walliam’s Billionaire Boy and respond to the book in lots of creative ways, using Accrington Academy’s facilities.  Catch the results on Tuesday 25 June between 9.30am – 2.30pm at the Academy.

June 26 

Ashes Blood Rivers from Confluence of Rivers takes its inspiration from river myths from all over the world and fuses diverse art forms from Cantonese Opera, Thai Dance, Lathi Khela (Bangladeshi stick-fighting) to Ugandan Dance, Mime and Commedia dell’Arte.  Exploring the relationship between people, civilization, power and the environment, Ashes Blood Rivers started its journey in Hong Kong two months ago and has toured to three continents before arriving in Accrington. 

See this amazing project at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26 June at the Academy. 

Before this performance, students from the Academy will perform excerpts from Shakespeare and dance and drama.  And there’s visual art in the Academy’s reception area to see too.

June 28

Friday 28 June – why not catch the spectacular Drum Machine at Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle, a massive explosion of sound, colour and movement with a 35 piece strong drumming band?  The band working with Academy students have made an inspiring audio-visual experience. Don’t miss it.

June 28 & 29

Finally, see Accrington differently with Periplum’s performance, Quarry on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 between 5pm – 8pm.  Explore a mysterious trail through Accrington’s iconic locations with iPods and see what connects the town with the New York Empire State Building, a war memorial in France and a British Power Station.  Surprise encounters with people and hidden messages that only you can see makes this a performance with a twist and puts you at its heart.  

For the full programme and the latest updates plus booking information, go to www.aaafestival.co.uk

Twitter @AAAFestival2

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Mondays, 4 - 5pm | £5

An introduction to theatre and theatre techniques for young people aged  5 to 9. The sessions will include a mix of theatre games, storytelling, puppetry, movement, music and more ! A chance to play, make new friends and build confidence.  This term, Theatre Club will be led by The Edge’s Artistic Director Janine Waters.

The sessions will lead to an informal outcome where parents and carers can see what the young people have been developing in the sessions.

We will also soon be releasing more information regarding our exciting up-and-coming youth provision. The Edge will become a place where young people can have a key part in the development of the theatre, and have an active role in what takes place here for young people.

Only £5 per session

Please email: info@edgetheatre.co.uk to sign up.

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SHINY - Turned on its Head

Thursday 27th June 2013

Suitable for babies sitting independently to children aged 4 years

Shows: 10.45 am & 1.30 pm

Tickets: £7/5

Join dancers from Turned on its Head for their new interactive show for children. Set in the 1940’s their journey takes us from a dusty cinema storeroom to the dazzling world of the movie stars… to a place where everything shines and sparkles. Watch with amazement as all that glitters unfolds before your very eyes.

“A magical hour, full of revelations. The children were delighted and engaged” Jess Tickell, mum to Jasmine aged 3

“The company never fail to immerse the children in a world that jumps and glides and inspires moment of great child-led choreography” Adel Al-Salloum, Director, The Spark

“The show really touched parents, they said it was really beautiful.” Lisa Foster, Children’s Centre Teacher, Saffron Sure Start, Leicester

“The whole experience was very moving, clever and full of magical moments. To see the very diverse community laughing and interacting was delightful” Lucy Bani, Board of Trustees, The Spark Children’s Arts Festival

Click HERE to book tickets

Knick Knack and Doo Dad – Lyngo Theatre

Friday 28th June 2013

Ages 3-10

Shows: 10.45am & 1.30pm.

Tickets: £7/5

Lyngo Theatre, Mac Birmingham and the Lowry present:

Knick Knack and Doo Dad - Reasons to be Cheerful

Video link here

By Marcello Chiarenza with Patrick Lynch (Cbeebies) and Carlo Rossi. Music by Cialdo Capelli

What’s big, smelly and floats on the water? A big, smelly rubbish island! That’s where we find Knick, endlessly sorting through all our crud and clinker. He has been there for so long he has forgotten how to smile and has started talking to a dummy he has made. Now meet Doo Dad, he’s here to help, but Knick doesn’t want any! Doo Dad needs you to show Knick why having friends is so important and all the reasons to be cheerful. It’s an interactive show and you get to join in with the rubbish storm, the crying chorus, and with making bubbly fire and ha-ha food.

We’ll have great fun as we transform our trash into amazing new toys and reboot your recycling routine into something special.

‘Each and every child was utterly mesmerised’ – whatsonstage.com

‘Sublime acting’ – Birmingham Post

Click HERE to book tickets

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For bookings or more information, visit www.ludusdance.org or telephone 01524 35936.

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• 19th June hosted by Tullie House in Carlisle: http://www.earlyarts.co.uk/training/details/83-shared-practice-network
• 20th June hosted by M6 Theatre Company in Rochdale: http://www.earlyarts.co.uk/training/details/91-shared-practice-network-event-rochdale

Shared Practice Networks are a natural evolution of Earlyarts events programme, inspired by feedback and ideas from past attendees and Earlyarts members. Attendees must be members of Earlyarts (note: this means a Bronze, Silver or Gold paid member). However, the first event is FREE before you join, so you can be sure they are of direct value to you before you commit.To attend simply login to the Earlyarts website (or create a login if you don't have one) and follow the simple instructions.

You can view information about shared practice networks here

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For 11 to 14 year olds

Summer in the City

Tuesdays 23 & 30 July,
6, 13, 20, 27 Aug, 1__3 pm Summer Holiday,
Free, drop-in

Take part in dynamic weekly creative workshops inspired by our summer exhibitions! A great chance to learn new skills working with artists, and you can work towards a Bronze Arts Award when you attend all six sessions. 

Stuff Happens

Events for 15 to 18 year olds

Weds 24 & 31 July, 7, 14, 21, 28 Aug, 1__3 pm
Free, no need to book

Design your own sessions. What do you want to do? What should happen in Art Galleries?
What type of creatives do you want to work with? Let’s hear what you have to say and do it! 

Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Rd, Manchester, Lancashire M15 6ER

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Do you live, study or work in Blackpool, Wyre or Fylde?

Do you want to develop your dance technique, create performance work and perform across Lancashire and beyond?…

…then we want you to audition for the Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company!

Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company is a brand new dance company for young dancers aged 11-19yrs from Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. they are looking for young people with a talent…you may have been dancing all your life or just freestyle around the house…if you’ve got a passion and flare for dancing, they want to see it!

Auditions will be  held on Sunday 14th July, 1-4pm at Blackpool Grand Theatre

If you are interesting in attending the audition or for more information, please visit the Fylde Coast Dance blog at the link below and complete the online application (or download a paper copy). Everyone who applies will get a place at the audition.

http://fyldecoastdance.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/fylde-coast-youth-dance-company-auditions/

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What's on offer in your local area:

North West

Oldham Colesium - Coming soon (Theatre)

Theatre by the Lake - 04/10/2013 (Theatre)

Theatre by the Lake roadshow - November 2013 (Theatre)

English National Ballet at Liverpool Empire - 22/11/2013 (Theatre)

What is Creative Choices?

Creative Choices is a programme of careers events for young people. Working with industry partners from the theatre, music, jewellery, design and heritage sectors and our network of colleges we deliver events that give an insight into the careers available within the creative and cultural sectors.

Creative Choices provides:

•             An introduction to a wide range of careers in creative industries

•             Hands-on workshop and advice for years 9, 10 & 11

•             Independent and impartial IAG informed by creative industry employers

•             Events about theatre, music, jewellery, design and heritage careers

Give your class a head start in this growing industry! Our research shows that the number of jobs across the sector has grown by 21% since 2009.

Example careers workshops include:

Design: Product Design, Marketing, Event Management, Exhibition Design, Typography and Finance

Theatre: Box Office, Stage Management, Costume, Make-up, Sound, Lighting, Marketing, Finance and Event Management

Music: Marketing, Box Office, Sound, Finance, Event Management and Live Audio Technician

Heritage: Exhibition Design, Marketing, Finance, Event Management and Curating

Jewellery: Chain Making, Finance, Product Design, Event Management, Exhibition Design and Marketing

To find out more about Creative Choices events and to book, visit www.creative-choices.co.uk/getinto or email us at events@ccskills.org.uk

If you would like to learn more about careers in the creative and cultural industries, please visit www.creative-choices.co.uk for job profiles, ‘ask the expert’, events, work experience and much more.

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Mid Pennine Arts are launching a photography competition on behalf of the Urban Rivers Enhancement Scheme for Burnley.  The scheme is being run by the Ribble Rivers Trust and funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 ‘The river Brun and river Calder wind their way through the town of Burnley, sometimes you see and even hear them rushing past, down water courses and under bridges. Sometimes they sparkle in the sunlight, burbling past river banks and through Parks. Other times they flow so very slowly, controlled and quiet, slipping past us without us noticing, dipping in and out of dark tunnels that lie beneath the pavements we unknowingly hurry over’. Helen Yates.

We want you to seek out the hidden Rivers of Burnley and find the places where they travel through. We would like you to use your photography skills to show us both the beautiful and the not so beautiful aspects of the River Brun and the River Calder. We would like you to send us your two best images showing the good and the bad aspect that you and your camera have captured. Your photographs will need to be digital with permission to reproduce and to be displayed as part of a URES exhibition that will tour local venues. Images will need to be available at a minimum of 300dpi for printing purposes.

A prize will be awarded in each category (a total of 6 prizes).

The categories are as follows:

A. Under 21 year olds                                       
B. 21 years and over         

A prize will also be allocated to one image chosen by the public as the most interesting.                               

All prize winners and selected runners up will be used within an exhibition to take place during the summer in Burnley Town Centre and other venues. Selected images can also be published in the Burnley Express and on the web sites of Mid Pennine Arts and the Ribble Rivers Trust.

DEAD LINE   -   all entries need to be in by Friday 28^th June 2013

Complete the competition entry form and post entries to the address below.  Alternatively a competition entry form and more competition details can be obtained through our website www.midpenninearts.org.uk/hsrcomp or by contacting Helen Yates, Community and Projects Officer, Mid Pennine Arts on 01282 421986 or email helen@midpenninearts.org.uk

You can also book to spend some time with a photographer on one of our ‘Photo safaris’ that are coming up to help any would be photographers  frame the best shots around the town centre.  Book through our competition page or contact us for more details. 

Hide n Seek Rivers

Photo Safaris are being held this weekend Sat 1^st June and Sun 2^nd June during the ARK’s visit to Burnley

– join a safari and enter the photography competition, lots of prizes, more information attached

The competition page link is:  www.midpenninearts.org.uk/hsrcomp

The link directly to the booking form on Eventbrite is:  

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/login?referrer=/preview%3Feid%3D6785542741

More information about the ARK  www.thearklancashire.co.uk

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Storytelling and imaginative learning for children qualification

The Manchester College working in Partnership with The Lowry.

The aim of this short course is to develop skills in learning through play for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) using the medium of performing arts.

Manchester College and The Lowry have come together to develop and pilot an exciting qualification for early years practitioners. Using the expertise of both The Manchester College and The Lowry the North West is seeing one of the most important areas of early years cultural development being advanced and available for developing arts and cultural practitioners across the region.

‘We are very excited that links with our regional bridge organisation has enabled us to connect with The Manchester College to pilot a new qualification that will train students as Early Years Practitioners through a rigorous theoretical understanding of child development married with high quality arts based training to explore the use of ‘play’ and ‘story’ in young children’s development. If the qualification is successful it will be the first of its kind. The Lowry will utilise its current programme of early years work that takes place in the building and out in the community alongside the wide range of Professional Children’s theatre that is brought to Salford from leading children’s theatre companies all over the world.’

Lynsey Merrick, Participation & Learning Manager, The Lowry Arts Centre

Download the qualification flyer below and find out more or how you could apply for the qualification.

Storytelling and Imaginative Learning Qualification Flyer

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Artform: Drama - Leadership 

Region: North West

Act now! Artists of Today, Leaders of tomorrow was a weekend residential project involving members of M6 Act Now! Young Leaders Panel to enhance their leadership skills.

Background

After in depth consultation with young people and partner agencies, M6 Act Now! launched in July 2011 as a result of a successful funding bid to Big Lottery Reaching Communities. Part of this 3 year project was to create a group of young leaders who would help to guide and shape the programme. The young leaders were selected by their peers and have been meeting regularly since January 2012. Their main focus is on hosting Rochdale’s first Youth Theatre Festival in Easter 2014. Curious Minds, through their partnership investment programme, match funded the funding of Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund to ensure the project had ultimate impact on all participants and partners involved.

Objectives

During this project participants will –

• Take part in The University of the First Age training course ‘Artists of today, Leaders of Tomorrow’.
• Enhance their understanding of what it means to be a leader.
• Broaden their leadership vocabulary.
• Take part in outdoor team building exercises facilitated by Dearne Valley staff.
• Have the opportunity to work with young people they have never met before.

Main challenges and how they were tackled

There was a bit of reluctance from one member of the Bolton group to work with members of the M6 group. Rather than staff stepping in to resolve this, we felt it appropriate to let the participants try to resolve the matter first as it was a leadership course. They did so very well, by mixing and working together as one group and encouraging the other member to be part of that too. This was the essence of this weekend – letting the young people take the lead and find solutions to any challenges that they are faced with.

“I found the integration of two groups really helped to give new perspectives and outlooks on obstacles in which we, as a team, managed to overcome” Corey, Act Now! Young leader.

“I have gained the confidence to be a pull from the front leader. I learned to take control and lead a situation” Coral, Act Now! Young Leader

Partnership input

Partnership Investment funding from Curious Minds

Match funding received from Big Lottery Reaching Communities

University of the First Age – Providing and leading the training course ‘Artists of today, Leaders of tomorrow’

Bolton Octagon - To co-facilitate day two training with M6 staff. To bring a group of 7 young leaders to take part in the workshops and activities. To work with M6 staff to develop the programme of events for the residential weekend.

Outcomes of the project

Overall, the training weekend was a great success. The young people participated in leadership training as well as outdoor team building activities – the two aspects complimented each other greatly.

All 7 young people from M6 Theatre participated in and completed the training ‘Artists of today, Leaders of tomorrow’.

All 7 participants noted an increase in understanding leadership at the end of the training.

All 7 participants that attended the training are now organising an event for summer 2013.

4 of the 7 participants have started to complete their Silver Arts Award.

From observing the group back at M6, they are now working more effectively together. They got to know each other on a personal level at the residential which has really helped them to bond as a group.

The relationship between Bolton Octagon and M6 Theatre has grown stronger through this project. We are now in regular contact advising each other and sharing ideas for future projects. We are currently planning another event for the 2 groups to come together again to share their experiences of putting what they learned on the residential into practice.

Useful links:

www.m6theatre.co.uk/join-in/youth-theatre/

www.octagonbolton.co.uk/get-involved

http://www.ufa.org.uk/ 

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Centre: Tameside Council Arts and Events Team.

Context
Tameside Council Arts and Events Team have embedded Arts Award within the Council’s Cultural Offer specifically for children and young people taking part in the annual pantomimes, enabling large numbers of participants to achieve Discover Awards.

Vanessa Rothwell, the teams lead adviser, was attracted to Arts Award as a flexible, nationally recognised qualification that helps cultural participation in the Borough whilst ensuring that children and young people’s creative skills are recognised.

Following initial adviser training, the Council developed a bespoke offer and log in order to support the young people and their mentors. With support from Pendle Productions and Curious Minds the initial scheme went ahead during Autumn 2012. This was a huge success resulting in over 200 children and young people achieving Discover in Spring 2013.

Tameside is now building on this success by embarking on a three – five year development plan of the award. With training of additional advisors within its own cultural departments considered its priority. Additionally extensive plans exist which include training for professional community artists from the Borough and community champions for the award. The Council has also recently been awarded Arts Award Supporter status which will enable children and young people from outside Tameside to access Tameside’s cultural facilities to support their awards. There are also plans to extend the offer to Youth Services alongside The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Approach
This pilot project was based around the annual festive pantomime which is well supported across the Borough with a 79% occupancy rate. The 'Jack and the Beanstalk' professional production gave us the opportunity to provide a professional show with a supporting cast provided by eight local community dance organisations across five venues during the December period. During the 2012 / 2013 production there were 232 children and young people taking part in the production and all the participants were then given the opportunity to undertake Arts Award Discover in a bespoke log. Children were encouraged to work individually, collaboratively in small groups and within professional workshops over the term of the pilot. Workshops allowed participants to pursue areas of the arts that interested them the most and meet with both theatre professionals and with other children and young people from across Tameside who were also undertaking the Award.

Impact
The Arts Award Discover pilot allowed us to develop practical infrastructure for delivering Arts Award to very large groups of children in Tameside, whilst ensuring that each child is able to receive a tailored and quality experience.

In a Borough with historic low cultural participation the successful pilot scheme and extensive positive feedback from participants, parents and the wider community have inspired the authority to extend its offer in this area.

Celebration
Following the moderation, the Borough held a red carpet celebration evening for participants, parents and group mentors where certificates and log books were presented to the children by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Brenda Warrington. Following the certificate giving the children and young people were encouraged to stay and discuss their experiences with the Mayor and two fellow senior Councillors.

Funding
The Council supported the project financially, with significant contributions from Curious Minds and an external funder. Dance School teachers and community coordinators. acted as mentors in their specialist fields, supporting students’ skill development. These mentors will become fully trained advisors in the next few months.

Comments

The Arts Award experience has been incredible. The impact of such a scheme cannot be underestimated, allowing all of the young people - from the shyest to the most confident - to learn and express themselves in a practical, creative way. Working alongside so many enthusiastic young people who are eager to learn new, and add to, their skills, is more than rewarding. As practitioners, I'm sure we have learned as much from them as they did from us and we are now excited to be able to do more, hopefully to a bigger and wider group. This is definitely a scheme which is beneficial to everyone involved. ~ Pendle Productions.

I have welcomed this project for my students because it lies hand in hand with their performance work. It encourages them to contemplate the work of others within the whole production rather than thinking solely about their own contribution. It also helps for them to broaden their experience and to become 'thinking performers', which, will then hopefully mean, that the passion and understanding they gain from all aspects of this project will in turn be passed on in the future..

I sincerely hope that, with support, this can be developed and continue for the benefit of many children in the area with an interest in the arts.

Sarah England - Principal: Sarah England School of Dance

Courtesy of the Tameside Reporter and Chronicle

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Executive Director, DaDaFest

As Executive Director of DaDaFest you have the responsibility to lead and develop on all aspects of the business, develop outputs and help to increase, and diversify its offer as a leading national and increasingly international disability and deaf arts organisation.

Deadline for Applications: 12noon, Monday 1 July 2013

More info...

Artistic Producer, Ludus Dance

Are you an experienced and creative dance professional with a strong artistic vision for developing dance?  Can you lead a team of experienced Dance Development Artists to develop and deliver the best, high quality participatory dance projects ever?  

Application deadline:  9.30am on Monday 24th June

More info...

School Artist Residency, ArtistCall

Artistcall would particularly like to encourage applications from artists with an interest in Islamic arts, and also those with prior experience of working within a pupil referral unit.

Closes Friday 7 June 2013

More info...

Call out for museums/libraries/collections to host, artist in residence

Closes Friday 31 May 2013

More info...

Youth Diversionary Activities, Helena Partnerships

Creative practitioners may be interested in applying for this commission to run new and exciting youth diversionary activities for young people aged between 5-16 years in St.Helens, Merseyside.  Visual arts, music, drama, dance and creative writing projects will all be considered. 

Closes Wednesday 29 May 2013

More info...

Arts Engagement Project With People With Alcohol Issues, St.Helens Council

St.Helens Council are looking for an arts organisation with a proven track record of delivering high quality arts programmes that effectively engage with adults who may never have taken part in arts activities before. 

Closes Tuesday 28 May 2013

More info...

Head of Creative Programming, Manchester Camerata

Manchester Camerata seeks a highly original and creative programmer to oversee and implement the orchestra’s artistic strategy and development with the Music Director.

Closing date for applications: Monday 27th May 2013

More info...

Membership of Board of Trustees, Minerva Arts

Closes Monday 27 May 2013

more info...

Film Script writer, Civic Arts Centre Oswaldtwistle

The Civic Arts Centre in Oswaldtwistle are looking for an experienced film script writer for their heritage project Welcome to Gobbinland.

Deadline for applications will be on 24th May 2013 at 12 noon.

More info...

Project Managers, Dovetail

Dovetail is looking for a number of experienced, dynamic and exceptional associate project managers, with expert communications skills, to work across a range of creative, learning, arts and cultural projects and activities. 

Closes Friday 24 May 2013 

More info...

Marketing Assistant, Walk The Plank

Walk the Plank are seeking a Marketing Assistant with excellent marketing and communications skills, a great eye for detail, a passion for the arts and a thorough, quick thinking and proactive approach to their work.

Application deadline: 10am, Thursday 23rd May

More info...

Treasures of Cumbria – Website creation, Cumbria Museum Consortium

Closes Wednesday 22 May 2013 

More info...

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In exciting news for her, but tinged with sadness for us, Tina Taylor will be leaving Curious Minds in June.
Tina has a new position as General Manager for Liverpool based 20 Stories High.

Tina has been with Curious Minds (and before that Creative Partnerships Merseyside) since 2005 and has taken on various roles and challenges throughout that time. Over the last year Tina has been working with arts and cultural organisations across the North West helping them become more secure and confident when applying for funding and undertaking partnership working. We hope the groundwork Tina has developed will help those organisations go from strength to strength.

So we bid farewell to Tina and thank her for being a great colleague and friend. Best of luck.

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With such a broad range of positive outcomes, hopes were high for the second round of Bridge development meetings! Throughout March and April, these sessions focused on young people’s progression within the arts and cultural sector. Curious Minds were keen to find out more about the regional offer for young people in terms of information, advice and guidance; progression routes; and opportunities to undertake work related learning. All sessions included inspirational presentations from colleagues across the region who collectively deliver a range of progression opportunities to young people:

Jonathan Poole, Centre for Advanced Training Manager, The Lowry 

Jonathan talked about the NW DanceCAT and it's positioning within the broader progression framework of the dance sector - providing a detailed overview of the ladder of progression from initial engagement to professional training and employment.

Liz O'Neill, Chief Executive, Z Arts

Drawing on past experience of hosting a variety of work related learning opportunities (inc Future Jobs and creative apprenticeships) and within the context of a new organisational focus on children under 12 years, Liz talked about her vision for a continuum of progression opportunities for children and young people.

Charlotte Pritchard, Project & Portfolio Manager (Regeneration), Salford City Council & Neil Cooper, Project Coordinator, Creative Industries Progression Network in Salford

Charlotte and Neil talked about their model of Creative Careers Fairs for primary and secondary schools. Their presentation posed a number of questions about how cultural organisations can work more closely with schools to raise the profile of career opportunities with the creative and cultural industries.

Max Larcombe, Manchester Creative Studio

Max is currently setting up the Manchester Creative Studio, an employer led studio school preparing young people aged 14-19 years for a career in the creative industries. Max talked about the background and incentive for this new venture and provided an overview of the studio school model.

Paul Hartley, Blaze

The Lancashire cultural olmypiad programme for young people had a strong focus on progression. Paul talked specifically about the Ignite strand of work related learning as a model for organisations interested in developing internships; and Infinite Flow as an example of young people progressing from participatory activity to setting up their own award winning parkour company.

Hannah Baldwin, Bridge Coordinator for Achievement, also gave a presentation on the newly launched Creative Employment Programme. Delivered by Creative & Cultural Skills, on behalf of Arts Council England, this £15 million fund will support the creation of traineeships, formal apprenticeships and paid internship opportunities for young unemployed people aged 16-24 wishing to pursue a career in the arts and culture sector. This is a great opportunity for the sector to engage with the National Apprenticeship Service, help young people into work and generate opportunities for us to diversify our workforce. For more information on this programme and to access support, please visit www.creative-employment.co.uk

As hoped, all of the meetings provided wide ranging opportunities to share information, best practice and support. I was particularly impressed by attendees' generosity and openness in sharing what is and isn't working. Akin to the meetings on engagement it was clear that wherever in the region organisations are based they are facing similar challenges in terms of; having the wider knowledge of opportunities available to young people outside of their organisation; successfully connecting and working with schools to offer valuable work experience opportunities to young people; and having the right resources within their organisation – which includes time, experience and funds – to properly support young people through work related learning opportunities.

Conversations ran deep and wide across a range of topics connected with progression. Emerging priorities include: support in developing more effective signposting for cultural organisations, schools and young people; and developing opportunities for organisations to work together in creating work placements, internships and apprenticeships. The Curious Minds team are now reviewing all of these conversations and ideas; watch this space to see how your contributions will shape the Bridge programme and help you to develop your progression offer for young people.

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Key Stage 1 – ‘Dave and Phil’s Tale-Telling Adventure – 17-19 June 2013

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Book now for our forthcoming Key Stage 1 Schools’ Concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic featuring the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a curriculum scheme of work and specially-recorded audio CD for your school. Join Dave and Phil on another musical adventure, featuring well-loved tales magically brought to life by the Orchestra with presenter Dave Benson Phillips and conductor Alasdair Malloy.

There is limited availability on most concerts. For further information, please contact Liverpool Philharmonic on 0151 210 2901, email schoolsconcerts@liverpoolphil.com or for concert information and booking forms visit: www.liverpoolphil.com/primaryconcerts

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Are you an experienced and creative dance professional with a strong artistic vision for developing dance?  Can you lead a team of experienced Dance Development Artists to develop and deliver the best, high quality participatory dance projects ever?  

Yes?  Then Ludus Dance needs you!

You will be part of a creative and dynamic organisation that works hard to inspire and connect with all sections of the community developing and delivering a range of high quality dance projects and initiatives. We believe that taking part in high quality dance activity can be a life changing experience. 

As the artistic lead for the organisation you will have strong creative ideas and will lead an experienced team of Dance Development Artists. Together you will be responsible for developing and delivering a range of high quality dance projects and initiatives primarily aimed at children & young people and for people and places with the least engagement.

You will need to be able to inspire and connect with all stakeholders and all sections of the community from those who are new to dance to the gifted and talented to get more people taking part in and making great dance.

Salary:  Up to £24,000 pro rata depending on experience.

Hours:   30 hours (4 days) per week, flexible

Application deadline:  9.30am on Monday 24^th June (emailed applications will be accepted)

Interviews:  Thursday 4^th July

For an application pack visit: www.ludusdance.org/training/vacancies or email sarah.lyon@ludusdance.org

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Whether you are new to the field or wanting to refresh your skills, this four day course is for you.

Fri 13-14th & 17-18th June 2013 - More Music, Morecambe
Lunch and refreshments provided

Course Outcomes

• Meet other artists and professionals working in the field
• Understand the 8 key concepts of the global dimension and how they relate to the arts and your work
• Learn about the National Curriculum and some tools that teachers respond to including lesson planning
• Observe experienced global artists deliver workshops and assemblies
• Understand the term 'creative learning' and how this relates to your work
• Work with experienced artists and trainee teachers to plan a session
• Deliver a short session to a class of school children and receive peer feedback on your work

Course Facilitators

• Lucky Moyo - Zimbabwean singer/songwriter, dancer, and artist
• Miso'shi - Ghanaian Freelance artists & storyteller
• Pete Moser - More Music
• Sue Flowers - Green Close and Freelance Artist
• Donna Hurford - University of Cumbria
• Alexander D Great - Calypso singer/songwriter, and artist

For more information or to book a place, please contact info@globallink.org.uk

The  course is completely free and Global Link can offer travel subsidies for artists travelling from the North West.

This project is funded by the Arts Council. 

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What is Long Grass? Long Grass is a thought-provoking performance for young people and adults inspired by the questions, dreams and memories of child soldiers. Created by leading Belgian director Inne Goris, Long Grass is an immersive experience that invites its audience to sit at the heart of the installation, surrounded by a hauntingly beautiful soundscape by composer Dominique Pauwels and film by Kurt d’Haeseleer.

Focusing on a challenging subject matter, Long Grass punctures the myth of the innocent child. The boundary between perpetrator and victim, killer and child is shown as surprisingly thin. Filmed using young people, on a subject that affects young people, this is a boundary-pushing performance not to be missed.

Suitable for: Ages 15+

Duration: Approximately 60 minutes

Venue:

The Great Hall (first floor), Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB

Tickets: Booking is essential and tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis:

Tuesday 16 July – 4.30pm & 7pm

Wednesday 17 July – 4.30pm & 7pm

Thursday 18 July – 4.30pm & 7pm

How much does it cost? There is no cost for these special performances of Long Grass.

Twilight Workshop: Youth leaders who are bringing groups of young people to Long Grass are encouraged to attend a free workshop on 18 June at 5pm. This will be an opportunity to meet the director Inne Goris, discuss some of the themes and to be provided with materials which will help prepare groups who will be attending the performance. Youth leaders will also have an opportunity to attend a free preview performance of Long Grass on 11 July at 6pm.

Post-show discussion: There will be a free 30-minute post-show discussion with Inne Goris for young people after each 4.30pm performance. Once again, places are available on a first come, first served basis.

Tickets are strictly limited and available on a first come, first served basis. To express your interest in attending Long Grass, please email sarah.hiscock@mif.co.uk ASAP

Performance trailer: http://vimeo.com/lodmusictheatre/review/45867737/0a5dc66c78

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Through the Awards, one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 are available to local projects that support children and their education and welfare.

Previous projects supported have included sensory garden or room projects; outdoor classrooms; breakfast and after school clubs; holiday play-schemes; and part funding to purchase minibuses.

The latest donations include:

• Ullapool Primary School - £2000 donation to buy equipment for a mobile kitchen facility, static cooker and picnic tables so that pupils can have cooking lessons in their classroom and then enjoy the food they’ve cooked together; and
• 1st Cuddington Sea Scouts - £1000 donation to buy 40 additional life jackets and a safety boat to allow more children to get out on the water at once. 

The Tesco Charity Trust has been in existence since 1987 and aims to provide approximately £600,000 in grants each year. In addition the Trust also provides grants to groups working with and supporting elderly people and/or adults and children with disabilities. The Tesco Charity Trust Trustees also consider grant applications at their tri-annual meetings. These grants range between £4,000 and £25,000 and are to support local, national or international projects in areas where Tesco operate.

http://www.tescoplc.com/index.asp?pageid=121#ref_tescocharitytrust

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The third of our CPD sessions for this academic year titled “It’s the pedagogy underpinning technology use which is important”, took place on the 26^th April in Liverpool. This was led by Paul Main who has a particular interest in promoting independent learning and knowledge skills. Paul focuses his work on educational evidence to promote best practice when using technology in the classroom.

This was a very “hands on” session and introduced participants to a range of apps in order to develop active learners and explore new ways to construct meaning. The Sutton Trust reports that through the processes of meta cognition and self- regulation there is an 8 month improvement in attainment.

There are a range of creative apps available as well as subject specific ones. The use of these apps also encourages peer tutoring and personalised learning; this can feed into formative assessment in a very effective way.

So if you would like to know your Socrative from your Nearpod let us know as Curious Minds will be developing a range of opportunities for engagement with digital technology in the next academic year.

For further information please email Jude Bird: jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk

A brilliant day last Thursday, it really “got me going"

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In late April the participating schools and other interested schools and colleges attended a session in the delightful surroundings of Brockholes Nature Reserve to hear about the progress and findings to date.

Pupils increased confidence and enthusiasm to both work independently and share ideas were noted. Writing skills have been raised as a gender issue and improving boys’ writing has been an important function in literacy. Using “blended learning” –that is both ipad and paper and pen has proved to be a way to engage pupils more fully. There has been immediate evidence of engagement with pupils asking more questions and showing a greater willingness to engage thus making differentiation easier.

Another important focus is the greater engagement of parents in their children’s learning through use of the ipad.

Already the ipads are proving effective tools for personalised learning and teaching and being highly effective in offering instant feedback.

This project is being evaluated throughout by Leigh Gardner and the full findings will be presented on the 21^st June.

We intend to build on this project so if you are a Special School or a SENCO in mainstream and would like to attend the event on the 21^st June and be involved in the next steps of the project then please contact Jude Bird: jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk

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The Wolfson Foundation has announced that its Secondary Education Programme is open for applications. Through its Secondary Education Programme high-achieving state-funded and independent schools and sixth form colleges can apply to the Foundation for funding for capital or equipment projects relating to the teaching of science and technology, languages, music, the arts or libraries.

Grants do not normally exceed £50,000 for state schools, £40,000 for independent schools or £100,000 for sixth form colleges.   Projects should focus on students taking A-Level or GCSE examinations.

Examples of schools that have received funding through the Foundation include:

• Jordanhill School in Glasgow which received £40,000 towards the creation of new science laboratories;
• Judd School, Tonbridge, Kent which received £50,000 for the refurbishment of science laboratories; and 
• All Hallows RC Business & Enterprise College, which received a grant of £29,000 for technology equipment. 

There is a two stage application process and the next deadline for submitting stage 1 applications is the 30th November 2013. If eligible, applicants will be invited to submit a stage 2 application.

http://www.wolfson.org.uk/funding/education/secondary-education/

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They are looking for projects that meet the following criteria:

• First and foremost we are looking for projects that are specifically designed for the outdoors and work within a natural landscape.
• We are looking for projects that are innovative, that relish the challenges and opportunities that working outdoors brings.
• These commissions are not bound by art form, ALL art forms will be considered.
• Projects must be able to accommodate significant audiences; we are not interested in work that is designed for limited audience numbers in tented spaces or similar. However, companies must take into account how they cater for an audience in inclement weather.
• Projects must be affordable, transportable, flexible and accessible.
• For indoor companies with expertise of working with families but little or no experience of working outdoors, we will help in providing the support of an outdoor specialist during the development process, and will provide opportunities at Whirligig to test the piece and gain audience feedback during the development stage.
• For outdoor companies with little or no experience of working with families we will help to provide the support of a specialist in working with families during the development process, and the opportunity to test the work with a relevant audience at Whirligig.
• Artists must consider and demonstrate how they might target/engage a family audience specifically.
• We are open to collaborative approaches, particularly where indoor, family expertise meets outdoor expertise.

The commission available is worth £3,000 inclusive in addition Wild Rumpus will support the development process providing mentors, providing residential opportunities in an outdoor environment and providing audiences to feedback during development.

In addition to the commissioning fee the projects will then be programmed over 3 days 15^th/16^th/17^th August at the Just So Festival in 2014 for a fee of £1,000 exclusive of VAT. 

A short proposal is required (no longer than two sides of A4) that responds to the commissioning brief. The deadline for this part of the process is 30^th June 2013.

For more information about Wild Rumpus and the Just So Festival visit www.wildrumpus.org.uk and www.justsofestival.org.uk

If you have any questions or would like to talk through your proposal directly please contact the directors Rowan Hoban via rowan.hoban@wildrumpus.org.uk  or Sarah Bird via sarah.bird@wildrumpus.org.uk 

Commissioning Brief

Tweet

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The Arts Council announced the 62 successful applications to the £7 million Catalyst Arts: building fundraising capacity scheme.

The 218 organisations which make up the 62 consortia applications feature a wide range of arts organisations including a consortia of: music hubs led by Bolton Music Services in the North West; theatres led by Tamasha Theatre Company Ltd in London; combined arts organisations led by the UK Centre for Carnival Arts across the East, South East, South West and London.

Boosting philanthropy

This £7 million fund is part of the £110 million Catalyst fund to boost philanthropy by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and has been developed to reflect what the Arts Council has learned from the other strands of the scheme.

The building fundraising capacity scheme is designed to help organisations with little or no experience of fundraising to:

• build capacity to address both shared and individual fundraising development needs of consortia members
• identify and develop effective fundraising methods that have a long-term impact on the business plan of each organisation

Consortia were able to apply to the fund for grants of between £60,000 and £150,000 for activity over two years. The scheme was open to applications exclusively from consortia so that learning and skills can reach more organisations.

In the North West we have consortium success for Music Education Hubs, Burnley Youth Theatre amongst others.

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May 2013

April 2013

Are you in touch with schools that are planning to apply for Summer School Funding?

Are you planning to apply for DFE Summer School Funding?

Curious Minds Seeking Arts Award Officer

Schools Offer - Membership To The Artsmark Network!

Curious Agent - Sue Reddish

Pennine Lancashire Museums & Schools Programme - Update

Curious Agent - Emma Bush

Cultural Education Partners - Rochdale

School Case Study - Artsmark and Arts Award

Cultural Education Partners - Knowsley

Blackpool Grand Theatre - A Case Study

4^th & 5^th July 2013, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cornerhouse, Manchester

Special Introductory Fee: £100 per person!

This new, two-day introductory course provides a toolkit of resources and information to help you prepare for work as a successful freelance practitioner with young people in the arts.

It examines key areas of current legislation that impact on working as a freelance practitioner with children and young people - including insurance, child protect and health and safety. This course will provide project management tools in marketing, partnership working and evaluation and will signpost to areas of good practice; providing examples of how you can make yourself attractive to prospective partners, funders and commissioning organisations.

This course is being offered at an introductory rate of £100 per person (fees usually range from £220-£300.) This fee includes certification, refreshments and lunch on both course days. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

To book a place on this course please contact Rachel, Manager, Learning and Skills, via: 02380 332491 / rachel@artswork.org.uk

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Manchester Literature Festival is working with the Writing Squad to recruit emerging young writers from the North West region for their acclaimed hot-housing programme. The Writing Squad offers thirty writers the chance to work with each other and with professional tutors for two years. This is followed up with ongoing support to help writers make their way in the literature industry. It also acts as a sounding board and support network for a growing community of young writers and producers in the North.

The programme is open to all young writers aged 16–21 with a passion for any genre of creative writing, including fiction, poetry, lyrics, scripts and performance. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 17th August 2012.

For more details and information on how to apply visit www.writingsquad.com or download the flyer below.

To request paper copies of the flier contact Fran Graham on 07815 790 189 or by email.

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Working safely with young people

Tue, 07/05/2013 - 09:30

Young Lancashire's 'Working safely with young people' workshop will take place on Tuesday 7 May, at the CVS, Preston... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

Involving Young People in your organisation

Sat, 11/05/2013 - 09:00

“Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

'In here not OUT there' - Sexuality, Gender and Young People

Fri, 17/05/2013 - 09:30

A workshop to help all those who work with young people understand the 1 in 10 young people who you work with who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

The Funding Landscape

Tue, 21/05/2013 - 09:30

Funding for 'voluntary' not-profit organisations is forever changing and more so in the present climate. This event will look at the income spectrum... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

Involving Young People in your organisation

Sat, 01/06/2013 - 09:00

“Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken...

Trans 101 - Gender diversity and young people

Tue, 04/06/2013 - 09:30

A workshop to help all those who work with children and young people to understand more about trans (transgendered/ transsexual/ transvestite)... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

Safeguarding Children & Young People

Wed, 05/06/2013 - 09:30

This training event is for anyone who works directly or indirectly with children and young people. It will help you improve your knowledge skills in... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

See it .... Stop it!!

Wed, 19/06/2013 - 09:30

This event delivers a series of workshops aimed at people working or volunteering with Children and Young People. Tea/Coffee will be available... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

Emergency First Aid at Work

Wed, 26/06/2013 - 09:00

For anyone wanting to gain an accreditation in Emergency First Aid at Work. This is an accredited one-day course, and is the minimum level of first... (for details and to book a place visit the link event title)

If you have any questions about any of the information provided above - please contact the office (call 01772 556127) or send an email to:supportservices@younglancashire.org.uk. 

Also, if you have not done so already, please 'bag' yourself a £250 grant to run a Community Game in 2013, see details below:

Community Games 2013: Following the success of last year’s Community Games, Lancashire Sport and Young Lancashire are once again teaming up to support this initiative in 2013 across Lancashire by offering grants of £250 to help support your Community Games event. Visit: Community Games for an application pack and further details.

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Thursday 9th May 2013 

 9:30pm-4:30pm 

Museum of Liverpool, Education Room 3

This ALC Networked Learning Event will explore the opportunities that we, as arts educators, can provide to young people to help them find their own way in the arts.  It will be an invaluable chance to share and discuss best practice in allowing those with an interest in the arts to make their own decisions and be at the forefront of the creative process.

A number of contributors across various art forms will share projects and programmes that have offered key roles and responsibilities to young people.  We’ll examine projects that allow young people not just the chance to participate in the arts, but to find their voice and take on leading roles.  We want to open up discussion and debate about what works best and how this can be replicated elsewhere.   

We’ll focus largely (but not exclusively) on informal learning, and particularly on programmes that open up possibilities of working in the creative industries.  We’ll also consider what can be done to nurture the creative potential of harder-to-reach young people.

The day will include contributors from Tate Liverpool, FACT and As Creatives, amongst others, and will comprise presentations, discussion and group working. 

Members:  ALC individual members free.  Member organisations are entitled to two free places; further places

£40 per person

Non members: £80

Students:  Students from ALC member HEIs can attend for £10 per person

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

If you haven’t yet booked on, please follow this link to reserve your place: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VFFQTS2
Please respond by Friday 3rd May 

On Wednesday the 3rd and 4th of April 2013 Blaze, Curious Minds and Brighter Sounds brought together a selection of arts and cultural organisations and a whole group of young people who work in coproduction within arts and culture to explore the best practice within the sector. As well as focusing on the achievements and successes of the Blaze programme and the next steps for the fantastic Lancashire based programme!

Curious Minds and Brighter Sounds will be taking forward a selection of recommendations  from the summit and will be announcing them towards the end of April, as well as notes, films, images and blogs from the two days. 

In the meantime please check out our photo albums on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.558998807456281.1073741827.133271140029052&type=1&l=1ff9b1860e

And check out the conversation from the day on the Twitter hashtag #blazesummit

Sue Reddish has just completed her contract as one of our Curious Agents. Here are Sue's thoughts on her time as the agent for Greater Manchester.

"So what other job would take you from sitting at the desk that Marx and Engels met at to compose the Communist Manifesto,  to being a football pundit with Gary Lineker?  And all within 10 minutes?   Being a heritage Curious Agent for Greater Manchester has certainly been an eye opener.

It has been a pleasure taking some time to discover the wealth of heritage sites we have in greater Manchester and the learning resources they inspire. I’ve met Museum Officers, Costumed Characters, Volunteers, Learning Managers, Facilitators and Teachers all of whom, in very different ways, see their role as bringing the unique stories  and objects in their collections alive, to animate the site and help engage pupils and teaching staff. The strengths of the sector in this geographic area are numerous, not least being the wealth of facilities Manchester City and wider Greater Manchester has to offer: three National Museums – Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), The Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) and The National Football Museum (NFM – where you can interact with Gary and other football pundits) and several collections of regional significance – the largest collection of fashion outside London at Gallery Of Costume and Manchester Museum’s extensive collection. It also has some great local gems, including the East Lancs Railway or the oldest free public reference library in the UK at Chethams, where Marx and Engels met – and that is to name but a few.

As part of the first year as a Bridge organisation, Curious Minds sent the Heritage Curious Agents out to meet with Heritage sites, Libraries and Archives to help build relationships and to learn about the excellent practice that is out there, and share learning with the wider cultural sector. I’ve had the opportunity to look behind the scenes of many a museum, nosey around the stores, and ask lots of questions! And perhaps most importantly watch Children and Young People exploring these heritage sites and watch them demonstrate first hand what a wealth of enquiry and experiential learning opportunities the heritage sector offers.

One of the things I’ve discovered is that I want to run away and join an archive! I had arranged to meet with the Archive Manager at Wigan & Leigh Archives Services. I didn’t have high hopes, it was a very wet Tuesday afternoon in Leigh and I wasn’t sure such a small resource could offer much educational support. How wrong I was! I came away, having fallen in love – with archives you understand! Well I have always had a thing about stationary and archives are certainly textural tactile places. But this archive, or the small room I saw lined in brown cardboard boxes and jars full of paper clips –(evil apparently in archive terms as they have a tendency to rust and must be removed) was one of the most magical of places. Each box was full of documents, each document told a story, both the drama of everyday life and the big historical events were represented. I was told of the letters and diaries of one young man - Arthur Turtle - who as a conscientious objector, sent to Strangeways for his beliefs. The archive held his original diaries and the letters he wrote home to his family in Leigh. The archive Manager and his team of Volunteers had seen that these authentic documents could capture the imagination of children and young people and had created a drama role play – played out in the old council chambers downstairs from the archive – in which the modern young Leigh residents were presented with some of the dilemmas that had concerned the young man from a different age.

Alex Miller, the Archive Manager at Wigan Archives Services (managed by Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust) talked about the ongoing process of slowly digitising many of the resources the archive holds and making them more accessible. The archive has its own Facebook page, where original documents are regularly put up. Recent ones have included a 19^th centuary Temperance movement publication entitled ‘The Advantages of Drunkenness’, and evidence that George Orwell used the Wigan Library to write part of ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’ - the very neat signature of Eric Blair is in the visitors book. You can see for yourself on www.facebook.com/WiganArchivesService.  Alex was very clear that he wants to increase the educational opportunities that the archive has to offer and is particularly interested in cascading learning through the teachers - – “if they are comfortable and confident about accessing the material in the archive, they can use us as an integrated learning resource in school across the curriculum.” The archives at Leigh and also resources I saw at Chethams Library and John Rylands are all working within the framework of recommendations by the National Archives – ‘Archives for the 21^st Century’  agenda of promoting access & life long learning.

Alongside the collections I found that the workforce, be they paid or voluntary, are the sector’s greatest asset. Having met with many of them through this process it was clear that the staff’s passion for their subjects, knowledge of their collections and ability to engage CYP is the greatest resource. The heritage staff working in partnerships with schools are the gate keepers to many a great adventure and enable Children and Young People to be the football pundits, historians, engineers, revolutionaries, scientists or novelists of the future. 

By Sue Reddish

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Are you looking for work experience in the creative communications industries?

Do you want to work on live creative briefs from some of the top brands in the UK? And fancy winning a prize while you are at it?

Then you have come to the right place!

Visit the I am Creative website for more information: http://www.iamcreative.org.uk/

The programme is part of a national initiative funded by Arts Council England that aims to increase the number of high-quality educational engagements between schools and their local museums in areas with lower than average cultural engagement. The ambition is to encourage more schools to make better use of the rich learning opportunities museums can provide, sparking young people’s curiosity and inspiring a passion for culture and heritage.

Here in the North West, the consortiums steering group are currently working with eight Pennine Lancashire museums and clusters of local schools along with Curious Minds and national partners, the Victoria & Albert (V&A) and Sir John Soane museums.

In January, 25 Pennine Lancashire teachers visited six museum venues over two days and began discussing possible projects and delivery models that could work in their schools. These teachers were invited to submit proposals for new learning sessions they would like to work with one of the eight venues to develop. Fourteen creative proposals will now be taken forwards, all taking an innovative approach to linking curriculum areas with the unique strengths and offer of a particular museum venue.

An example of one such proposal is a primary school who would like to work with Queen Street Mill and Helmshore Textile Museum to develop a project around inventors and the industrial revolution, encompassing English, Music, Maths, History and ICT. Costumed ‘inventors’ from the museums will come into school before pupils make their first visit, delivering an interactive session all about the machinery they have designed. Then pupils will visit the venues and, see, hear, smell, taste and touch the working machines, learning about this time in history in more depth. Following further learning back in the classroom, pupils will return to the museums to take part in a range of cross-curricular activities such as; recording and using the sounds of the machines to create beat box style music, drumming and movement; exploring onomatopoeia and mathematical patterns through the sounds of the mill; and developing role play drama based activities in the museum based on history research carried out back at school. The programme will culminate in a weekend event to allow displays of work and demonstrations of the drama, music and onomatopoeia style poems to be shared by family and friends, presenting an opportunity for the school to engage more parents in their child’s learning and an opportunity for the museum to attract new customers.

The teachers taking part in the Museum & Schools programme will be released from school for ten days to work up their session and project ideas, which will be trialled with a class from their school later in the term before the new sessions are promoted more widely to schools in Lancashire in the Autumn. To act as a stimulus and inspire the teachers, two of the development days were recently spent in London visiting the V&A and Sir John Soane’s Museum to find out about their education programmes. In a series of tours and interactive sessions, the teachers explored how learning is delivered at these sites and were able to begin talking about the sessions they would like to develop.

Particular emphasis is being placed on how museums can support teachers in raising attainment in core subjects through developing innovative and engaging creative learning techniques. Museums are looking at how they can offer sessions that support literacy, numeracy and science as well as the more traditional historical topics and how they can encourage return visits with clear progression opportunities for pupils.

The programme also aims to increase the number of museums and schools delivering Arts Award in Pennine Lancashire and participating teachers and museum staff are currently training as Arts Award Discover & Explore Advisers and looking at how Arts Award can be applied to their current programmes and activities, and to the new sessions they are developing together. Arts Award offers an excellent framework for partnership approaches to project delivery, encouraging teachers to use museums and their collections as a stimulus for developing creative activities and enhancing the learning from visits back in the classroom.

As well as offering an exciting professional development opportunity for the teachers involved, the Pennine Lancashire Museums & Schools programme offers schools a real opportunity to be involved in shaping the region’s museums as an educational resource for the future, enhancing learning, increasing access and strengthening cultural engagement across Pennine Lancashire.

By Katy May

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Bringing the thrill of great theatre productions to schools, colleges and universities

Recently launched is the new education website Digital Theatre Plus.

At the heart of Digital Theatre Plus is the ethos to share the best of British theatre with teachers and students all over the world.

Digital Theatre Plus's driving ambition is to overcome the social, geographic and financial barriers that prevent young people having access to the best possible cultural experiences.

Working with theatre practitioners, writers and teachers they painstakingly craft productions, interviews, documentaries and study guides to share an art form that can often feel inaccessible.

They've been developing the resource for the past two years and currently over 500,000 young people in 130 educational establishments are enjoying productions of great plays and discovering more about creative processes.

They want to trigger a passion for theatre in students that not only helps their studies but that lays the foundations for theatre audiences in the future.

The response from the education community has been very positive with teachers saying the resource enables them to teach plays in a relevant, stimulating and vibrant way.

To find out more please visit: http://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/

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Merseyside Area:  Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St. Helens, Knowsley.

By Curious Agent - Emma Bush 

 It’s not often you get given a job to go and visit or find out about  museums and  galleries   but I have been lucky enough to be doing just that for Curious Minds in Merseyside. Many you will already know some are a little less well known but well worth a visit.  It’s impossible to cover all the venues, I tried but this blog would have been similar in length to ‘War and Peace’! For the full range you will need to go to the Culture Hub website but I will try to give you a flavour of what’s out there.

 I think it is fairly safe to say that if your interest is in land, sea, space, the built environment, creative technology, and art old and new, history international and local and most other things you can think of, you will be able to find a cultural venue in Merseyside that will interest and inform you. The diversity of the opportunities is astounding  whether you are a school looking to inspire your pupils and bring the curriculum to life or a parent of carer who wants to find something interesting (and cheap) to do with your family, the possibilities are endless.

 Let’s  start with Liverpool Albert Dock you could stand in the middle and throw a stone in any direction and you would hit a museum or gallery (not that am suggesting that for obvious health and safety reasons!)  In this one pedestrianised historic dock you can visit the International Slavery Museum - www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism   where you will not only find out about the Transatlantic Slave Trade but also modern day slavery and human trafficking.  The Maritime Museum - www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime   which has floors of naval history including the Titanic it explores the city’s maritime history and how it was once the greatest port in the world. Next you could go to the Tate Liverpool www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool  one of the  country’s  best modern  and contemporary  collections, spend time in their family space or visit one of their special exhibitions   foe example ‘GLAM’ is the  current special exhibition, which has the ability to shock and make you feel nostalgic at the same time. The Museum of Liverpool -www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol whose specially designed waterfront building was opened in 2011, here you can explore the city’s history, including the Beatles, football (both teams) and the city’s impact on the world of Music. There are often temporary exhibitions currently  Beryl Bainbridge  a native of Liverpool, famous for her books turns out to be an accomplished artist as well. www.beatlesstory.com which I think is self-explanatory and if you still have any energy left you could then visit the Open Eye Gallery - www.openeye.org.uk at Mann Island where you can see the work of a range of contemporary photographers and photographic archive work.

On William Brown Street in Liverpool City Centre, again the town planners have conveniently placed a number of world renowned venues literally next door to each other. The World Museum Liverpool - www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/ with the countries only free planetarium, the newly refurbished Central Library where the Liverpool Archives Service will be based will be opening its door again in April and the Walker Art Gallery - www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/ , which houses a  stunning collection of art from the 13^th century to modern and contemporary works which have been part of the John Moores Competition since the 1950’s. A short stroll over the road and you will find yourself at St Georges Hall!

FACT – the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology www.fact.co.uk/  a venue where you can go to the cinema and see cutting edge contemporary digital art FACT have lots of opportunities to engage including opportunities for pupils to work and exhibit with internationally recognised  digital artists. The Bluecoat Arts Centre - www.thebluecoat.org.uk/   offers a mix of art forms and the opportunity to develop bespoke educational projects.

Outside the city centre there is more to see the Great Houses of Liverpool’s past and their grounds can make an informative and enjoyable trip out, Sudley House - www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/sudley/ in Mossley Hill, Croxteth Hall and Country Park - http://www.croxteth.co.uk/who offer with a wide range of activities delivered by the ranger service, and Speke Hall - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall/a National Trust property that is a rare Tudor timber –framed manor house brought back to life in the 19^th century and is a beautiful mixture of Tudor simplicity and Victorian arts and crafts.

 The Merseyside boroughs also have a lot to offer often exploring the industrial history of their area St Helens World of Glass - http://www.worldofglass.com/  is a revelation you can see how glass has been developed over the centuries and see a demonstration of glass being blown. A number of venues are being refurbished the Williamson Gallery and Museum - http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/arts-and-museums/local-museums-and-galleries/williamson-art-gallery-and-museumin Birkenhead reopened in February with a new café and a shop for local artists to show their work and a dedicated learning space. The Atkinson Arts Centre in Southport http://www.theatkinson.co.uk/ is reopening in May after a 3 year, £17 million refurbishment programme. The centre will include 2 theatre spaces, a Gallery, Library, Café and Museum. The museum (which opens later in the autumn) will house an impressive Egyptology collection that hasn’t been seen for 40 years.  The Atkinson also has a great programme of high quality early years and family friendly theatre planned.

Knowsley has two galleries situated within Libraries in Kirkby and Huyton- http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/things-to-see-and-do/galleries-and-museum.aspx show a mixture of local and internationally renowned work currently William Turners Drawing are on display and a recent exhibition on the work of Quentin Blake was a big hit with schools. Workshop and teachers packs often accompany the exhibitions. I took part in a very pleasant artist led workshop linked to the exhibition ‘the Love of Books at the Huyton Gallery.

 The Wirral boasts Port Sunlight Garden Village that has its own museum -  http://www.portsunlightvillage.com/ and also the Lady Lever Art Gallery http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/ both offer a fascinating insight into the past and the Lever family who as with many 19th century Industrialists collected a diverse and sometimes bizarre collection of objects from their world travels that make an intriguing and often surprising visit.

Its sometimes easy to overlook what’s on your doorstep but for families and schools there are so many, amazing and inspiring opportunities in Merseyside many of which are comparable with London and a great deal of it is free.  Most of the venues all have creative and interactive learning opportunities for both schools and families, you have venues filled with amazing artefacts, specialist knowledge and enthusiastic and welcoming staff and often very nice cafes, which come in handy as you will know doubt be exhausted by the time you’ve finished.

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We've been sent one from Blaze's Hannah Whitlow – for her Gold Arts Award.

www.hannahwhitlowgold.blogspot.co.uk

Hannah achieved her Gold Arts Award through working extensively with Blaze in 2012, and supported by Burnley Arts Development.  Hannah created her portfolio as an online blog which details every step of her process.  Hannah’s Gold activities included setting up and running Sit and Knit workshops at events across the North West, shadowing and assisting artist Racheal Gwilliam from Art Yarn, working on Vintage Festival as part of Preston Guild, setting up her own handmade vintage accessories business, as well as volunteering as one of 26 Blaze Young Producers who produced the first ever Blaze Festival as part of the North West’s Closing Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Hannah’s creative work ranged from design and illustration, to applied crafts and installation. She also utilised many different creative evidence gathering techniques including timelapse, online surveys and audience interviews.  Hannah’s portfolio literally bursts at the seams due to the sheer volume of creativity activity that she generated over one summer, and she certainly inspired many people along the way.  Hannah is now studying Fine Arts at the University of Nottingham.

If you or one your group have an inspiring portfolio to share please email Glen our communications coordinator 

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Matthew Moss High School:

Family Tree project using Local Studies Centre resources at Touchstones Rochdale

Summary

Throughout November and December Year 8 learners from Matthew Moss High School visited the Local Studies Centre at Touchstones Rochdale where they researched their family trees as part of an eight week ‘My World’ faculty project. Members of the Local Studies team were on hand to assist the students.

To celebrate the end of the project 12 of the best family trees, including 3D models were placed on display in the Local Studies Centre. A special preview of the display was organised on Friday 8 March 2013 for the teachers, pupils, friends and families involved in the project.

Context

Matthew Moss High School (MMHS) is located in the township of Rochdale. The project involved Year 8 learners (KS3), aged 12-13.

MMHS emphasises the importance of creating 21^st Century learners. To do this pupils work on co-constructed projects, through which they take ownership and control of their learning. They have the opportunity to learn about things that matter to them: they have to do the planning, research and making of meaning. (Taken from http://www.mmhs.co.uk/learning)

In Humanities MMHS focus on developing successful, independent learners through an emphasis on fostering research skills, learning skills and attributes. Learners should learn to improve their ability to find, organise and communicate their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

Members of the faculty contacted Karen Vine, Arts & Heritage Education Co-ordinator, to discuss the possibility of working together to support their My World project in autumn 2012. Together Touchstones staff and school staff developed a project that would support Year 8 learners to develop the skills detailed above.

There was no additional external funding for this work.

The challenge

The main purpose of this project was for learners to research their family histories in order to produce a quality copy of their family trees. Learners would be using various research methods and sources to find out about their family histories, including using the resources at the museum and local studies archives.

Approach

Learners were encouraged to interview their own families to try and obtain as much information as possible regarding full names of their parents, grandparents and dates of birth etc.

Alternative research options were offered by Arts & Heritage Service in the event the above proved problematic for some of the pupils: Learners who could not, for whatever reason, research their own family history whilst visiting the Local Studies Library, were given the option to instead research the house in which they live or a well known local building using resources available to find out who lived there or worked there and to use maps of the area to see how the same piece of land has changed in use over the centuries.

Intended outcomes and outputs

The learning outcomes for young people were derived from the philosophies of MMHS including supporting independent and empowered learners with good enquiry skills and the confidence to communicate their learning to others in a variety of ways.

Each student produced a well researched quality copy of their individual family tree.

Tailored assistance provided through the Local Studies team making accessible to the learners the Local Studies collection including; maps, census returns, electoral rolls, maps, letters and photographs.

Training on use of microfiche and other readers plus use of family archive websites, how to find and locate information, the limitations of Local Studies collections with regards to researching families born outside the UK, how to research and interpret information and where to locate other possible sources of information such as through interview with relatives.   

Participant comments

“It was a really nice experience for the learners and families to be able to show off their learning, thank you again for letting us take over the Centre! Alexis Shea March 2013

Janet Byrne, Local Studies Asst. said, “It was fantastic to talk to the learners and their families. The learners had obviously put a lot of effort into researching their family trees. Most of the family trees on display are by learners whose families are not originally from the UK. Many of the learners had used Skype, email and old fashioned letters to contact family members from across the globe so that they could successfully complete this project- there were definitely a few detectives in the making!”

Speaking at the exhibition preview about her twin daughters, Ayesha and Aamna, Mrs Samia Irfan said of her daughters, “they really wanted to go into the deep depth of their family history, some of the names I don’t know but I know the stories, they Skyped family members in Pakistan to ask about the stories.”

Steven and Nancy Hwozdyk came to support their daughter Lucy, Mr Hwozdyk was impressed with all of the hard work Lucy had put into the project: “She put a lot of effort into this project, contacting family members in America and Ukraine. We’re now planning a family trip to Ukraine so we can fill in the gaps!”

Hamnah Zahrid said the project was “Really hard but also really good. I learnt about family members from other countries, including what they used to do.” 

Natalie Rhodes, Arts & Heritage Education Asst. said, “It was lovely to hear how excited the parents were about this project. I think this is because it was something they could help their children with and they too were learning things about their families they themselves didn’t even know! I got the impression that not being able to research their family history at the Local Studies Library had made them more determined- there were definitely a few detectives in the making!”

Next steps

The school faculty are very keen to offer a similar researched based project again to year 8 next autumn. Research will be the main overarching topic but the inspiration may come from another source rather than replicate the same family tree exercise. The Arts & Heritage Service is keen however that the teaching staff take up the offer of training to lessen the impact on limited LS staffing resources.

Touchstones website: http://www.link4life.org/centres/touchstones-rochdale

School website: http://www.mmhs.co.uk/

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Palace Fields Academy - Halton

Cultural Theme - Artsmark and Arts Award

Formerly known as Palace Fields Primary School until it became an Academy converter in 2011; Palace Fields Academy is situated in an area of extremely high social and economic deprivation. Despite this mitigating factor, pupils continue to display innate self confidence as a result of the schools performing arts pedigree and strong musical engagement.

 Palace Fields has retained Artsmark Gold accreditation status since as far back as 2003, holding three consecutive Artsmark Gold Awards. Palace Fields Academy is determined to proceed for Artsmark Gold Re-accreditation in Round 13 through Trinity College and is also interested in developing Arts Awards accreditation.

In 2007,  Palace Fields Primary School was successfully appointed as one of only four Halton schools with ‘Change School’ status in the Halton borough working in close collaboration with ‘Curious Minds’ and their Creative Agents /Creative practitioners.

The school is currently ensuring that staff will have Forest Schools Accreditation in order to maximise the usage of the academy’s excellent outdoor facilities.

Palace Fields Academy are currently collaborating with Curious Minds as the North West Bridge organisation and  their Arts and Culture Advocates programme by sponsoring an ‘Artsmark and Arts Award Information Event’ for Halton and Merseyside schools in their purpose -built Conference Facilities in March 2013.

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St Garbiel's CE Primary School - Knowsley

Cultural Partners - Knowsley Music Education Hub and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

A former Creative Partnerships ‘Change School’ through ‘Curious Minds’, St Gabriel’s CE Primary School  is an establishment already confident in arts and cultural commissioning and in sustained partnership practice .

The school’s participation in regional networking activity is manifest through extensive music education hub activity, such as participation in the Knowsley music hub’s ‘Tutti Brass’ Programme.

‘Tutti Brass’ is new programme offered to pupils and young people in Knowsley. Developed in partnership between Knowsley Music and Performing Arts Service and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) the project provides tuition and performance opportunities for learners of all ages and abilities.

St Gabriel’s is one of two primary schools who have been invited to take part in the project. A group of year 5/6 pupils are currently being taught the Tenor Horn in a group lesson in their school for 45 minutes each week. This work is delivered by tutors from Knowsley Music and Performing Arts Service and builds on the work done in the wider opportunities classes. The pupils’ parents have signed up to the project and agree to bring the pupils to an additional ‘ensemble lesson’ every week at a local Secondary School. This ‘ensemble lesson’ is co-lead by specialist Knowsley brass tutors in partnership with a tutor from the RLPO ‘In Harmony programme’ and visiting RLPO musicians.

St Gabriel’s C of E Primary School achieved Artsmark Gold accreditation in 2005 and in 2008.

The school’s Artsmark Co-ordinator attended an ‘Artsmark and Arts Awards Information Session’ facilitated by the Arts and Culture Advocate-Merseyside in February 2013 at ‘Our Place’ [Knowsley] sponsored through the Knowsley Music Hub and attended by fourteen other local schools. School evaluations from the event demonstrate that St Gabriel’s has determined to proceed with a re-application for Artsmark Gold in Round 13, and will be registering to attend Arts Award Adviser Training for Explore and Discover modules. (7-11yrs)

The school’s quest to develop further their quality arts and cultural good practice continues.

Creative Learning: A Case Study

The Grand Theatre is an NPO and receives funding for its contemporary dance programme with a focus on its presentations and audience development.  In the theatre’s business plan the theatre has as one of its priorities creative learning and building a high quality children and young people’s programme.

Image ©veronicasgallery.co.uk

This programme was re established in 2010 with the appointment of a part time role: Engagement and Learning Manager.  Since then we have seen nearly a 30% increase in our schools attendance, 35% of our schools coming from Lancashire and nearly 100% attendance of Blackpool schools.  We have also noted a growth in the volume of the bookings from schools, some schools going from a class booking of 30 to then bringing the whole school 658. The reattendance of schools and colleges to the programme has improved and we have trends that demonstrate at least a third of our schools attending twice in a year to our programme.

The theatre has a commitment to presenting the best product it can for our schools and families and recently we have programmed The National Theatre, English Touring Theatre, The Touring Consortium, Sell A Door, Scamp Theatre , Horse+Bamboo Theatre and Northern Ballet.  We programme for early years right up to further and higher education and maximise the learning opportunities for schools with the companies that we work with.  This can range from pre and post show workshops, training for teachers, seminars, page to stage pre matinee events, commissioning new teachers resources, visits to schools. We regularly consult with our Headteachers, teachers and school improvement team to both involve them in the programming process and seek their advice on developing the learning programmes.

Our partnership with Blackpool Council’s Family Learning team has developed an audience of parents, carers and young children from some of our more targeted communities in Blackpool South and Central, most recently 180 came to Horse+Bamboo’s production of The Nightingale.  This partnership has evolved into a model of engagement that places the theatre alongside parents and family learning tutors who integrate the theatre’s programme into their plans. This includes separate time and preparation with the parents before visiting the theatre, artist led projects linked with the presentations and arts led follow up work that offers feedback to inform the next stages. 

The Theatre is linked in with the Local Transport Offer so that schools can book a coach for a one of fee and use between 9am and 2pm. This has informed the timings of our programme and where possible in partnership with our producers we programme presentations between that time.

Whilst the theatre presents a programme of regional and national touring product we are also committed to supporting local companies and artists. As such we have been working closely with Horse+Bamboo Theatre, based in Rossendale, Lancashire, and have presented three of their touring products.  We present their work in the mainhouse and our early years and key stage 1 audiences average up to 1300 for their work.

The Grand Theatre works closely with Blackpool Council’s Cultural Services and Children and Young People’s Services and is a partner in its Schools Cultural Programme.  Through the Dance Programme we work closely with our Lancashire and wider North West partners to further extend creative learning opportunities that support active and creative learning using both our programme and the building itself as a platform for engagement, learning and community cohesion.

We have recently been selected as part of the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network one of five national, a three year programme that starts in September 2013.

Celine Wyatt: Engagement and Learning Manager - celinew@blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Website: http://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/discover/creative-learning

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Bhavesh has completed his Bronze Arts Award and made a film with a mix of artists on a National Young Documentary Filmmakers Programme at the Birmingham Ormiston Academy hosted by First Light. He is a North West Arts Award Ambassador and has gained a paid position as an sub editor on the Arts Award Voice website. He is studying Film and Television and York University and has joined numerous photography and film societies. Peshkar awarded Bhavesh a years subscription to Redeye to support his artistic progression and exhibited his work at a Slam event. He plans to facilitate a creative youth arts award network meeting for his leadership project but is currently busy raising funds to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. Bhavesh attends networking events, constantly applies for further opportunities to support his award and volunteer for Peshkar.   

Champa is working with a Calligraphy artists to create a mixed media photographic calendar to sell to raise money for her friends charity. For her leadership project she plans to run an ‘Urban Heart’ photography course for young people in Oldham and has so far raised money to do this via the o2 Think Big Fund. She is passionate about turning her love of photography into a career and in the last few months has visited the BBC, attended Noise Creative Industry event and a female creative networking seminar at the Sharp project. She is studying at MMU and volunteers with Peshkar.    

Sheik working with local artists at a music studio (spoken word, sound technicians and instrumentalists) to write and record an original Nasheed and created a film to share this. He has since performed this at numerous events (including a Peshkar 'Slam') and has entered his work into competitions and open mic opportunities. He is interested in exploring how music can compliment religion vice versa and has been meeting artists and going to events to explore this. He wrote a joint bid with Peshkar Arts Award group to facilitate media sessions with local young people. He visited the BBC, attended theatre and music performances by local artists attended a creative network seminar in Manchester. Sheik is at College and hopes to go to University. 

 Zara  set up her own website and already done lots of documentary short films. For her challenge she worked with a sound artist and the cast of a theatre production to create a short film exploring the lifespan of Peshkar 'FutureDesh' project. For her challenge she hopes to work woth local partners and schools to deliver documentary film sessions for young people in Oldham. She has attended many events and has recently graduated from her Digital Journalism course at the UCO. 

Cameron worked with other musicians at his school to create an original  percussion ensemble and performed this at his school GCSE celebration event. He is volunteering at a local youth club and developing his skills as an arts mentor. For his leadership project Cameron is organizing a drama project for young people in Oldham that are in care. Cameron achieved the Bronze award.

Matthew completed his bronze arts award and has written a screenplay for his Gold arts challenge. He aims to work with other artists to get this filmed and will direct and edit the film. Matthew is interested in a wide variety of arts and has applied to a local fund to facilitate a mixed arts project for young peoples called ‘Mad About Media’ for his leadership project. he has found many groups he hopes to do work experience with and is currently applying for this.   

Raabia is a young filmmaker who has worked with artists from different genres to create films. Her latest film which has ben inspired by her own challenges explores the world of a young deaf Muslim female and how her world changes as a result of the twin tower attacks. ‘September 11^th’ has been nominated for and has won awards at numerous film festivals. Raabia recently gained placement on the BFI Film Academy and is already a successful artist.  

Ambia is developing her writing skills and working with artists from other genres to create a piece of literary art for her arts challenge. For her leadership project she has set up an online creative sharing page called ‘Wandering Daydreamer’ which enables young people to showcase their creative work. She has received funding from o2 Think Big to develop this and to run workshops and create a book of young peoples work. Peshkar awarded Ambia a years subscription to the Poetry Society to support her creative development and she has attended numerous shows events and networking seminars with Peshkar.

Marc has completed his Bronze and silver award and is working towards his gold. He is interested in visual and tattoo art and has created a graphic novel that will be released next year. He plans to facilitate visual arts sessions at a Gallery for his leadership element of his project. He has gained a place on a month intensive creative industries placement and is working and networking with a range of artists to develop his networks. 

Jennifer did her leadership project by facilitating a visual arts club for women in the probation service, They were so impressed that she now works for them and is setting up a multi agency women’s center in Oldham. Her arts challenge will focus on visual art, photography and possibly concept art. She plan to do a concept art and gaming at University. 

Silver 

Usmaan has completed his bronze award and is working towards his silver. He is experimenting with an Urban and Nature photography challenge (and working with another Gold Arts Award individual) and for his leadership project he helped to put on an artistic concert to raise money for Children in need. 

Emma has done her Discover and Bronze award and is working towards silver. She has composed original music for flute and a percussion session and has challenged herself to perform these at events. She now regularly plays flute and percussion at open mic events and performs with a range of bands. This is chaperoned by her supportive friends and family as she’s only 13 years old! For her leadership project she is working with a local samba band to compose and direct music and is putting on a samba event in her community.

Tina: Tina is working with other artists to create Asian Bridal fashion and makeup for her challenge. She volunteered for an arts organization to develop her skills and create incredible carnival costumes for the Manchester Day Parade. She is working with other artist to put on a local bridal fashion show to encourage young women to get creative with bridal makeup and fashion.   

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Peshkar have just supported 19 peoples through their Discover Arts Award and are working to support 20 young people through bronze, 13 through silver and 10 through Gold. 

We recently completed Discover Arts Awards with the West African Development group in Tameside through a percussion project and will be supporting some through Bronze ad silver. 

 We worked with unemployed young people (aged 19-26) from Oldham for our 'Go For It' project to support them into jobs. 7 out of 10 participants are now in work and have creative placements and we are still supporting the other 3 into employmenr. We are running this project again as it was a huge success. We delivered the Bronze arts award through this project and 3 are moving onto Gold and silver awards. 

 Portal are a group of 10 young people from Oldham that are being supported by Oldham Councils Arts Development team to programme and run a youth orientated arts festival called 'Rooted Festival' that will run alongside The annual Oldham Festival. (Funded by CM’s) Peshkar are working closely with the group and supporting them through their silver arts awards to succeed as individual artists and as team of arts managers. We have some fascinating challenges involving fashion, bridal makeup with a twist, music and video collaborations and Zumba inspired contemporary dance choreography!

We are working to support 10 Young Oldham Dance members through their Bronze arts awards as they create and showcase fresh and inspired contemporary dance. 

Peshkar run a fortnightly social Arts Award support session for its Silver and Gold Arts Awardees. These sessions are structured to meet the needs of the group but flexible enough to enable the individuals (who are all doing separate projects) to benefit from them. We go on creative trips, bring in artists, apply for funding, share opportunities and set achievable goals. Often we find that we can work together to support each others projects and we share opportunities, inspiration and learning through an online private group. This group has built friendships, supported motivation, enabled individuals to work on each others projects and given the group the opportunity to develop as confident, young, artists (and highly experienced tea and cake consumers!) All young people are from Oldham and many have overcome issues such as drug abuse, homelessness, crime, disability and being in care plus socio economic and cultural issues. 

Find out more about Peshkar's Silver and Gold group

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Friday 19 July 10am - 5pm

M6 Studio Theatre Hamer CP School Albert Royds Street, Rochdale, OL16 2SU

The training will be useful to:

Foundation stage, KS1 & lower KS2 staff including: SENCO’s, teachers, teaching assistants and learning mentors.

Drama practitioners and therapists

The training will include:

• Planning, delivery and evaluation of small group drama for communication
• Drama activities that enrich and develop children’s communication skills, confidence and self esteem
• A framework to identify children with a communication need
• A comprehensive resource pack

The Communication Trust reports that up to 50% of children in areas of disadvantage have speech and language skills significantly less developed than their peers.

In 2013 and 2014, London Bubble supported by SHINE, will be working with M6 Theatre, Oldham Theatre Workshop and Peoplescape Theatre to bring this approach to the Greater Manchester Area. The Speech Bubbles programme supports referred children to develop communication skills in a fun and nurturing environment.

A teacher’s survey revealed that 83% of participating children showed an improvement in learning, speaking and listening and 88% showed behavioural improvements.

COST: 120 + VAT. 40 +VAT for students TO BOOK CALL 020 7237 4434 or email lucy@londonbubble.org.uk

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In celebration of our new role we're feeling generous. So as a limited introductory offer, we're offering to pay for up to 20 schools who wish to join the network. 

Once you are an Artsmark network member, you are eligible for two free places per school on any of the training days offered by Curious Minds and other Training Agencies throughout April, May and June 2013. It is only by becoming an Artsmark network member that you can access the online Artsmark application portal.

To benefit from this offer, you must be going on training or taking up the Curious Minds support visits offer and be ready to submit your application before the end of the summer term. 

Thursday 27 June, Curious Minds, Cornerhouse, Manchester

You can view all forthcoming training dates Here.

Give Curious Minds a ring on 01282 413574/ 07766 801 046. Alice Demba our Quality coordinator and Artsmark specialist will ask you for a few details and process your access to the network. 

Artsmark FREE Support From Curious Minds

Curious Minds has a fully funded support offer for all schools applying for Artsmark.

Curious Minds, as part of its role as Arts Council's 'Bridge Organisation' for the North West, is busy supporting schools who are applying for Artsmark, enabling more children and young people to experience the richness of the arts.

Curious Minds would now like to offer you some further free support.

• A 1-1 support session for your Artsmark coordinator
• A half-day information session for group of schools or a school cluster
• Further support and CPD around developing your arts partnerships

If you would like takeup this support offer, please contact Sue or Paige on 01282 435 835.

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Comedian and activist MARK THOMAS joins the press launch of NOISEfestival.com’s ‘Art Of Protest’ exhibition 25^th April at the People’s History Museum, Manchester to meet the young artists involved, to discuss  the issues and concerns raised in their work, plus the process for co-opting media coverage in demonstration. He says of the ‘Art of Protest’:

Our lives are shaped by protest: That we can vote, join a trade union and attend A and E are the direct result of campaigning and protest, indeed the fact that most of us can read these words is due to others fighting on our behalf. In a time of austerity, cuts and scapegoats protest has a more urgent need but it is always worth remembering that protest can be artful, creative and inspiring. It should go against the grain. It should challenge not just authority and power but ourselves too. Dissent is beautiful. Happy to be a tiny part of this.

The Touring Exhibition & Project Brief ‘NOISE Art of Protest’ project highlights the art of positive and peaceful protest, inviting young people to use their creativity to demonstrate their issues and take inspiration from the most iconic peaceful protests from the last 50 years, by the ‘Masters’ of protest art including leading international artists such as Banksy, Singer- Songwriter Billy Bragg, Fashion Designer Katharine Hamnett, Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing and German artist Joseph Beuys. NOISE showed what had been done before and challenged them to do something equal or better, be it a happening, installation, painting, fashion piece, song, photo or drawing – we asked “How can you communicate your protest issues?”

The exhibition is the final stage of the ‘Art Of Protest’ international Call For Submissions to NOISEfestival.com, with over 50 pieces selected by Curator Joshua Blackburn from ethical communications agency Provokateur. Included in the final exhibition are  thought-provoking pieces across sculpture, arts and crafts, fine art, contemporary art, fashion and music. Selected pieces include  Kate Cheesewright’s placard ‘Here Come The Plebs’, Jim Shepherd’s ‘Bunker’ installation of armaments built from domestic objects, and Emily Hatcher’s photography series ‘Unannounced Incidents 2012’ exploring the relationship between debt and higher education.

The interactive exhibition offers a national platform for young people to continue to voice current issues and concerns, enabling them the opportunity to add to it, with spaces to contribute their own protest art. You can find out more information here.

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Please register for our monthly e-bulletin featuring news of events, jobs and opportunities that focus on children and young people: 

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Wanted: Young people with big ideas

Are you 13-25? Need money, support or training to help improve your community? O2 are seeking to help young people launch ideas and programmes that benefit the places where they live. You provide the big idea, they will provide £300 and the support to make it happen.

http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/

O2 Think Big Youth Partners

O2 Think Big Youth Partners can be local or national organisations, as long as they are working with and representing young people in the UK. However, they do ask that you work with young people that are harder to reach and less likely to hear about the programme any other way.

O2 want to make sure that Think Big is open to all young people by allocating projects to young people who join the programme through a youth organisation. By joining Think Big you’ll be putting money directly into the hands of the young people you’re already working with.

http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/Youth-Partners/

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Out of Schools Exhibition

Friday 28th June  - Monday 8th July 2013

The Out of Schools Exhibition 2013 is a celebration of pupils’ work from schools across the region that showcases the exceptional achievements in art and design from early years to college students. The exhibition runs for two weeks at the end of June/beginning of July and is a wonderful opportunity for your pupils’ work to be exhibited in a professional context and for you as teachers to share practice and celebrate!

The theme of this year’s show is ‘IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT’. Schools are invited to submit work that interprets the theme of ‘In Your Environment’ in any way. We expect the theme to be interpreted in as many ways as possible, so please do not be put off!

During the exhibition we will be running ‘Creative Week’ which is a series of FREE workshops for pupils and CPD for staff. We also welcome schools to visit the exhibition and this year we are hosting THE ART ZOO where you will have a unique opportunity to watch untamed artists and designers create work in their natural habitat.

If you would like to get involved in the Out of Schools Exhibition please contact Clare Knox-Bentham at C.Knox-Bentham@mmu.ac.uk for an Exhibitor’s Pack.

Degree Show Tours

Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th June

Schools and colleges are welcome to visit the Degree Shows and host two special Schools’ Days which this year will be on Monday 17^th and Tuesday 18^th June from 10am to 4pm at Manchester School of Art.  You are welcome to visit independently but if you would like to book an undergraduate tour guide for the Degree Shows please contact Katie Lund at K.Lund@mmu.ac.uk stating your preferred visit time and your party size.

Feedback from schools’ visits of previous years suggested that pupils would benefit from more interactivity when visiting the Degree Shows, so this year they plan to offer interactive workshops based around their graduating students’ work. If you would like more information about interactive workshops at the Degree Shows please contact Clare Knox-Bentham at c.knox-bentham@mmu.ac.uk for more information. Please note workshops will need to be booked in advance on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

Designing Your Future

15th-17th July 2013 9.30 am - 2.30 pm

What is an Art School? Is it just drawing, painting and sculpture? How will coming to Manchester School of Art help me find a job? What role does an Art Graduate have in the 21st century workplace?

Come along to Manchester School of Art and immerse yourself in a 3-day experiential taster of what it’s like to be a student at Manchester School of Art, and what role Art & Design can play in your creative future. The three day taster course will allow you access to the University’s Art & Design facilities and there will be sessions run by our academic staff, graduates and students so you will be able to talk to representatives of all aspects of the undergraduate experience.

The academic staff will tell you about our undergraduate courses and where it could lead you in your career. And of course you will have fun making in a variety of media and hopefully create some really interesting work for your portfolio!

This taster course is for Year 11/12 pupils. Places are limited and allocated by application only.

This course can also be provided as a bespoke session for your school at other times throughout the year. Please contact Clare Knox-Bentham at c.knox-bentham@mmu.ac.uk for further information.

Outreach Support fromManchester School of Art

The Art & Design Outreach Team at Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University work in partnership with schools across Greater Manchester and Cheshire to raise the creative aspirations of young people through a variety of events and activities.

The 2012-2013 programme has been designed to engage with learners from Year 4 up to Year 11 in creative events and activities that are both engaging and educational.

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The campaign will shine a spotlight on what excellent practice in Family Arts looks like, and will include resources and initiatives to support organisations to constantly improve their offer to families with the help of the Family and Parenting Institute.  It’s set to really increase the quality, range and amount of experiences available to families over the next two years.  It will involve a very high profile PR campaign which will be delivered by some of the team responsible for the London 2012 Olympic festival, so it promises to be excellent.

An important element of the initiative is the Family Arts Festival which will take place between the 18 October and 3 November 2013, and again in 2014.  This will be a nationwide feast of Family Arts experiences, which will be advertised through a heavy duty PR campaign to families to ensure that these excellent events are extremely well attended.

So, what do you need to do now?  Whether you’re an artist or practitioner, a cultural programmer, someone who works with young people, a teacher, a parent or possibly all of these the first step is the same!!  Go to www.familyarts.co.uk, register for the newsletter and tell everyone you know to do the same.  Organisations wishing to get involved can also get in direct contact with the team by emailing enquiries@familyartsfestival.com.

And you’ll certainly be hearing more from us about this too!

Kelly Allen

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If you have an example to share, or if you’d like to nominate someone you know, email dmed@drakemusic.org or tweet to @Drake_Music using #dmspot. Or you can post information yourself on the DM Education web-pages at www.drakemusic.org/dm-education

It only takes a minute to register for an account

Drake Music can also travel to document and learn about interesting examples of SEN/Disabled music education.

In particular, they’re keen to showcase video examples of what effective SEND music education actually looks and sounds like. Short video clips filmed on mobile phones, video cameras or iPads can communicate so much more than the written word or photographs alone. These examples can then be shared online through the DM Education web pages and the Youth Music Network to inspire and inform others.

“There are far too many teachers wasting valuable time reinventing the wheel. To improve teaching and learning in SEND music education, there needs to be a way in which ideas, resources and lessons can be shared between schools and organisations...”  SEND music teacher, Stratford Upon Avon.

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The Light Cinema New Brighton is delighted to offer a unique interactive schools broadcast - direct from London's BRITISH MUSEUM.

"Pompeii LIVE from the British Museum" is an exclusive educational event for pupils aged (7-10 years) on Wednesday 19 June at 11am Tickets £5 per pupil (accompanying teachers FREE)

The broadcast comes LIVE from the British Museum's critically acclaimed "Life & Death in Pompeii & Herculaneum" exhibition - currently selling out in London.

Well-known presenters and experts will investigate fascinating objects, including a charm bracelet owned by a child; a soldier’s belt and sword; the mosaic of a panting dog on a lead; carbonised food and furniture flash-preserved by 500 degree volcanic surges –and even a 2,000 year-old perfect loaf of bread.

The broadcast will link to a number of themes in the National Curriculum:

• History: archaeology, finding out about the lives of people of the past
• English: story writing, poetry and drama around the events of the eruption
• Science: volcanoes
• Art & Design: jewellery, paintings, mosaics; patterns, animals, plants
• PSHE and Citizenship: responding to natural disasters, preserving the past

Teaching and learning resources will be available online at http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum/pompeii_live/schools_event.aspx

For more info, or to book tickets, please contact Jane on 07866 871275 or jane.woodason@cinemanext.co.uk

There is also an event for the public on Tuesday 18 June at 7.00pm (Tickets:  £10/£7.50).

More info here:- http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum/pompeii_live.aspx

All this from the comfort of your friendly local cinema.

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May 2013

Krazy Kat Theatre Company Present The Waving Cat

Contact’s Education Leaders Forum

Preparing for Freelance Work with Young People in the Arts

Writing Squad Application Open

Young Lancashire Training Events

April 2013

Blaze Learning Summit

Big Ideas Start Here - I am Creative

Introducing the new Digital Theatre Plus

Liverpool’s Biggest LightNight Programme Announced

Drama Approaches To Improving Children’s Wellbeing

Global Arts Projects from Creative Hands Foundation

O2 Think Big Funding and Support

Events for Schools: Manchester School of Art

The Family Arts Campaign

Help Drake Music Shine a Spotlight on SEND Music Education

Key Stage 2 FREE Schools’ Concerts - Preston Guild Hall

Opportunity: Freelance Creative Practitioner and Freelance Musician

dot-art Schools Competition Launched

Pompeii LIVE from the British Museum

Friday 19 July 10am - 5pm

M6 Studio Theatre Hamer CP School Albert Royds Street, Rochdale, OL16 2SU

The training will be useful to:

• Foundation stage, KS1 & lower KS2 staff including: SENCO’s, teachers, teaching assistants and learning mentors.
• Drama practitioners and therapists

The training will include:

• Planning, delivery and evaluation of small group drama for communication
• Drama activities that enrich and develop children’s communication skills, confidence and self esteem
• A framework to identify children with a communication need
• A comprehensive resource pack

The Communication Trust reports that up to 50% of children in areas of disadvantage have speech and language skills significantly less developed than their peers.

In 2013 and 2014, London Bubble supported by SHINE, will be working with M6 Theatre, Oldham Theatre Workshop and Peoplescape Theatre to bring this approach to the Greater Manchester Area. The Speech Bubbles programme supports referred children to develop communication skills in a fun and nurturing environment.

A teacher’s survey revealed that 83% of participating children showed an improvement in learning, speaking and listening and 88% showed behavioural improvements.

COST: 120 + VAT. 40 +VAT for students TO BOOK CALL 020 7237 4434 or email lucy@londonbubble.org.uk

Pennine Lancashire Museums launch new interactive website. During the Industrial Revolution, Pennine Lancashire was one of the most important and wealthy places in the world. Today, the wonderful collections and lavish architecture of its museums, mills and historic houses tell stories of the money made and spent in the region.

These wonderful places are perfect for a family day out, containing fascinating collections and exhibits to intrigue and excite young and old. There is so much to see and do and with many of the museums near to each other, why not visit two museums in one day or try one you’ve never been to before?

www.wonderful-things.org.uk

The project is in its pilot year and is particularly keen to engage with any groups or individuals interested in Mental Health and Well Being. This also includes engaging young people transitioning into 'adulthood' including PSHE teachers who work in schools and support workers working in the community.

This pilot year - long adventure is nearly through but another will be launching officially in September.

Why not get involved at www.diggingdeep.co.uk or catch 'The Adventures of Sky - The Reluctant Hero' at Contact Theatre www.contactmcr.com/diggingdeep to get a taster of the project.

To request a Community and Education Pack  and FREE Adventure Toolkit email info@diggingdeep.co.uk

Z-arts have lots of exciting children’s theatre coming and their fantastic 3 for 2 ticket offer is here to help you see as much as possible, at the very best price. The Wonder Ticket is £26 and gives an adult and child entry to 3 children’s shows for the price of 2, saving you at least £13

Z-Arts are one of 15 venues which make up Big Imaginations, a new network of venues and promoters from across the North West who have come together to make the regions’ children’s theatre offer bigger and better.

To purchase a Wonder Ticket, call in or call our Box Office on 0161 232 6089

Wonder Ticket is only valid for Big Imaginations performances at Z-arts, shows are subject to change, some shows will be children-only (we'd be happy to exchange the adult seat for a coffee and cake!), this is a non-refundable product, seats for shows must be reserved in advance, tickets must be used within 12 months of purchase.

http://www.z-arts.org/

They provide a programme of events at Manchester School of Art to engage your pupils and staff throughout the year, such as:

• Interrogate the Art School
• Degree Show Visits
• Out of Schools Exhibition
• Designing Your Future
• HE Advice and Guidance talks
• Teachers Creative Network

You can download their brochure here

The network offers support to school staff, some of whom are Senior Management Team members and others are teaching assistants and teaching staff, to ensure young people with a range of Special Educational Needs receive a high quality arts and culture offer throughout their school experience in order to raise aspirations and show the wider world what they can do.

This project is rooted in a spirit of partnership across three SEN schools participating in the SEN network, working with a cultural organisation and a creative learning organisation. Findings will be shared with other teachers/organisations in order for the project to be potentially upscaled in the future.

Technology can significantly support young disabled people to develop new creative skills and a higher visibility and to excel and create a more level playing field between themselves and their mainstream peers. Working across three schools, using state of the art technology, will we trust provide pupils with a passport to progress and support their ability to communicate with peers and adults more effectively in versatile and accessible ways. In so doing we are working to expand the life chances for these young people.

Young people’s voices and their interests will also play a leading role in this work. Digital technology will be utilised to inspire and enthuse young people and make things possible for them that might ordinarily not be so. Inset will be an integral part of the work.

Discover and Explore Arts Award delivery will be built in to this project. Work will extend to family members in at least one of the settings.

Network meetings where you can find out more about the developments within this project will take place on the 26th April and 14th June.

For more info please contact Jude.Bird@curiousminds.org.uk

Techno-ABLE Project

On Tuesday 12 February I attended the first of two Interchange events, hosted by DIY Theatre in partnership with Beaumont College and funded by Curious Minds. Interchange is a training and networking day for people working with young disabled people, exploring accessible approaches to Arts Award. The next event will take place at Beaumont College in Lancaster on 28 February 2013. To book your place, click here (link: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/4548444520)

Thank you to everyone who came along on Tuesday and to all the members of DIY Theatre who hosted such a fantastic day. We had a strong turn out, with advisers from arts and cultural organisations, schools and local authorities from across the region. It was genuinely inspiring to hear how so many different organisations are using Arts Award to create bespoke learning opportunities for young people with complex educational needs. Advisers took part in workshop sessions on creative evidencing and evaluation, sharing their knowledge and experience of different approaches to documenting learning and developing reflection. The programme also comprised a range of great presentations: 

Sam from DaDaFest described how she works with special schools in Liverpool to help young people achieve Arts Award. She shared her experience of using bespoke worksheets to address the challenge of communication, providing young people with a consistent approach to documentation that becomes familiar and helps to build their confidence in describing what they have achieved and expressing their opinions . (www.dadafest.co.uk)

Sharon and Sue from Piper Hill Specialist Support School in Wythenshawe talked about the use of film and ICT for creative evidencing. Piper Hill is a specialist provision for students with severe and profound disabilities from 11-19 years. They are currently delivering Arts Award at Bronze level for learners undertaking their 'Independent' curriculum, combining visual art with music and drama. They demonstrated how iMovie, iWeb and Comic Life can be used by a 'relative ICT novice' to create flexible and attractive digital sketchbooks that capture audio, film and photographic evidence. (www.piperhillschool.co.uk)

Chris and Francis from Beaumont College also shared their approach to using digital portfolios, kindly aided by Gregory who showed us his Wordpress profile, where he is able to capture his experiences, create reviews and discuss his work with other students and teachers. Beaumont is a college of further education in Lancaster, offering residential and day programmes to learners aged 18-25 years with a broad range of physical and learning disabilities. They have been delivering Arts Award for many years and are currently embarking on their first Gold award with a young woman called Jess. Jess is using Grid software (a computer based voice output communication aid, using symbols and text to build sentences) to create a bespoke communication tool that will allow her to direct other young people as part of her leadership project. (www.beaumontcollege.ac.uk)

Finally, Jamie and Peter from So Many Words talked about how they deliver Arts Award Bronze and Silver through  a range of creative activities for young people aged 12-21 years with learning and physical disabilities. Their partnership with DIY Theatre has allowed them to work closely with members of the company, who act as mentors for the young people, guiding them through the award and raising aspirations for what they can achieve. (www.oakwoodyouthclub.co.uk)

Early feedback from the event has been extremely positive and we hope to publish more information, resources and photographs very soon. If you are interested in finding out more please come along on 28 February. In the meantime, there are a range of support materials available on the Arts Award website at: www.artsaward.org.uk/special

Hannah Baldwin
Bridge Coordinator - Achievement

 ‘I feel having DIY in to deliver the Silver Arts Award has given a wonderful focus to those of our members who have a real passion for pursuing the arts as a profession. The project has encouraged a lot of what the group already do and enjoy – favourite art forms such as drama, dance, singing, music – but has opened it right up to explore the arts in the context of research, performance and how a young person’s practice and commitment can open doors in the professional arts world.’ - Jamie Patterson – Artistic Director, So Many Words Theatre Company

DIY is an established Theatre Company of learning disabled performers, which has been creating entertaining, accessible and thought-provoking theatre since 1994. The company’s devised performances and other projects aim to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusion and celebrate creativity. For more information about the company visit our website at: www.diytheatre.org.uk.

Leading it…Our Way is DIY’s ambitious education and outreach initiative, funded by the BIG Lottery Reaching Communities Programme. DIY members have been co-facilitating a range of Arts Award projects with young people with learning difficulties throughout Greater Manchester – in partnership with youth organisations, schools and colleges. An integral element of our approach has been that all projects are planned, led and evaluated by The Friday Group; a group of DIY members with learning difficulties, supported by DIY’s Education Officer. The model of people with learning difficulties delivering workshops to young people with learning difficulties has proved very powerful and effective.

What people said about working with DIY members:

“Joan from DIY was very friendly and enthusiastic for the project and had a good way with the pupils.” - Teacher at New Park School, Eccles – Bronze Arts Award 2012

“Ang and Rob did a great job. They were willing enough to give their insights but didn’t ever take time away from the group.” - Jamie Patterson, Artistic Director of So Many Words – Silver Arts Award 2012

Through the Leading It…Our Way project, we have been able to work in partnerships with Ladywood School, New Park School, So Many Words Theatre Company, Lancasterian School, Irlam and Caddishead Youth Club, Oakfield School and Heaton School.

We have been able, through the Bronze and Silver Arts Award, to support young people with learning difficulties to:

Gain a nationally recognised qualification

Develop leadership skills and experiences

Develop life skills such as communication and decision-making

Increase their confidence, sense of achievement and ambition

Evidence their achievements in the form of portfolios, which will support some to access further training or volunteering opportunities

We have worked together to create new ways to deliver drama games and exercises and explore different aspects of leadership and what that means to different people.

Portfolios have included drawings, photos, textiles and filming. Heroes and heroines has been evidenced by shoeboxes, picture frames, tee shirts and bags. Reviews have been explored with image theatre, props and music.

This is what two of our facilitators at DIY say about the projects:-

Angela: “I really enjoy feeling proud – knowing that we helped others.”

Rob: “I get immense pleasure out of helping them to achieve. At the end of the day, I like it if we can make a difference.”

We were excited when at the beginning of 2012, we were invited to become involved in running  public training for Arts Award Discover and Explore. This has opened up a fantastic opportunity to be centrally involved in the roll-out of Discover and Explore in the region and gives us an opportunity to offer young learners with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties the same opportunities as other young people with learning difficulties.

A central aim of DIY Theatre Company’s education and outreach work over the next three years, therefore, will be to increase the opportunities we offer to children and young people with more complex needs, using the framework of the new Discover and Explore Arts Award. Friday Group members have identified the need and potential for broadening their own skills and experiences in making work more accessible on a sensory level e.g. using puppets, textiles etc and developing more visual approaches to our workshops.

We are excited about opening up opportunities for a broader range of young people to gain increased access to more relevant creative activities and qualifications. 

DIY February 13th 2013

Mandy Redvers Rowe

Art costs money. It costs money to make it, to watch it, to get to it, to take part in it. If you are a disabled young person wanting to take part in the arts it costs more money. If you are deaf you may need a sign language interpreter; if you have a learning disability you may need to come along with a facilitator and if you are a wheelchair user you may need to take a taxi to get to it. If you are a young person from a disadvantaged socio-economic background it costs money you just don’t have. I’m know this is not exactly headline news.

So, in these hard times when arts managers and families are watching the limited resources being whittled away, who pays for access and how do arts organisations retain their commitment to encouraging everyone to take part? Well, mainstream arts organisations are required by law to make some provisions: their venues are wheelchair accessible, signage is brailed, the majority have interpreted and audio described or captioned performances within a season and some, but not all, offer a concessionary rate to young people and those whose families are on benefits. These provisions are well advertised but for young people what happens in terms of participatory activity?

I work for an organisation whose raison d’être is to work with people who would not normally access the arts. We do not charge young people (nor any participants) for workshops or for weekly youth theatre attendance and we work to overcome socio-economic barriers by reimbursing young people for bus fares and budgeting for tickets and entrance fees that allow our participants to take part in local and regional cultural events. We witness daily the benefits participation in the arts, particularly for this young demographic, brings. I would encourage all arts organisations to look to adopting this approach. 

Encouraging disabled young people to take part in workshops, outside of educational establishments and within projects not specifically aimed at disabled young people is challenging and crucial. All arts organisations need to find ways to ensure their regular youth provision to accessible to disabled people and that their access needs can be met in a responsive way.

I am therefore calling that a Regional Access Fund for Young People’s Participatory Arts be established: a Regional Access Fund that would ensure young people from all backgrounds and of all abilities can take part in participatory arts activity offered by all arts organisations. The fund would pay for the access costs of disabled young people such as sign language interpreters/audio describers/facilitators/taxi fares and the access costs of young people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds such as bus fares/tickets and youth theatre subscription costs.  The fund would be responsive. The application process would be quick and simple and based on the requirements of each young person. Such a fund would enable all arts organisations, both mainstream and those working on the margins, to promote their work with confidence to all young people.

Please discuss this call. Interrogate it, take it apart and unearth any potential problems.  If you have a better idea that would result in a similar outcome, and if so please put it on the table.  I want to start a debate, a debate that will hopefully lead to action.  

Mandy Redvers Rowe

About Mandy: Mandy is the Creative Producer for Collective Encounters; a theatre for social change organisation based in north Liverpool. As Creative Producer Mandy heads up a multi-faceted participatory programme which offers homeless people, young people and older people the chance to take part in high quality arts processes and products. The programme offers weekly workshops through a youth theatre, third age acting company and homeless theatre company as well as extensive outreach work in pupil referral units, children’s homes, community centres, care homes, hostels and day settings. All Collective Encounters’ work is a free at the point of use. Prior to Collective Encounters Mandy acted as the Artistic Director for Dada Fest (when it was called North West Disability Arts Forum).  Mandy is a passionate disability rights activist. 

There are several projects underway at present:

All the projects are starting with story fragments generated by young people, and which develop as the months go by.  These are used within a variety of art forms, each led by an experienced pratitioner: 

The West Coast Project involves Victoria Infants and Junior Schools in Workington, Mayfield School, Whitehaven (Special School 3-19yrs), and also young people from several other organisations.  Victoria Infants are using their pupil premium to enable artists to work alongside both pupils with Special Needs, and those with behavioural problems arising from social issues.  They are working on stories which are either performed, told, or printed.  At Mayfield the work centres around transition into the adult world of opportunities in the creative arts.

Since September 2012 Prism Arts have run a Theatre Skills Course in Carlisle aimed at young people with Special Needs in schools and colleges.  The course allows them to  develop arts skills across a wide range of disciplines, in a mainstream environment.  Haltwhistle Film Project is running the film and animation element of this course.  Other art forms included are: visual arts; puppetry; drama; music.  The emphasis throughout is on personal development and individuals' own ideas and intentions.

Prims Arts recently ran a Theatre Skills Taster Course at Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven to offer an experience of the proposed additional Theatre Skills Course due to start on the West Coast in September 2013.  This offered drama, music and puppetry -alongside offering Arts Award. In April Haltwhistle Film Project is running a specific animation course aimed at the same audience.  It is clear from feedback that there is a gap in arts provision for young people of secondary school age in this part of the North-West.

Both organisations will also shortly be working with James Rennie Special School in Carlisle on a Transitions project.  This, along with some of the work at Mayfield School is aimed at engaging secondary school young people with the creative arts, often as a way to re-engage them in learning.

Haltwhistle Film Project is also home to FilmAble a film production company run by and for people with learning disabilities across Cumbria and the North-East.  Young people working in the projects above also move on to make films and animations with FilmAble.  Adult members of FilmAble also contribute to training younger filmmakers.  They recently supported Y12 students at James Rennie Special School in Carlisle to produce animated backdrops for a theatrical production.

Haltwhistle's work is partly funded by Curious Minds' bridge partner in Cumbria - Creative Futures Cumbria.

http://www.haltwhistlefp.co.uk/

http://www.prismarts.org.uk/

Chester

“Making Space for Learning”

Dorin Park School and Specialist SEN College provides a specialist learning environment for pupils with physical and / or complex needs from age 2-19.

The school wanted to find out what impact a series of outdoor skills sessions would have on the children’s ability to make relationships and connections and on the pupil’s ability transfer to other settings.

The project was aimed at a small cohort of pupils on the Autistic Spectrum. The school wanted to find out how they could most effectively work with these pupils and to offer them opportunities they often miss out on in order to enhance their learning potential. Often these pupils don’t go on visits as it is too stressful for them. By creating an exciting project which offered unusual opportunities the school hoped to motivate and enthuse pupils so they relaxed, felt safe and were able to begin to lead on their own learning. This project was also part of a programme of work with University of Chester Initial Teacher Trainees (ITT) set up by Curious Minds to develop creativity within the ITT programme and to link the work of school placements and non-standard settings for the students.

The work took place over an intensive four week period for two days a week allowing for immersion and experimentation by the children. The practitioner was carefully chosen for his skills and ability in outdoor learning and working with pupils with ASC (Autistic Spectrum Condition).

He sourced materials and resources and used them to work with the children to create a range of different invitational spaces for the children to explore and make their own. An enclosed space was developed in a corner of the school grounds which created safety and security for the children. This afforded pupils the opportunity to make their own world rather than have it imposed upon them and created a more improvisational, rather than a very structured, approach to learning. Pupils built a den with found and natural materials such as ropes and cardboard and planted trees to identify a space. They constructed a bird hide and a “secret garden” where they cut holes in the fence at a low level so they could see out and wheelchair users could also see in. The pupils were totally involved in the design and construction of all these areas.

Key impacts revolved around pupils who can be frustrated by lack of language and comprehension, who developed excellent communication with the practitioner because he worked in a sensory, child led manner. Pupils were able to work and focus for longer periods and to work cooperatively on tasks which had previously been difficult. The creation of an outdoor space has given them a place where they can be creative and work more independently. Impacts were evident on behaviour, a sense of self- worth and purpose and the ability to handle tools effectively, safely and sensibly. Sociability also improved.

Staff were shown how to look at different areas in a more creative way and particularly ways to use the outdoor spaces for all curriculum areas.

Staff are now working to develop these ideas and take them further. Staff said they had found out “it doesn’t take heaps of money and the outdoor spaces can be used for all curriculum areas” Pupils demonstrated how much they liked working with the practitioner because he supported them and as a consequence were well-behaved and weren’t confrontational.

“Making Space for Learning” is a case study from our Different Voices SEN publication. A publication showing the rich cultural and creative education work carried out by Curious Minds (and their partners) across the North West. You can download the publication here: Different Voices

More recently the college’s own Sports leader students have designed and delivered tailored fitness sessions to develop balance, coordination, flexibility, and agility. The sport leaders were amazed at the level of commitment and determination that the SEN learners displayed.

Carmel Clowes
Lecturer - Performing Arts
Knowsley Community College

http://www.knowsleycollege.ac.uk/

Our activities range from a monthly (during term time) interactive performance in partnership with The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester which is provided free of charge and is available to every child with a disability.

We undertake around 450 other events every year within the NW. These range from one off performances provided with the support of various Trusts and Foundations to longer term projects where a group of musicians will visit a school on multiple occasions. An example of one of these projects is below:

The ‘Masterpieces’ project allowed children at 5 special schools in the North West to take part in interactive music workshops given by musicians from LMN on a regular basis.  

The project was split into two phases spread over 2012. The first phase took place from February to June 2012 and involved Astrum Guitar Duo from LMN and the second phase took place from September to December 2012 and involved Pasaos Duo (Saxophone and Percussion) from LMN.

Each school received 20 interactive music workshops (10 in each phase) by the duo who worked with a small class group of children to produce a ‘masterpiece’ (music, song, dance, etc). The children themselves decided what they wanted to do and chose an appropriate topic. The aim was for this project to integrate into the rest of the school curriculum which it successfully did.

During the first visit to each school in each phase all children in the school attended an initial participatory performance by the duo allowing the whole school to benefit from this project and not just a small class group.  The final visit was also a performance to the whole school. In this way, every pupil in the school benefited from two participatory performances by LMN musicians.

The climax of each phase of the project was a trip to a large concert venue – in this case the Barbirolli Room at the Bridgewater Hall for Phase 1 and the Concert Hall at the Royal Northern College of Music for Phase 2 - for the small class group involved. They stood on stage and performed their ‘Masterpiece’ to the other special schools involved, other classes from their school and their parents.

This project was funded by Youth Music.

http://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/children_special_needs

1) Connect Groups: A young person can come to a specific disability group - for children and young people with additional needs, disabilities and learning difficulties, where we have two workers.  Groups tend to be small and it's a good place to start for people who are new to drama and lack confidence.

- Junior Connect, 6pm - 7pm on a Wednesday for children aged 5-11

- Senior Connect, 7pm - 8pm on a Wednesday for young people aged 12-25

- Adult Connect 1:30pm - 3pm on a Wednesday for all young people and adults aged 18+

2) Inclusive Groups: A young person can come to a group that is a mix of mainstream young people and young people with additional needs.  The ratio is 20:5. We reserve places for five young people with additional needs in each of the sessions. These groups has two leaders to support those young people with additional needs and volunteers

- Beginners Drama 4pm - 5pm Thursday for school years 1,2 and 3

- Junior Drama 5pm - 6-pm Thursday for school years 4,5 and 6

- Senior Drama 6pm - 7:30pm Thursday for school years 7, 8 and 9

- Young actors 7:30pm - 9:30pm Thursday for school years 10 and 11 and young people aged 16-25.

3) A young person with disabilities or learning difficulty or other additional need is welcome to take part in any of our sessions.  For example, we have young man in a wheel chair in one of Saturday sessions.  

For information on our other 20+ workshops please visit: http://www.burnleyyouththeatre.com/index.html

We are currently working with Lancasterian Specialist Support School to develop communication boards for our Living History and Little PHM workshops.  These will increase access for children and young people with communication needs.  We will be hosting a celebration event for the project in June 2013.  If you would like to find out more please contact learning@phm.org.uk

If you, or someone you know, are keen to be part of a small organic group of dancers developing integrated dance work across the region with professional choreographers, we would like you to contact us.  Please email Anna Daly to register your interest at anna.daly@ludusdance.org or call Anna on 01524 35936.

The group’s base and rehearsal space will be decided as the group develops and we would be pleased to hear too from any venues that would be interested in supporting us.

Our vision is to inspire, develop and celebrate talent and excellence in disability and deaf arts.

DaDaFest 2012 brought artists from across the globe to Liverpool, to present and celebrate the best in Disability and Deaf Arts. Highlights of the festival included the ‘Niet Normaal: Difference on Display’ exhibition in the Bluecoat, a series of comedy performances at Unity Theatre, Evelyn Glennie at the Royal Philharmonic Hall, a host of engaging workshops, and Young DaDaFest, the performance showcase for and by young Disabled and Deaf people. The next festival will happen in November and December 2014.

At the heart of our work with young people is a Young People’s Steering Group, which has 20 members shaping and leading the arts projects. It is vital that young people make the decisions for the programme and continue to have their voices heard. They are developing some exciting ideas for the future to deliver quality and ground breaking work.

To find out more about DaDaFest and its ongoing programme of work visit www.dadafest.co.uk or email info@dadafest.co.uk

Dey Do DaDa Don’t Dey?

Our company (currently DaDaFest, but also been known as - DaDa, NWDAF & AIM) has been working with young disabled and Deaf people since 2002. We were actually founded in 1984, but only started working with young disabled people when opportunities arose to empower and allow their voices to be heard at decision making levels.  We deliberately avoided work within this setting, not because we were averse to working with young people, but because of barriers put forward by the ‘gate-keepers’: those people who decide who can get through and engage. We also felt that many young disabled people did not get the opportunities to experience arts that empowers as was confirmed through research, “Arts Divisions” 2005, that most disabled young people only experienced art as passive or therapeutic activities.

Our background and reputation is, I suppose, provocative; as a control-led disability arts organisation, we were at the forefront of the disability arts movement which sought to expose the oppression, discrimination and dependency culture and practices that were the norms of our experiences as disabled people.  This challenged on many levels, as people thought that by looking after us, they were helping. Instead we created a two-tier society akin to a ‘soft apartheid’. Our arts exposed these factors usually making, ‘the comfortable, uncomfortable’. 

It took a change of government and the introduction of SENDA - Special Educational Needs Discrimination Act (though we would like to know what is so ‘special’ about special needs?) in 2002, to challenge thinking and the pervading mainstream portrayal of us as disabled people. It has been an interesting journey to witness, but I am sad to say that not enough has been done, and today we are in danger of reverting back, and fast.

Our work puts the young people first.  This means they may say things we don’t want to hear and do things we may feel is not always the best way of doing things, but we have come to see over time, that within the fast moving cultural, political and social changes, those who can often challenge inequality best are the young people themselves. They constantly surprise us: they have established a collective identity particularly through the ‘Young DaDa’ programme – a name they choose and one which means a great deal to the young disabled people in this city. Led by them, we merely assist to deliver an annual Young DaDaFest event bringing the ‘segregated’ schools, ( just hate saying ‘special’) and disabled young people (often isolated) within mainstream together which affirms their identity as disabled/deaf young people and gives them a platform to expose or confront issues they face which range from bullying (yes, you can get bullied in a special school!), celebrity-ism and other things that are not always to do with being disabled people either, and gain strength as people who matter: not people who need looking after.  Young DaDaFest is the only time in the year all such schools get together. The work empowers, making the ‘uncomfortable, comforted’.

My hope is that we can always meet their desires and vision: and that is getting harder. We are supposed to live within an inclusive society, and I feel the push to make people fit in just isn’t working. People lead complex lives and it is impossible and ignorant to say we treat everyone the same. All needs are not met: the austerity measures are greatly affecting participation, engagement through restricted resources. As a result we are seeing limited life choices: this is particularly poignant for disabled people who still remain the poorest in society, still affected by lack of qualifications and job opportunities and, as the likes of the Daily Mail et al state, disabled people cost us too much money!

We all have a responsibility to create positive disabled and Deaf role models that can be a powerful catalyst for change for the young people, as they are ‘reflecting their reality’. A Deaf dancer I know said that when she was little she thought that when she grew up she would either become hearing or die, as she never met a Deaf adult! Disabled artists need more presence within education, extra-curricular activity and within mainstream creation and programming of work. Only then can we be truly equal and inclusive.

Money will always be an issue: we pride ourselves at putting access in place and will only deliver when we know all people’s needs are in place. We know first-hand how many young people do not have families or support to help them get to off-site, extra-curricular arts activities, so we work with the schools and pay for transport, Personal Assistants, technical support and equipment as needed.  This means that our costs to deliver any arts project can be 30% to 50% higher depending on access requirements.  But we factor this in as a given.  Without this – we just can’t and will not, deliver.

Recently we were accused of being an exclusive ‘club’: believe me, the exclusion doesn’t come from us, we have engaged to develop inclusive opportunities with wider partners, but find time and again that young disabled people can often be side-lined, ignored through non-disabled peers or patronised, plied and pulled into shape by ‘carers’.  We have tried to create partnership working, some have been successful, but others see us as helping them to gain funding or purely as bringing in the access costs.

Currently, we have over 20 young disabled people who make up the working group, deciding what arts activity we should do and who we should do it with. The young people we first met in 2002 have now become adults and have chosen a raft of different careers: one young man is now on our board and been a participant on projects with us since he was 11 (he is currently on a mechanical apprentice programme). He says our work gave him confidence and made him choose life: we created opportunities for him to input and take charge, taking on responsibilities and having a go.

I know what we do works: I have seen lives change. Young people can constantly challenge us and do need their boundaries laid down – but when we put things in place that show them they are important, they respond with big and surprising ideas.   

http://www.dadafest.co.uk/youngdada/projects/blueprints-for-change/

Ruth Gould MA FRSA

CEO DaDaFest

Jessie's Fund helps seriously ill and disabled children across the UK to communicate, express themselves and develop, through creative music-making and music therapy.  Since the charity was established in 1995, Jessie’s Fund has helped thousands of children to take part in life-enhancing music activities.

What is Soundtracks?

Jessie’s Fund’s Soundtracks programme is designed to give children in special schools a unique opportunity for active participation in music.  Our specialist musicians adapt their approach to suit the needs of children and staff in each school, leading a creative musical process where pupils and teachers work together to produce high quality performances and recordings.

Who delivers the work?

Our musicians are experts at involving all children, whatever their abilities, in making music.  You can see some of them at www.jessiesfund.org.uk/our-musicians.  They use a wide range of composition techniques, instruments and visual stimuli to create music with children and staff.  For example:

-       composing music for film

-       small group and one-to-one musical activities

-       composing music around a specific curriculum area or topic.

Workshops include structured learning and support for teachers, providing the skills and confidence to use music in the classroom.

How long is a Soundtracks project?

We offer three main models of work:

-       One day taster workshops

-       Five day creative projects

-       Extended music development projects.

Schools have on-going access to support materials and advice; we have a wealth of ideas on our website and in some cases, we can offer bursaries towards musical instruments.

What does it cost?

Jessie’s Fund works hard raising funds to subsidise the cost of all projects.  Schools’ contributions start from as little as £100 for a one day project.

Where can I get more information?

Please get in touch with our Soundtracks Project Manager, Tom Northey:  tom@jessiesfund.org.uk.  Alternatively, you can call 01904 658 189.  

Peoplescape Theatre have been creating and delivering participatory performances specifically created for children and young people with SEN in London for about six years, including commissions with the Museum of London and Docklands Museum.   Their work has been presented at national and international conferences. 

In 2012 they were awarded a grant from the National Lottery, ‘Grants for the Arts’, to create a participatory performance in Greater Manchester.  Emily Capstick, Matt Wardle and Alison Hale worked with the John Rylands Library, Salford Museum & Art Gallery and the People’s History Museum to devise a performance which includes puppetry, storytelling, multi-sensory props/costume, live music and lots of participation.

The company were mentored by the Horse and Bamboo Theatre for the puppetry and performance and the Research Institute for Health and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University were involved in development and evaluation.

To devise the performance, Matt and Emily ran creative workshops with three groups of young people with SEN.  These were invaluable as they tried out a wide variety of applied theatre techniques and styles.  The workshops were delivered in the young people’s schools and at each of the cultural venues which enabled the company to explore how the pupils responded to the gallery collections and stories.

Fourteen performances for schools were quickly booked.  Every group received an outreach visit to their school before the performance to enable them to meet one of the performers and a puppet, and to introduce the story and historical context (where appropriate).  Pupils were aged between 6 and 16 and had a wide range of SEN including ASD, sensory impairment and PMLD.

‘It should be a fundamental part of each SEN child’s curriculum to have access to such performances’ - Grange School
‘We were very impressed! A lot of thought has obviously gone into this project’ - Delamere School
‘Perfect - I wouldn’t change anything’ - Piper Hill Specialist Support School
‘Brilliant’ - Lancasterian School
'Pupils were very excited and really engaged in the story and the setting. It provided an experience that we did not have the skills to deliver ourselves’ - Oakwood Academy

Peoplescape Theatre also performed to the general public.  They are delivering training about working creatively with children and young people with SEN in March.  They will be applying for funding in 2013 in order to develop the project and to offer the opportunity to more children and young people with SEN.

Emily Capstick     info@emilycapstick.co.uk

The project supports a core team of 20 young people and young adults (ranging from15–35 yrs), creating a theatre company of disabled actors, directors and production staff.  We provide training, work experience and the opportunity to work towards recognised qualifications. Company members attend weekly workshops independently and /or from local SEN (Special Educational Needs) schools.  We aspire to produce an annual performance created by the group, which is staged at the Dukes and tours to young peoples centres and small theatre venues across the region.

We also offer participants the opportunity to access bespoke apprenticeships which provide the individual with transferable skills in creative mediums including creative workshops facilitation and music composition/recording. Past participants now assist our theatre directors in leading workshop in the community and assist with the musical composition of various Dukes Youth Theatre and Community productions.

The Shattering Images team regularly deliver creative workshops to local and regional organisations advocating the inclusive nature of our work; here is a sample of feedback from a recent workshop:

‘The session was led by the group's director, supported by three members of the acting and technical company who guided the participants, performing with us, answering questions and strongly advocating the company's work through their practice.  All of us who took part were inspired by the company and their underlying philosophy. It wasn't a hidden philosophy that you had to search for, the way that the group operated in the workshop directly reflected the nature of ‘Inclusive Theatre’ that they were advocating....we saw it in action!’ – The Ashton Group, Barrow in Furness’

For more information regarding the work of Shattering Images please contact Guy Christiansen at creativelearning@dukes-lancaster.org or visit our website  http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/dukes-shattering-images

Supported by the Society of London Theatre and The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts the move is part of a national 'Relaxed Performance Project’ and has so far been a great success. The ‘Relaxed Performance Project’ aims to provide access to creative and inspiring public theatre performances for children with special needs, including Autistic Spectrum Conditions and/or learning disabilities and, crucially, their families. Performances are specially designed to give those who otherwise might feel excluded the chance to experience live theatre. Theatre by the Lake has extended this remit to include mums with babies or small children who might ordinarily feel that their increased noise and movement levels are unacceptable for a regular theatrical performance.

‘Relaxed Performances’ are designed to have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels. To achieve this, performances are adapted in a number of ways, including training actors and front of house staff; cultivating an embracing attitude to audience movement and noise during the performance; adjusting light levels and special effects; and providing chill-out spaces for families.

Theatre by the Lake opened up their performance to people of all ages and all circumstances and families and groups came from all across the county. 

Simon Pollitt, the House Manager on the day of the Relaxed Performance said:
"It was an incredibly successful event and we’ve learnt a lot from it. One parent at the event said to me that it was the first time they had been to the theatre and really been able to relax. I heard another child leaving the theatre tell his mum ‘that’s just made my day’, which was fantastic to hear. We had 90 people attend the event, which is incredibly promising given it’s our first one. We hope to build on that figure in the future.”

Patric Gilchrist, Chief Executive of Theatre by the Lake said, "We are delighted with the response to our first ever relaxed performance, especially since this was the first chance many of the audience had had to visit Theatre by the Lake. There was a great response from audiences, actors and theatre staff and we are already planning for further relaxed performances in the future.”

The team behind the initiative are currently involved in an evaluation process and are looking at all the feedback from families and groups in the area. They are keen to hear from anyone with an interest in this type of performance so they can ensure future events suit the needs of the audience.

Relaxed Performances have been made possible through funding from Cumbria Community Foundation and Cumbria County Council.

For more information please visit www.theatrebythelake.com or contact Mary Elliott on 017687 72282.

More Music is a community music and education charity based in the West End of Morecambe, working throughout Lancashire, the North West and internationally. More Music provides a year round programme that covers a breadth of music making activity involving people of all ages and all backgrounds.

For twenty years musicians from More Music have worked in the whole range of SEN contexts and built a reputation for flexible adaptive music making using vocal work, rhythm, songmaking, invention and sound technology. Our musicians work one to one or with groups in single sessions or progressive programmes. More Music believes that music is a way to dissolve barriers and many projects integrate people from different backgrounds and create space where everyone can be creative and discover new things!

Case Studies include

Morecambe Road School – yearly projects for 19 years have included massive whole school projects (TRIBES), beatbox workshops, drumming, sound sculptures, songmaking in the community and the Arts Award.

Aiming High – 18 months of bespoke one to one and small group projects across Lancashire focussing on respite care.

Loyne School – integrated projects with Skerton High over 6 years with students of similar age making music and performing

Beaumont College – creation of the music curriculum with college staff, one to one vocal and technology projects, performance opportunities for students.

Our current offer to Music Education Hubs is GOBSMACKED.

Gobsmacked is a wordless choral project which aims to integrate students and pupils from SEN and mainstream education to work together with music professionals, school staff, and the members of the local community.

A video of the last project can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/brx2oyg

The project aims:

• To introduce all students to extended voice techniques as a way developing notions of 'singing'
• To increase listening and concentration skills of all students by including the immediate environment and group improvisation as features of the work
• To challenge commonly held mindsets about ‘voice’ and ‘singing’ and allow unheard voices to be seen and heard.
• To promote contact and understanding between SEN and mainstream 
• To affirm SEN students' sense of self by using their vocalisations as an integral part of a vocal piece

Please contact More Music at info@moremusic.org.uk

 ‘…………To be honest with you, I didn’t have a clue what she was saying………’

It’s daylight! The sun is shining! What a brill morning! Then I remembered…..it’s Saturday today – no school. Oh well……get up, get dressed, have toast, put my hearing aids in if Dad can be bothered to help me, then tv,dvd, tv,dvd, tv,dvd then bedtime.

Wait a minute…...! Somebody might take notice of me – even talk to me if I show them the homework I have to do for Monday. It’s my ‘Talking Homework!’ Somebody has to talk to me (because my teacher said so!) about the photo in my book then I get to write about it.

I LOVE HOMEWORK!

A typical story from a typical deaf child who is desperate for somebody to take the time and trouble to pay them some attention in a busy household.

Sadly this is a story many professionals know too well so we are going to change things!

We are about to begin an exciting project which brings together deaf children, their Dads and iPads! We know that iPads are appealing to both children and adults so we are organising Saturday morning workshops for families to learn and have fun together using technology. Transport and crèche facilities are always a problem so we are providing those as well!

Our key word is ‘together’ – time together, communication together, fun together!

Deaf children are just children who ‘Happen to be deaf!’ -  their needs and emotions are just the same as those of all children.

As relationships build – between parent and child and family to family, we are going to extend our workshops to include trips out to the wealth of interesting places we have around Lancashire.

Again transport is a problem so we are providing that and extra adult help is always a bonus so we are providing that too!

The legacy of our project is that our deaf children will become as valued in their family as all the hearing people……..what a life-changing legacy is that for everyone involved?

Never again do we want a child to be disappointed that it is ‘Saturday’ and to hear a Father say about his child….. 

‘…………To be honest with you, I didn’t have a clue what she was saying………’ because he will have had the time, the opportunity and seen the value of communicating with his child.

Jean Cockerill
Deputy Head
Royal Cross Primary School for deaf children.
Preston.
Lancs.

Helen Kelly, one of our team of Arts and Culture advocates visiting schools right across the North West and advocating for the importance of arts and culture in our schools, has been talking about some of the amazing work going on in the areas she has been advocating within – Greater Manchester alongside our other Greater Manchester advocate Andrew Vaughan... Helen has also been arranging school sessions in the East Cheshire and Stockport region as well. In both of Helen’s articles she pinpoints where and how great practice is happening in our schools in the North West and also how important and beneficial it has been to have arts and culture as part of the school world and life of a student.

Read Helen’s review of the Manchester sessions here:  Arts and Culture Advocacy – Mission Possible

Read Helen’s preview of the East Cheshire sessions here:  Smooth Transitions

Since November we have had our brigade of Curious Agents scouring the North West, exploring the cultural provision available from organisations for schools.

We have three sets of Agents.
Heritage.

Film, TV and Media

Arts and Community

Because we work alongside and with the majority of the regions NPO’s we have collected their information already and will be in touch with you all in the next six weeks.

Some of the agents themselves have been on journeys of exploration and discovery themselves. Over the next three months we will be featuring their own Curious Voices and learn about what they have discovered.

This month we have three of our seven Heritage Agents discussing their discoveries. They are:

Jael Edwards – Curious Agent Mission to scour a section of Greater Manchester for the Heritage offer for schools – Read her blog...

Jane Davies – Curious Agent Mission to scour Cumbria’s great heritage and bring that all together focusing on those organisations that have a great quality offer for schools – Read her blog...

Steph Brocken – Curious Agent Mission to scour Cheshire, Warrington and Halton for the heritage that exists right across that area for schools. – Read her blog...

Digienable - We also have a blog from one of our Film, TV and Media agents – Digienable (Liz and Darren) who have been scouring the whole North West for organisations offering great quality schools offer using film, media, broadcast and digital media. Working with Graham Kay and SSA they have discovered some interesting and exciting things going on in the North West. – Read their blog...

But why and what are the Curious Agents doing all this work for?

Well Curious Minds have been developing a One Stop Shop Signposting website for schools over the past six months. We have called this website Culture Hubs and it should be going live during April.

What we see this website as serving is not to replace any other signposting or resource website in the North West for arts and culture – and there are many of these. It is simply to serve as a front end portal for schools to access, search for the rich arts, cultural, heritage and media offer available to them on their doorstep and in their region. The Culture Hub site will then direct schools through to the relevant sites with the specific offer they have. But we will also signpost to membership sites that do similar work but perhaps have a different focus. For example a few of the North West Music Education Hubs are producing sites that show the rich musical offer and provision in their sub-region. We will link to this. Why duplicate if it is being produced somewhere else. We’ll be announcing more information on Culture Hubs over the next three months but visit our holding page and add it to your favourites: http://culturehubs.co.uk/

Next month we will hear from a few more of our Heritage agents and one of our Arts and Community Agents.

If you would like more information on the Curious Agents and/or the Culture Hubs website please email glen.meskell@curiousminds.org.uk

On 4 March 2013, the case for Arts and Culture in schools will be made by me, Helen Kelly, as Cheshire East’s Arts and Culture Advocate, where detail will be shared as to the impact the national schemes, Artsmark and Arts Award can have on schools to benefit children and young people, the whole school and wider community.

Poynton High School and Performing Arts College Community Arts Officer and Head of Performing Arts will be hosting the free event as exemplary Artsmark Gold and Arts Award setting. The inspiring venue will give attending delegates from the Cheshire East and Stockport Local Authorities a glimpse of the arts in another high quality setting, as well as the opportunity to hear case studies from skilled staff and inspiring young people from Poynton High School who’ve achieved Arts Award Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Arts leaders and headteachers are invited to spend time with us from 4 -5pm, considering the value of arts and culture, before being offered a free face to face visit to discuss their school’s arts and culture as a bespoke development opportunity.

Continuity and Progression

An aim for this event is to continue to develop continuity and progression in the transition between primary and secondary schools. The time is hopefully near where, when selecting a primary or secondary school, parents can make an informed decision as to the quality of the arts and culture offer a school provides, which, in turn, will lead to a better informed decision for the benefit of a young person.

The continuous offer of high quality arts and culture provision in the transition between primary and secondary school is surely vital if a young person is to truly reach their potential and have the richest of experiences within their cultural and creative artistic journey. When feeder primaries of Artsmark and Arts Award secondary schools are also part of these national schemes, parents and young people can rest assured that the quality arts partnerships, diversity in cultural experiences, commitment to the arts and artistically nurturing primary school environment they have been part of in their primary school, will continue throughout their secondary journey. The benefits to secondary schools, who, in many cases, are already sharing CPD and expertise with feeder primary school colleagues and their students through weekly secondment, the difference in the level and depth of experience at which young people can enter Year 7 are hugely enhanced.

Nationally Accredited Benchmark

As a nationally accredited benchmark, Artsmark and Arts Award will be what parents can look for to ensure their child’s progression in their artistic development, which starts at a very early age and should be continuous throughout their school careers. Artsmark and Arts Award is what teachers are able to look for in a school at which they choose to work to ascertain an embedded commitment to the arts. These are quality assurances that we can see as a kitemark and qualification opportunities for young people as these transitions continue to be created.

As such, this event will be targeting Poynton High School’s feeder primaries in Cheshire East and Stockport, as well as other cluster groups of secondary schools and their respective feeder primaries within the region.

For more information regarding the event, look out for an invitation from Curious Minds and contact me - Helen Kelly -  at advocate2greatermanchester@curiousminds.org.uk

The Advocates: Helen Kelly and Andrew Vaughan, Curious Minds’ Arts and Culture Advocates for Greater Manchester

The Approach: varied collaboration with schools, networks, National Portfolio Organisations and cluster groups to benefit many through a joined up approach to facilitating cultural conversations with individual schools and raising awareness of the impact Artsmark and Arts Award can have upon schools across the region.

One of the ways in which we have been raising awareness of a high quality arts and culture offer and setting schools on their journey into raising the profile and provision of the arts has been to hold Arts & Culture Advocacy Events in the region. The purpose of the events are to bring together schools in a culturally and artistically inspiring setting to put forward the case for high quality arts and culture for, by and with children and young people.

Werneth School

The first event, hosted by Werneth School, a Specialist College of Performing and Visual Arts, brought together arts leaders and senior managers of primary, secondary schools and PRUs from Stockport, Trafford and Tameside.

Opened with an outstanding performance by the school’s cast of West Side Story, the tone was perfectly set for putting forward the case for the arts and culture. Details were then shared as to how Artsmark and Arts Award can be mapped to existing curricular and extra-curricular offers as a means of enhancing the arts curriculum and helping children and young people to develop their own line of enquiry, techniques and leadership skills within the arts through national schemes.

Artsmark Gold advocate primary school, Canon Burrows, gave an inspiring presentation to delegates as to why they value Artsmark and how they work with quality arts partners to ensure a quality, diverse offer for children, as well as creating CPD opportunities for staff.

Werneth’s Performing Arts leader gave an illuminating presentation as to why they continue to apply for Artsmark Gold to keep their provision at the highest standard, as well as putting forward the inspiring picture as to how achieving Artsmark Gold and offering Arts Award to their young people, they have evidence of helping their school move from being in the ‘Requires Improvement’ Ofsted judgement, to the more recent ‘Good’ category: a fantastic achievement!

The case studies given at the event by Werneth’s young people, who are members of the school’s Arts Council, told of the difference the arts and culture have made to their school journeys, focusing largely on the skills they’ve developed, as well as the self confidence in which they’ve grown. Truly inspiring and impressive to hear the people who count talking with passion and gratitude for the role arts and culture have played in their lives so far, and how they will potentially influence their futures.

Advocate follow up visits to arts leaders who attended, have involved in-depth, cultural discussions regarding their provision and signposting them to support with the development of the arts, as well as mapping Arts Award and Artsmark to their existing offers. Conversations have been very positive, with motivated arts leaders ready to develop their curricular and extra-curricular arts and culture offers.

Royal Exchange Theatre’s teachers’ forum

Advocacy at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre’s teachers’ forum and a forthcoming presentation at Stockport Music Service’s network event is making a difference to the region, by raising awareness of the role we advocates can take in forging links between quality arts organisations’ support and the national award schemes’ place in enhancing arts development in schools.

Advocate facilitation is being developed in Greater Manchester as links are being made between schools in a cluster coming together to share in Arts Award training. The aim is to benefit many young people and staff, by coming together to train at a shared Arts Award adviser training session at a host school. The difference the advocate makes is to bring interested schools to attend training and signpost schools to organisations that can support them in the areas of the arts in which they have identified as in need of development. An opportunity to come together with colleagues from other schools gives the opportunity to share excellent practice and for the advocate to work with several schools simultaneously, benefiting more, sooner!

I look forward to the cultural conversations with arts leaders this month’s advocacy will bring about. Mission accepted!

Helen Kelly

Arts and Culture Advocate

Greater Manchester

To find out more about Arts Award please visit: Arts Award

To find out more about Artsmark please visit: Artsmark

The overall competition deadline is 20th July 2013 and in the run up to this in the summer term Manchester Literature Festival is able to offer FREE creative writing workshops to support local groups to develop their writing and dream up their entries.

If you are a working with a group of children or young people who you think would benefit from this opportunity please drop us a line. Briefly outlining the nature of the group and why you feel they would benefit from taking part (a couple of lines is enough!)

Workshops will be delivered in the summer term - beginning after Easter. A limited number of workshops are available and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you need further information of have any queries or questions please email Liz Postlethwaite: 

liz@manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Workshops
The workshops are £2.50 per session and take place every week at the Citadel.
For more information and to reserve your place contact the Citadel on 01744 735436.

Djing 
Led by DJ Rasp UKDMC Champion for 2009 and 2010, an experienced professional DJ - you will develop DJing skills using top of the range equipment and have the opportunity to show case your talents at special events throughout the year. Nick Lowe is a professional music producer with over 10 years experience, Nick will develop your production, recording and lyric writing skills, stage performance, and support you to produce and record your own music.

Streetdance
Led by Watch This Space this workshop will develop your skills in street dancing working towards regular performances both at the Citadel and within the community.

Rock Band

The Citadel is offering limited slots for beginners or experienced musicians the opportunity to use our facilities on a Saturday afternoon. Whether you want to learn how to play an instrument or just spend some time in our Auditorium rehearsing then this is a MUST NOT MISS OPPORTUNITY with limited availability.

Some equipment will be provided (Guitar, drums, microphones,etc) however if you have your own instruments we advise you bring them. AND you can learn how to develop your sound and even how to promote your band. The sessions are led by Citadel sound staff. You will also get the opportunity to perform at The Citadel.

‘Rock Band’ will run on a Saturday afternoon from 1-3pm. Places are very limited so to register interest please contact us on 01744 735436 or message us ASAP. You can even pop down for a chat if you are not sure if it is for you.

This opportunity is for 10-18 year olds only. 

It was a pleasure to join you and it has given me new energy to encourage children and staff in school to use journals creatively.
Deb Kemp

Background

The day was led by Andrew Vaughan, Artist and Arts and Culture Advocate for Curious Minds, alongside teaching staff who have adopted this approach successfully in their own teaching practice.

They worked with participants to explore how  journals and the process of drawing can inspire and capture individual thought processes, develop literacy and inform personalised learning through reflective practice.

It was fabulous! It was well worth attending and we are both very keen to try it back in school.
Christine Jones

A full review will follow and there will be resources available for CS:NW members to download.

Click here for more information on the Membership Network and forthcoming events or email Jude Bird, Services for Schools Consultant: jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk

Later this year the British government will introduce The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) which will help employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children, through its criminal record checking and barring functions. As part of this new safeguarding system the government will be electing organisations across the country to handle disclosures from organisations and individuals.

As Curious Minds are working to connect Children and Young people with Arts and Culture it is important to ensure that individuals and organisations’ have the relevant Disclosures in order to perform their duties and for children to learn in a safe environment.

If you are looking for a local organisation working within your sector to evidence check your DBS applications then please complete a Statement of Intent on your letterhead and return to susan.blackburn@curiousminds.org.uk

The deadline for Curious Minds to apply for Umbrella Body status is Friday 8th February 2013 therefore if you could return your Statements of Intent before this date that would be appreciated.  Your completion of this document does not mean that you are committed to Curious Minds it is purely to ascertain the potential future numbers of applicants.

If you need to speak to Curious Minds in relation to any of the above please contact Sue on 01282 435835 or via email on susan.blackburn@curiousminds.org.uk

Thank you for your assistance and we will send out further details shortly. 

Statement of Intent Template

More information on the Disclosure and Barring Service: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs/

Prog-ress noun

1 : a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal)

What opportunities exist and what opportunities do we need to help young people move forwards and onwards?

We all know that participating in the arts and culture can significantly improve young people's life chances through a broad range of skills development. For the next round of Bridge development meetings, we want to find out more about how you are supporting young people's talent development and progression to education and / or employment.

Whether you're just beginning to think about this theme of progression or if this is the main focus of your work, please join us to share your experiences and expertise. As well as a range of thought provoking case studies, these sessions will provide the opportunity to share practice and find out more about support available for effective signposting, developing your work related learning offer (i.e. volunteering, intern and apprenticeships) and enabling progression.

All of the information and ideas generated through these sessions will help us to shape our bridge programme for year 2.

Your region needs you....Book now to avoid disapointment....( ALL EVENTS ARE FREE TO ATTEND )

Merseyside: 13 March 9.30 – 12.45, National Museums Liverpool:
Guest Speaker Jonathan Poole, Centre for Advanced Training Manager, The Lowry
• Jonathan will talk about the NW DanceCAT and it's positioning within the broader progression framework of the dance sector - providing a detailed overview of the ladder of progression from initial engagement to professional training and employment.

Cheshire: 15 March 9.30 – 12.45, Riverside Innovation Centre, Chester:
Guest Speaker Liz O'Neill, Chief Executive, Z Arts
• drawing on past experience of hosting a variety of work related learning opportunities (inc Future Jobs and creative apprenticeships) and within the context of a new organisational focus on children under 12 years, Liz will talk about her vision for a continuum of progression opportunities for children and young people.

Lancashire: 20 March 9.30 – 12.45, Burnley Youth Theatre, Burnley:
Guest Speaker Charlotte Pritchard, Project & Portfolio Manager (Regeneration), Salford City Council Neil Cooper, Project Coordinator, Creative Industries Progression Network in Salford
• Charlotte and Neil will be talking about two schools focused events that they have been involved in developing as part of the Media City Youth Engagement Programme. Last October they hosted a creative careers events for local primary schools and will be hosting a similar event for local secondaries in the spring. There presentation will pose a number of questions about how cultural organisations can work more closely with schools to raise the profile of career opportunities with the creative and cultural industries.

Greater Manchester: 22 March 9.30 – 12.45, Z-Arts, Manchester:
Guest Speaker Max Larcombe, Manchester Creative Studio
• Max is currently in the process of setting up the Manchester Creative Studio, an employer led studio school preparing young people aged 14-19 years for a career in the creative industries. Max will talk about the background and incentive for this new venture and provide an overview of the studio school model. 

Cumbria: 17 April 10.00 - 12.45, Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, Kendal:
Guest Speaker Paul Hartley, representing Blaze
• Paul will talk about two strands of the Lancashire cultural olympiad programme, Blaze. Ignite - as a model of work related learning, drawing out particular areas of learning that could be useful for organisations developing internships. Infinite Flow - as a example of young people progressing from participatory activity to professional delivery - highlighting key successes and challenges http://progressioncumbria.eventbrite.co.uk

Verbally Challenged is a unique opportunity for inspiring young people’s creativity to come alive on stage. Contact will provide a team of professional writers and actors and a director to work with pupils to write their own scripts, which are then transformed into plays performed on stage at a professional theatre.

Verbally Challenged will develop writing, communication and confidence skills for pupils and is a great project for cross-curriculum work within schools.

Packages are available for Key Stage 2 and 3.

Contact kieranseymour@contactmcr.com for more information.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/press_releases/2012/pompeii_and_herculaneum.aspx

There will be a morning broadcast exclusively for schools on Wednesday June 19^th  [with a broadcast for adults the evening before].

This is a wonderful opportunity to be taken on a tour of one of the most prestigious museums in the world, from the comfort of your cinema seat.

You will experience a live and exclusive tour of the Pompeii exhibition at the British Museum – with expert curators recreating the ancient world, by taking us through what life was like, what happened – how and why. 

Tickets will be priced at c£5.00 per pupil (accompanying adults free).

This really would be a private tour, as the Museum would have to be closed to the public for the day in order to manage the broadcast.

Demand is expected to be high.  So please log your interest asap.

The Light Cinema would offer their auditorium beyond that for Q&A sessions, or any activities you would require.

Pupils would also be welcome to stay and have their lunch here if required.

If successful – this sort of live learning broadcast will be extended and broadened to include other cultural activities.

For more information please contact:

Jane Woodason

Education Programme Manager

Light Cinema New Brighton

jane.woodason@cinemanext.co.uk

07866 871275

www.lightcinemas.co.uk

Perhaps the most burning issue in Education in 2012 was and still is, the need for all schools to become fully acquainted with the new Ofsted framework announced in September 2012.  There are huge implications for Schools around the reduced notice inspections and the rigorous focus on progress of every child.  The 2 day training course facilitated by Anthony Briggs of B11 training was designed to allow all delegates to have an insider’s view of the way Ofsted is operating the new framework.  To have such an experienced lead Ofsted inspector who is also a national trainer was a superb opportunity and the 26 Senior Leader delegates who all gave strong feedback that the course was relevant, timely and very informative. 

Day 1 was set out to give the overview of the new framework and to show the delegates a real, anonymised report of a school.  The hands on methods of training involved the delegates working in groups to analyse the performance of that school using raise online data, the last Ofsted report and the Ofsted evaluation schedule.  By day 2 each group had analysed the key judgement areas of the Ofsted framework and acted exactly as an Ofsted team would.  The Trainer gave valuable feedback and information about the exact way Inspectors would judge the Achievement, Quality of Teaching, Behaviour and Safety and Leadership and Management of the School.  By the end of Day 2 we had effectively covered an entire virtual Ofsted inspection.  The Training was rated by some of the Senior Leaders who attended as some of the best training they had ever taken part in.  The outcomes were; increased understanding of the new framework, strategies for preparing for and managing an inspection, increased skills in lesson observation, and time for reflection of the position of your own school. 

The schools in the network, who sent the delegates for this intensive 2 day training, felt it was extremely high quality and excellent value for money.

If you want to find out more about school clusters and our work with schools please contact Jude Bird: jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk 

Professor Bill Lucas from the Centre for Real World Learning at the University of Winchester, led the first seminar for this academic year for Creative Schools: North West titled “How to Thrive in Cost Cutting Times”.

The event was hosted in Liverpool on December 3^rd 2012 and was attended by  senior leaders, school staff, school governors, Curious Minds staff  and freelance associates and representatives of the cultural sector.

Bill took us through the cycle of change that occurs in individuals and organisation’s making these shifts. He encouraged us to work at variable speeds, not just fast and indeed sometimes it’s good to press the slow button. He identified that as humans we seek permanence and personalisation whereas change is pervasive and is adopted by people at different paces. He advocated reciprocity, collaboration and the exchanging of practice to create a supportive context in which change can occur effectively.  Driving pupil progress is central to this to ensure a quality education.

The seminar was thought provoking and provided us with fertile ground for discussion. Delegates gave excellent feedback on the event which was described by one as “the best CPD I have ever attended”  

Bill is the author of “How to Survive in Crazy Times” upon which this seminar was based.

His Powerpoint is available on the Curious Minds website for CS:NW members.

Click here for more information on the Membership Network and forthcoming events or email Jude Bird, Services for Schools Consultant: jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk

Thank you for all your curiosity and support in 2012, we look forward to working with you in 2013.

Dave and Glen your e-bulletin, Twitter and Facebook Curious Minders have been busy working on a new video and here is the result!

Congratulations to all at The Lowry for their fantastic Creative Choices event on 14 November – a day which provided me with the odd experience of wishing I was a teenager again! 55 students from 3 local schools were treated to an inspirational, no nonsense and direct account of working life in a thriving arts venue.  Workshops run by staff from The Lowry covered a range of topics including: sound and lighting, choreography, the role of a Youth Theatre Director and script writing. I think my favourite moment was watching a group of boys become quite suddenly engaged over the prospect of someone falling from a lighting rig and dangling mid performance over the stage (just to be clear -this scenario arose through discussion not practice!). From that moment onwards the questions were flowing…

The Lowry is one of a wide range of cultural venues across the country that opened their doors this autumn to young people aged 13-16.  As a member of the (Creative and Cultural Skills) National Skills Academy network they are dedicated to supporting young people through quality advice and guidance to make informed decisions about their careers. Research has shown that by 2017 there will be a need for 30,000 skilled backstage and offstage technical theatre staff to support the festivals, theatre, live indoor and outdoor events. The Creative Choices events aim to provide an insight into the range careers available, as well as an understanding of how to get into these industries. Other NW venues that hosted events this year include: Theatre by the Lake and Liverpool Empire.

To find out more see: http://ccskills.org.uk/creative-choices

Hannah Baldwin
Bridge Coordinator: Achievement

The information the Curious Agents are gathering will become the rich offering available upon the Curious Minds One Stop Shop for schools - Culture Hubs - which will be officially launched in April 2013. As well as providing essential regional intelligence about what is available for schools and children and young people, what could be available for schools and children and young people, as well as providing feedback from all the sectors they are exploring which will inform our planning for 2013 and beyond.

Curious Minds are proud to have such a rich array of talent and experience helping us with this task and we would like to introduce you to our team of Curious Agents:

Heritage Agents

These agents will explore right across the North West what the cultural educational offer is around heritage and museums.

Steph Brocken - Cheshire

Sue Reddish - Greater Manchester

Jael Edwards - Greater Manchester

Jane Edwards - Cumbria

Emma Parsons - Lancashire

Emma Bush - Merseyside

Katy May - Lead Curious Agent for Heritage

If you are a heritage organisation in the North West you may well have one of the agents above getting in touch over the next four months.

Arts Agents

These agents are exploring the arts, community, voluntary, craft and commercial arts and cultural offer available right across the North West. Gathering the offer from al organisations that don't come under Arts Council England's National Portfolio (Curious Minds are already collating and signposting the offer of NPO's to schools and the wider sector)

Roger Hill - West Cheshire / Merseyside / Parts of Lancashire

Stone Soup ( Lee and Simon) - East Cheshire / Greater Manchester / Warrington-Halton

Cath Ford - Lancashire / Cumbria

If you are an arts organisation in those areas and connect with schools you may be contacted by these agents over the next few months.

Film, TV and Media Agents (FTM Agents)

These Curious Agents are exploring the world of Film and TV in the North West. Gathering information on a wide spectrum including broadcast media, filmmaking companies and new media organisations. Some of their work will be to look specifically at future development of these sort of organisations so they become useful partners and resources for schools and children and young people. Unlike the other agents the FTM Agents will be looking at specific categories' of provision and not geographical.

Graham Kay - Lead FTM Agent

Digienable (Liz and Darren)

Steve Southern Associates SSA (Alison and Steve)

If you would like to speak to any of the Curious Agents listed above please contact glen.meskell@curiousminds.org.uk and he will put you in touch with the relevant Curious Agent.

So the Curious Agents are off on their missions. A mission that is possible with a bit of help from yourselves.

Creative Hands Foundation

Since the organisation was established in 2008, Creative Hands Foundation have worked in partnership with schools, refugees and asylum seekers, pupil referral units, Surestart, Youth Zones, the local council and mental health services.

Creative Hands Foundation has exciting plans for the future. They want to continue and expand their work with newly arrived families in the area, helping them to settle in, share their experiences, increase their participation in arts activities and improve their confidence and language skills. They will be working with the African and African Caribbean Mental Health Service, providing workshops for adults with mental health problems. They are planning a Level 3 certificate in Progression for unemployed 18-25 year olds and a specialised sculpture project for 13-19 year olds incorporating mixed media and welding. And they continue to develop and deliver African arts and cultural projects for schools through a menu of different artforms, including public art, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.

http://creativehandsfoundation.org/

info@creativehandsfoundation.org

Tel: 0161 225 1064

it's my utter pleasure to have taken up post as the Director of Programmes here at Curious Minds and a real responsibility to keep on reaching for the bar that was set so very high by my predecessors.

So as well as having the license to put the word 'curious' before every proper noun what else am I looking forward to? I'm excited to be getting out and about, connecting and celebrating the amazing creative work that happens with children and young people all over the northwest. I'm excited about the huge potential there is to collectively make real impact on young people's lives, through the education and cultural sectors.  

What a loud voice we'd have if we all shout up together and when has the need to be heard about the value of creativity ever been greater? So I look forward to meeting you, talking with you and maybe doing some shouting together! 

Caz Brader
Director of Programmes 

The programme aims to help young unemployed people find paid entry level work in the arts and cultural sector.

The decision was the result of an open application process and means the Skills Academy will be responsible for delivering the Arts Council funding of up to £15 million which will directly benefit unemployed young people.

The Creative employment programme will give young people at the start of their careers paid opportunities to access on the job training, skills and experience that potential employers will value. It is aimed at unemployed people, graduates and non-graduates, aged 16-24.

Skills Academy, the national delivery arm of Creative & Cultural Skills, will deliver the programme through its network of Further and Higher Education partners who work in collaboration with cultural organisations across the country.

More info...

The research project was funded by the National Children’s Bureau and CCE who are working with OPM to research the impact of creative activities with foster carers and professional artists on the resilience of Looked After Children.  Children and foster carers took part in a broad range of activities including making felt teddy bears, animations, writing stories with soundtracks, singing and making short films.  The children all took part in at least one creative activity that was new to them.  Most of the children collaborated on more than one piece.  They all shared their work with each other and were able to talk openly with the artists and other children they were working with.  Foster carers and social workers believed the project had a positive impact on the confidence and communication skills of the children.

Whitewood and Fleming are delighted to announce that through participating in the project 23 children who are looked after achieved their Arts Award “Discover” and will be presented with their certificates later this year.  One young person who was out of the age range but took part as a volunteer helper has also used the opportunity to work towards achieving her Bronze Arts Award.

You can see one of these stunning animations, “Isobel’s story” on the home page on their website: www.whitewoodandfleming.org

Cadence Cafe is a Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester managed by Ian Jackson.  Ian has been responsible for the popular Cadence Festival in Tyldesley and the CIC was originally a pop-up cafe for a day during the festival.

Ian saw the potential and need for a permanent cafe and community venue and has refurbished the ground floor of the building on Chapel Street, opening to the public in October 2012.

Ian's vision for the cafe is that it will become a known space for community information, used by local groups and statutory bodies to connect with local people. He wants to see it develop as a music venue for young people who can't see live music in pubs.  A local band launched its latest EP at the venue last week and he is holding a music industry youth event during the half term, where a panel of experts will provide advice to young people. The cafe already has an artist in residence and there are plans for writing workshops and other creative activities for adults and young people. Ian would like to see a group of young people become local ambassadors for the arts.

Ian continues to organise local music  festivals with  the Cadence Winter of Love Festival on the 17 November this year and the summer Cadence Festival getting bigger and better every year.

And if that wasn't enough, there are plans to refurbish the upper floor, creating office space and meeting rooms, subject to funding bids.

What a great place, with exciting plans and masses of good will behind it. Here's to a fantastic future for Cadence Cafe CIC.

Visit the Cadence Cafe Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cadence-Cafe-CIC/126210207479537

Or email Ian on is cadencecafecic@gmail.com

Last month they celebrated the success of the last 10 month's hard work.

Salford Young Carers Film is now available on The Lowry YouTube Channel. If you haven’t seen the film yet, it’s worth a look!

Also, the blog is now fully updated following the premiere last week, there are photos from the event so check it out and see if you can spot yourself!

Blog:     http://thelowry.posterous.com/red-carpet-premiere-of-our-salford-young-care-41996

Film:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHO8iRSuxyc&feature=plcp

If you would like more information on using this film in School or another setting please contact either  Lynsey.merrick@thelowry.com or Paul.Moran@salford.gov.uk who would be happy to give you extra support and resources that will enable you to use this film to raise awareness of how being a young carer affects school life in your school, youth or community setting.

Please feel free to leave any comments or feedback on the blog or YouTube channel.

This event was young people led, organised, attended, recorded etc.  with the discussion focussed on quality and the emerging quality principles. The debate over this subject continues beyond the event. There are a number of blogs posted which young people and you can respond to at http://blog.artscouncil.org.uk/blog/children-and-young-people/continuing-quality-conversation or you can tweet  at #cypquality on Twitter. 

This debate is especially important because the voices on show are our young people. In the end it is their views which should play a large part in what we as a sector determine what is a quality offer from the arts and culture sector.

We want to listen to what they have to say and ensure that plays a large part in what they access and enjoy. We can't force feed young people arts and culture, we need them to be involved in the collaboration of bringing those recipes of success and quality together. So please join in the debate and get your young people to join in as well.

You may also be interested in watching our Curious Voices film where Curious Minds gathered the views of young people across the North West and what they want and need from an arts and culture offer, an offer that's relevant to them. You can view the Curious Voices film here: https://vimeo.com/42569988

UPDATE

Kelly Allen, our coordinator for Engagement, was present at the event at the end of last week (1-2 November) and she collected the main findings from the young people at the event. Young people directly telling the arts and culture sector what quality is in their eyes and a lot of useful advice on how organisations can achieve this by carrying out simple and common sense approaches.

The event was attended by young people from all over the country and we had four brilliant young people from Burnley Youth Theatre there who in Kelly's words "did a fabulous job of ensuring that the North West voice was heard."

All of the young people who facilitated the event were led by our very own Caz Brader, who will be joining us full time from the UFA in December.

You can see those conclusions from the conference in Kelly's tweets below. But this debate is still live and needs your input and the young people you work with and for. Please encourage them to continue the debate at the links above.

  ·   Royal Liverpool Philharmonic publishes Year 3 Evaluation Report for In Harmony Liverpool

  ·   Excellent musical progress and performances by the West Everton Children’s Orchestra, West Everton Super Strings and associated children’s ensembles

  ·   Continued improvement in children’s academic achievement and wellbeing

  ·   Improved attendance at Faith Primary School in West Everton

  ·   Children and young people report confidence, commitment, sense of belonging and pride in taking part in In Harmony Liverpool

  ·   West Everton Community reports increased pride and continuing enthusiasm for In Harmony Liverpool

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has published the Year 3 Independent Interim Evaluation Report for In Harmony Liverpool.

Download the report here...

The report by the evaluation team of Dr. Susanne Burns and Paul Bewick aims to inform the development and continuation of In Harmony Liverpool in West Everton.  It builds on the Year 2 Interim Report published in March 2011 by the same evaluation team.

In Harmony Liverpool was established following Liverpool Philharmonic’s successful bid to the Department for Education to deliver one of three national In Harmony pilot programmes, between January 2009 and March 2011. Now in its fourth year, it is currently funded through a mix of public, private and charitable sources including Arts Council England, Liverpool PCT, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, charitable trusts and individual donors.

Inspired by Venezuela’s celebrated El Sistema youth orchestra social programme, In Harmony Liverpool uses music through the orchestra to transform the lives of children and families in West Everton.

It encourages participation in music – through the West Everton Children’s Orchestra, West Everton Super Strings and chamber ensembles; daily music making in Faith Primary School in West Everton where 4.25 hours of school curriculum time have been given over to music-making, plus after school music activities in Faith School and Liverpool Philharmonic at the Friary in West Everton – to provide opportunities for local children to grow and develop socially and musically.

When In Harmony Liverpool began in 2009, Liverpool Philharmonic was working with 84 children at Faith Primary School children in West Everton. Today that number is 188 children and it includes children and young people up to 14 years old and their families throughout the West Everton community.

In addition to the headlines above, the report outlines key success factors that include:

·         A focus primarily on one school, whilst also enabling any child and young person living in the West Everton community to get involved in the In Harmony Liverpool programme.

·         High quality partnership working between Liverpool Philharmonic, Faith Primary School, the West Everton community, Liverpool Music Support Service and partner organisations including Liverpool Primary Care Trust and Liverpool Hope University.

·         Leadership by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, ensuring a high profile for In Harmony Liverpool, with inspirational professional musicians providing outstanding music teaching and performance opportunities.

Peter Garden, Liverpool Philharmonic’s Executive Director (Learning) commented; “In just three years, the impacts of In Harmony Liverpool are already significant. However, it is still early days – the real, long term benefits of In Harmony will be achieved by maintaining this intensive and immersive approach to music making for a generation, and by fully supporting our amazing young people to fulfil their potential. The support of our partners has been critical to the programme’s ongoing development and success, from the children and families of West Everton, staff at Faith Primary School, the entire West Everton Community, Arts Council England, Liverpool Music Support Service, Liverpool PCT, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and other public and private investors.  Liverpool Philharmonic is hugely grateful for their generosity and support.”

Dr Paula Grey, Director of Public Health for Liverpool commented: “Liverpool PCT is extremely proud to support the In Harmony Liverpool initiative as part of the Decade of Health and Wellbeing, and we’re delighted that it has exceeded its expected outcomes. We know from research that exposure to the arts and providing young people with an opportunity to take part in new activities, can not only aid their personal development but also has a positive impact on their wellbeing, helping to build confidence and self-esteem.”

Evaluation team member Dr Susanne Burns commented: “In Harmony Liverpool continues on a highly positive trajectory and there is much to celebrate.  There is strong evidence that the programme is exceeding its expected outcomes and there is compelling evidence that it provides an enriching musical education and improved academic attainment in other core curriculum areas.”

Tina will also be offering direct support (where appropriate) to Grassroots organisations in fundraising and business development and will provide a signposting service to relevant resources and more specific support. She is also developing a wider offer for organisations including Action Learning, mentoring and training. The aim is to develop stronger and better connected groups and organisations who offer opportunities for children, young people and families to engage in arts activities.

If you are a grassroots organisations working with children and young people and would like to receive further information on support and advice please contact Tina - tina.taylor@curiousminds.org.uk.

Curious Minds workforce of seven hugely experienced advocates will be contacting and visiting schools over the next six months to present and advocate for the importance of arts and culture in the school environment and also to promote the national kite mark Artsmark and the national qualification Arts Award and how both of these prestigious schemes can make a school more dynamic, forward looking and improve the whole school community, from teachers and pupils to parents and surrounding communities.

Curious Minds and our Advocates will be covering the whole of the North West and will be starting to help schools from this month onwards. If you would like to know more about how you can become a champion of arts and culture in your school please contact 01282 435835 or email info@curiousminds.org.uk

Sarah Pickering – one of Curious Minds Creative Agents (Creative Agents work with schools to help them improve their curriculum and provision to students) kept a blog over the two days of the briefing. You can read her blog here.

Day One - A sunny morning in Liverpool

Day Two - Our ‘magnificent seven’

Denise Alexander, Director, Creative Futures Cumbria said:  “We are absolutely delighted to receive such significant funding to deliver an ambitious, high quality and inspirational programme in Cumbria.  The programme will provide a unique opportunity for young people to engage with Rambert, a world class company with an international profile.”

Dowdales School is a key partner in the programme.  Headteacher Julie O’Connor said:  “I am delighted that Dowdales School will be a lead partner in this programme.  Rambert is the nation’s leading company in contemporary dance and this programme will give our students the opportunity to access the arts at the very highest level.”

Rambert said they were attracted by the “ambitious” nature of the programme and welcomed the chance to work long-term in the county. 

Joce Giles, Rambert’s Head of Learning and Participation, said:  “Rambert is passionate about the role that dance can play in young people's lives and, as a national company, we are committed to developing long-term partnerships with organisations such as Creative Futures Cumbria, who do such a great job at building links between arts organisations and schools.”

Students from Dowdales and 6 other schools – The Queen Katherine School, Ulverston Victoria High, Queen Elizabeth School, Dallam School, John Ruskin School, Furness Academy – will participate.  They will explore themes from existing Rambert repertoire before creating their own work.   All 150 students will then be boarding coaches on 12^th October to watch Rambert perform at The Lowry.

The site was funded by Arts Council through a grants for the arts award and is designed to provide practical ways to help young people to get their Arts Award, particularly in the Arts Award Discover and Explore levels. We are constantly developing new cross artform resources that help pupils to extend their creative and leadership talents and gain accreditation, with a mix of video and interactive activities to engage and inform.

We have recently partnered with Arts Award to produce a short video called ‘What is an FACT?’ that aims to support advisers, centres and young people explore what an arts organisation is and how they might go about finding out about others in their area. This commission followed a pilot film we made about Yorkshire Sculpture Park entitled 'What is YSP?' We hope these will be the beginning of a series of films on Culture Street about arts organisations across the UK.

We are delighted to now have Jude’s expertise in our core team. She will be shaping and delivering our traded services, which are focused on supporting schools develop excellent creative teaching and learning practice. 

If you would like to speak to Jude about our Services for Schools, please contact:  jude.bird@curiousminds.org.uk or call 01282 435835

Funding Central is the best funding tool I have come across." Quote from Funding Central's 2012 user survey

Completely new to fundraising? Start with their guided search which takes you through a series of questions to return the most appropriate funding opportunities to suit your needs.

More experienced fundraiser? Drill down through thousands of opportunities to identify the most appropriate funding or finance for your organisation using theadvanced search.

Arts Council England announces the Pennine Lancashire Museum Consortium have been awarded funding through the Museums and schools programme

Arts Council England is today (Thursday 6 September 2012) announcing the Pennine Lancashire Museum Consortium are one of the ten regional museums and schools partnerships that will be awarded £3.6 million in funding until 2015 through the Museums and schools programme.

This programme is one of a suite of initiatives funded through the Department for Education as a response to key recommendations from Cultural Education: an independent review by Darren Henley.

The Arts Council is also today announcing the three geographical areas in which a new Cultural Education Partnership Group will test their shared approach to cultural education.

Museums and schools programme

The ten regional museums will partner with clusters of local schools, national museums and work with Bridge organisations to increase the number of high quality educational visits by schools in areas which currently have lower than average cultural engagement. It is hoped that the visits will spark young people’s curiosity and help encourage in them a lifelong passion for culture and learning.

The partnership in East Lancashire will develop the educational offer in consultation with schools, supported by the Bridge organisation Curious Minds. The proposed programme will work across key stages and draw on partner museums’ focus on industrial heritage, architecture, art and design to offer sessions which will enable schools to engage more than ever before with the wonderful buildings and resources available across the consortium.

Jane Beardsworth, Regional Director, Arts Council England, said:

The Museums and schools programme is a great opportunity to improve the offer of the museums in East Lancashire for children and young people. It also illustrates the Arts Council’s commitment to ensuring that they have access to and can experience the richness of arts and culture.”

The museum and schools partnerships selected are based in areas of both low cultural engagement, as defined by low numbers of schools engaging with Artsmark, and in places of greatest need, as indicated by a higher than national average level of free school meal take up.

The ten regional museum and school partnerships will involve clusters of up to 100 local schools to provide many more young people with opportunities to access their local museum, its skilled staff and collections. Visits will be designed in partnership with the local schools clusters, ensuring they complement and enhance the educational experience and curriculum.

Steve Irwin, Education Officer, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery said,

Across Pennine Lancashire we have a range of museums housing a variety of collections, many of which are of national and international importance. This funding will enable us to work together and by sharing services we will be able to reach more of the region’s schools and children. Engaging with museums and their collections has been shown to be of benefit to a child’s education by bringing the subjects to life, enthusing and motivating them. Working with the Arts Council and Curious Minds, the eight museums, historic houses and art galleries have set themselves the target of enriching the learning of more children from the region than ever before, broadening and deepening their educational experience."

Beth Walker, Head of Education, Sir John Soane's Museum commented,

We are delighted to be working with Pennine Lancashire museums on this programme. As a small national museum, the programme is a great opportunity for us to spread the name of Sir John Soane and the work of the museum. Working together, we will be able to build on successful existing schools workshops, share best practice, think about new ways of working and develop exciting and sustainable programmes. The workshops developed for schools through this programme will benefit children and teachers from the local area but also, it is hoped, give us fresh ideas for our own work with schools in London.” 

Derri Burdon, Chief Executive of Curious Minds added,

We are delighted to be working with all of our museum partners in Pennine Lancashire. We are looking forward to the wonderful creative collaborations that will come from this very important work"

New Cultural Education Partnership

Arts Council England is also today announcing where the new Cultural Education Partnership Group will be testing their shared approach towards cultural education.

This group is made up of Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the British Film Institute and English Heritage, who will use their resources to maximise the number of children and young people taking part in a range of high quality cultural education activities. This underlines a commitment from all parties to collaborate across the sector.

The Cultural Education Partnership Group will be testing this approach in three geographical areas: the City of Bristol; Barking and Dagenham; and Great Yarmouth.

More information on the Arts Council’s work with cultural education can be found on the Arts Council website. This includes:

• the network of bridge organisations which connect children and young people with the work of Arts Council funded organisations
• the new national network of music education hubs
• a National Foundation for Education Research report commissioned by the Arts Council on raising the standard of work by, with and for children and young people
• the re-launched Artsmark – the national programme that enables schools, further education colleges and youth justice settings to evaluate, celebrate and strengthen a quality arts offer
• Arts Award – a national qualification that supports young people who want to deepen their engagement with the arts

We’ve also revisited a number of young people we consulted earlier this year and chosen six of their ‘Curious Stories’ to be illustrated by Tracy Worrall (one of the illustrators for the book) and we will be releasing them to the world next month. Which is also when we will be announcing how young people can access the Chris May memorial fund.

So keep your eyes peeled, keep being inspired and never stop being curious.

If you would like to own a copy of Curious Stories – there are only a few left – please visit: www.curiousstories.org.uk

ACE have announced the first commissioned grants from their Creative people and places programme, which is designed to empower communities to take the lead in shaping local arts provision.

The seven consortiums, made up of arts organisations, museums, libraries, local authorities and commercial organisations, working in collaboration with the local community, grass roots organisations and the amateur sector, have been awarded a total of just under £16 million over three years. 

The Creative people and places programme focuses on parts of the country where people's involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average and takes a new approach by enabling communities and grass roots organisations to play a leading part in inspiring others to get involved with the arts.

In the North West Blackpool and Wyre Consortium (made up of Blackpool Coastal Housing, Merlin Entertainments Limited, Blackpool Council, Wyre Borough Council, and the Grand Theatre, Blackpool) will deliver transformative experiences for the people of Blackpool and Wyre. Building on Blackpool's identity and entertainment heritage, Playground of Wonders, Daring Delights will enable people to experience high quality arts events and activities. As well as addressing inequalities in cultural participation, the programme will enable local arts organisations to become more sustainable - creating magical experiences for audiences and supporting the visitor economy. The grant awarded to Blackpool is (over three years): £3,000,000.

For more information on the Creative People and Places Programme please visit: Creative People and Places

Raising the standard of work by, with and for children and young people: research and consultation to understand the principles of quality.

Many artists and cultural organisations work with children and young people. But what are the hallmarks of high quality in this type of work? Arts Council England commissioned this research from NFER and Shared Intelligence to understand more about how to demonstrate quality and impact. The team investigated a range of existing quality frameworks and consulted with people across the arts and cultural sectors.

Quality needs to be embedded throughout the cycle of planning, delivery, monitoring and review. The research identified seven principles for high quality work by, with and for children and young people:

• Striving for excellence
• Being authentic
• Being exciting, inspiring and engaging
• Ensuring a positive, child-centred experience
• Actively involving children and young people
• Providing a sense of personal progression
• Developing a sense of ownership and belonging.

Although there are a number of existing tools and frameworks, the study identified the need for:

• clear definitions of the core principles of quality and practice examples
• a focus on the quality of the art itself
• further explorations of how the principles apply in different sectors and circumstances (for example, in work with and for children and young people; for different age groups)
• consideration of the challenges in achieving high quality
• a stronger focus on demonstrating quality and measuring outcomes.

This work provides a starting point for further sector-led development and testing the quality principles in practice.

You can download the report here: http://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/ACYP01

Lord, P., Sharp, C., Lee, B., Cooper, L. and Grayson, H. (2012). Raising the Standard of Work By, With and For Children and Young People: Research and Consultation to Understand the Principles of Quality. Slough: NFER.

The programme will involve 10 regional museums, each working with a cluster of local schools, to provide many more young people with access to their local museum, their skilled staff and their collections. Each local museum and schools cluster will be linked to a national museum, bringing additional capacity and scholarship and enabling mutual sharing of expertise. There will be more information on the partnerships and their locations in the coming months. This is a non-application programme and the Arts Council will identify partnerships in areas of low cultural engagement. Arts Council England (ACE) has announced details of a new museums and schools programme to increase the number of educational visits by schools to local museums.

Curious Minds will be working closely with any programmes located within the North West. Once Arts Council England release more information we will report upon it.

In Harmony is a national programme, based on the Venezuelan El Sistema, which aims to inspire and transform the lives of children in deprived communities by using the power and disciplines of community-based orchestral music-making.

`

_{Students from the Liverpool In Harmony project performing at the Giant Spectacular event April 2012}

The four successful new projects will build on the experiences and achievements of the existing In Harmony projects, following shared core principles while responding to local circumstances and needs.

DfE and Arts Council England are jointly funding the programme. DfE will invest a total of £1.5 million between 2012 and 2015. This figure will be matched by the Arts Council which will also take a central co-ordinating and development role.

All six In Harmony projects will be encouraged to be entrepreneurial and to inspire other investment to help secure a sustainable longer term future. They will operate within a national evaluation framework to ensure they provide evidence demonstrating how the In Harmony approach can transform the lives of children and their families in areas of deprivation.

The company will provide 90 talented 16-19 year old performers with new intensive training and performance opportunities led by world-leading choreographers. It will also offer talented young people from all backgrounds the chance to develop the high level performance skills needed for a professional career in dance.

The NYDC is expected to become a flagship national company for dance and young people working with the rest of the dance sector to promote opportunities for young people to access dance across all of its forms.

Hannah Baldwin - our Acheivement Coordinator - offers  support to this network helping the network develop a strong Arts Award community across Merseyside. Which will hopefully help the rest of the region develop similar networks for Arts Awards.

But congratulations to those 61 young people. Champions one and all!!! 

You can use any aspect of the 2012 Games to inspire your Arts Award - get involved in one of the Cultural Olympiad projects, or a local celebration, or use your arts skills at a sporting event, like the School Games. Arts Award can accredit sports journalism, broadcasting or photography, or an arts showcase at your games event.

Arts Award Special Edition is available at Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold level.  Young people should take part in activities which are clearly 'inspired by London 2012' for at least one part or unit.

Interested? Please register your centre for Arts Award Special Edition now. Then request moderation before 31 March 2013 to get your Special Edition certificates.

Arts Award Special Edition carries the Inspire mark and is part of the Cultural Olympiad.

for more information please visit the Arts Award website.

The programme, part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Youth Contract, is the first to use payment by results to help get NEETs re-engaged. Organisations involved have had to compete for contracts by showing they are able to get young people back on track. In return for proving they are experts in the field, they will be given freedom to tailor and provide support for disadvantaged young people in the way they know best.

Three areas – Liverpool, Leeds-Bradford-Wakefield and Newcastle-Gateshead – will be able to allocate their own pot of money as part of the Government City Deal agenda, aimed at giving more autonomy to England’s core cities.

The following will deliver the scheme. Further information on the kinds of activities and services they will offer can be found below.

Manchester and Cheshire

Provider: Groundwork

Supply chain:

Groundwork Bury & Bolton; Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale; Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford; Groundwork Cheshire; Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan; Barnardo’s; Brathay Trust; Rathbone; The Prince’s Trust; YMCA Training

Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria

Provider: Groundwork

Supply chain:

Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan; Groundwork Pennine Lancashire; Barnardo’s; Brathay Trust; Riverside Housing; The Children’s Society; The Prince’s Trust; Tomorrow’s People; Young Cumbria

Groundwork (Manchester & Cheshire, East Midlands, Merseyside, Lancashire & Cumbria)

Will be working alongside other major voluntary organisations including Barnardo's, Prince's Trust, YMCA Training and the Children's Society recruiting 'youth mentors' to help young people get involved in community projects and volunteering, offering trials and tasters with colleges and employers and using sport, art and music to help young people realise they have something positive to contribute. 

Here at Curious Minds we think this scheme is key to helping to improve the lifestyles and postivie outlooks for children and young people in the North West and we are especially pleased to see Groundwork being awarded the chance to lead on these schemes. We will be keeping in touch with Groundwork over the coming months and years to see the impact of this scheme and will be helping to bring stories of change to you form this scheme and many like it.

Curious Minds is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Creative Futures Cumbria that will see children and young people, schools and communities connecting with great art, culture and heritage right across Cumbria and the North West region.

Curious Minds is one of 10 new bridge organisations funded by Arts Council England to help every child and young person have the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts.

Creative Futures Cumbria will work across the arts, cultural and heritage sectors and with children and young people’s settings to build on good practice, facilitating networks, supporting National Portfolio Organisations and other arts and cultural organisations, to bring their cultural experiences to more children and young people and supporting schools to access high quality arts opportunities.  There will also be a focus on increasing the numbers of people engaging with Artsmark and Arts Award.

Derri Burdon, Chief Executive of Curious Minds said: “Creative Futures Cumbria has a long and strong reputation for delivering inspirational arts and learning opportunities with and for Cumbria’s children and young people.  They know exactly what it takes to make a difference to the communities of Cumbria and we are delighted that they have agreed to become a strategic delivery partner of the North West Bridge.” 

Funding for this fantastic opportunity was provided by Curious Minds as part of its remit as Arts Council England’s Bridge organisation for the North West, helping to connect children and young people with great art and culture and increase the uptake of Arts Awards right across the region.

Through the partnership, Blaze will also be providing support and networking opportunities for the new trainees along with Arts Award advisors already working on existing Blaze projects.

Hannah Baldwin from Curious Minds said: “In addition to providing participants with a nationally-recognised qualification in acknowledgement of the development and hard work achieved through Blaze, opportunities from this training will hopefully have long-lasting impact, with the arts professionals and youth workers becoming an inspiration to other potential Arts Awards advisers in the region and beyond.”

Curious Minds and Blaze will also be profiling the creative achievements and leadership of the North West’s young artists, thereby advocating the great arts and culture for and by children and young people in the region

What we talk about when we talk about Arts and Culture

Over three months in early 2012 Curious Minds talked to ten groups of young people across the North West about their experiences of arts and culture.

The following film captures those voices and what they think about arts and culture, how they connect to it, what it means to them, how they access it and what they want to see happen so their access, enjoyment and use of arts and culture in the North West can be the best it can be.

Curious Voices from Fully Formed Films on Vimeo.

In January 2012 we started a consultation process right across the North West, exploring the needs, barriers and potential in connecting children and young people, schools and communities with arts and culture. Mapping and the gathering of information is a key element of the Bridge initiative. In order to build a coherent approach to the development of children and young people’s engagement in arts and culture, both in and out of school, we need to be aware of the current offer, context and demand.

People in the North West are living, learning and working in a period of great economic and social change, so rather than focusing on what has been offered in the past, we set out to gather a picture of the provision planned for 2012/13.  It’s been a challenge to develop a coherent overview of the constantly evolving context in which arts, culture and education providers now exist so this report offers a perspective of the current context as we’re able to interpret it at this time. A snapshot in time of the North West in 2012 – showing the ‘State of the Region’.

Taking the benefits of children and young people’s engagement in culture as a given, we attempted to bring together information about current levels of provision and analyse what stakeholders have said are the most important issues, challenges and opportunities they currently face.

This report will be used to inform our activity plan for the 2012/13 Bridge programme and ensure that it is rooted in stakeholder need and reflective of the distinctive context, challenges and potential of the North West region at this moment in time. It will be used to underpin the partnership investment decisions we make and how we prioritise our time and budget as a Bridge organisation. Our purpose is to make a difference to as many children and young people as possible and our mission is to build on what works well and be unafraid to work in partnership to change the things that could be better.

You can download the full report or the summary report below. The report is structured to give you the voices of the sector (including and essentially those of Children and Young People), Curious Minds response to those views and how we will approach those views during our first year as the Bridge organisation for the North West.

You can also read the views of our individual members of staff who will be focusing on specific areas of our work.

Download and Read

Download the ‘State of the Region’ report (right click and save and open in Adobe Reader)

Download the ‘Summary – State of the Region’

Download the 'Summary table - State of the Region'

Curious Voices - The Young People of the North West

Watch the film that captures some of the views of the young people of the North West

Curious Voices - Curious Minds

Derri Burdon – Chief Executive introduces the ‘State of the Region’

Katy May – Director of Programmes discusses ‘Quality’

Kelly Allen - Bridge Coordinator: Engagement discusses ‘Engagement’

Hannah Baldwin – Bridge Coordinator: Achievement discusses ‘Achievement’

Glen Meskell – Bridge Coordinator: Communication discusses ‘Information and Communication’

Alice Birdwood – Director of Development and Innovation discusses ‘Funding and Innovation’

Continue the conversation - Comment on the 'State of the Region'

Of course the conversation doesn’t end here. The State of the Region report is the voice and views of the arts and cultural sector in the North West now, but we need to continue that conversation. The State of the Region report is just the beginning; members of the Curious Minds team are opening up conversations with people, organisations, groups and networks right across the North West and we'll be highlighting and spotlighting how that work takes place over the next year and beyond. Join us in those conversations and let’s be proud that the ‘beating heart of arts and culture with children and young people’ is right here in the North West.

You can comment on the report on below, on the blogs above , our Facebook page and our Twitter profile:

Blog: http://www.curiousminds.org.uk/blog/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/curiousminds1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CuriousMindsNW

_{(Images featured in the report by Curious Minds / Matt Gartside / Creative Partnership schools in Lancashire, Merseyside and West Cheshire / Arts Award centres across the North West )}

You’ve read all about the Department of Education’s Summer Schools programme and you’ve applied. However, simply meeting the basic ‘spec’ isn’t enough for you – you’re determined to do something distinctive, adventurous and rich in impact. For example:

• across a fortnight, young people create and perform their own play, capturing the history and daily life of the community around their new school
• young people write their own match commentaries, poems and terrace chants as part of a creative literacy and numeracy project inspired by football
• young people take on the role of investigators, exploring what sort of teachers and pupils inhabit their new school building... before creating art works and installations that will surprise and intrigue the rest of the school community when the new term starts

If this sounds like you and you would value the support of an experienced funded partner working alongside you, Curious Minds is available. Our track record in:

• transition-focused projects
• projects that explore how the learning potential in built and outdoor environments can be realised
• innovative and effective approaches that re-engage young people in their learning, boost attainment and grow capability
• creative documentation and evaluation

...make us a perfect partner.

More about us

Curious Minds is a charity and not-for-profit social enterprise that delivers high quality arts, cultural and creative learning programmes and services to schools and other partners concerned with transformative education, regeneration, community cohesion and the development of children and young people’s social and emotional well-being. We have established a strong reputation for the effective and efficient delivery of our bespoke programmes, placing the specific concerns and needs of children, young people and their school communities at the heart of everything we do. We work widely with others to ensure all children and young people have plentiful opportunities to participate actively in arts, cultural and creative learning experiences that lead to the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to contribute fully to society and lead positive and productive lives.

What value can we add to your Summer School?

Curious Minds offers a specialist service devoted to supporting pupils to make the transition to the next stage of their education with confidence. Our creative projects bring pupils from different backgrounds together to achieve a common goal, helping them deal with change, take ownership of their new environment and establish a shared identity and new friendships with peers. For more, visit: www.curiousminds.org.uk/transition

We have years of experience in designing bespoke creative projects that refresh young people’s enthusiasm for the curriculum and which have been independently proven to boost attainment. These have included projects around literacy, English and Maths. For more, visit: www.curiousminds.org.uk/curriculum-design

We have a significant track record in supporting pupils and schools to maximize the learning potential of school buildings and grounds. Our expertise extends to using dynamic spaces and environments beyond the school as a stimulus for learning - useful if the idea of including trips out into your local community as part of your Summer School inspires you. In Merseyside, we have a longstanding partnership with National Museums Liverpool and can integrate a day visit to one of their outstanding venues. National Museums Liverpool deliver high quality, positive and rewarding museum experiences that encourage young people to gain the knowledge and skills they need to develop their educational attainment, cultural awareness and life chances. Their objects and exhibitions are among the most important and varied in Europe, from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to items from the Titanic. For more on the adventurous use of learning spaces: www.curiousminds.org.uk/outdoor-learning

As Arts Council England's Bridge Organisation for the North West we offer a range of support to organisations and individuals delivering Arts Award - the acclaimed national qualification that celebrates young people’s enthusiasm and engagement in arts and culture and recognises their research, communication and leadership skills. Arts Award has five levels, four of which (Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold) are accredited on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). With advance planning, the Bronze award (Level 1 on the QCF) is achievable within a fortnight and for an additional charge we can build this accreditation in. For more information, please see: www.artsaward.org.uk/schools

Our projects are built in response to your specific needs and budget. As an illustration, however, we can design a bespoke Summer School for you; provide two quality assured and CRB-checked arts practitioners to work with up to 30 young people; and structure in Bronze Arts Award for as little as £7,500.

To discuss your ideas and aspirations further, please contact:

Chris Finn, Services for Schools Manager

Curious Minds

Lodge House,

Cow Lane

Burnley, BB11 1NN

T: 07766 801041

E: chris.finn@curiousminds.org.uk

Anyway over to Kelly's curious answers to my curious questions: 

1. What or who inspires you?

Right at the top of the list - nature!  The ultimate manifestation of creativity in my mind.  I'm constantly impressed the more I learn and I try to spend as much time in it as possible (although I would like to do this a lot more).  I feel inspired by people all the time - young people, creative agents, colleagues, teachers, friends  random strangers I find myself in conversations with.  I think it's much easier to have inspirational interactions with people who have a genuine spirit of curiosity and nothing to hide or prove.  That's when I find myself most likely to have a completely original thought, which is always inspiring.

2. What is ‘curious’ about your mind?

Goodness.  Lots of things.  Possibly the way it often surprises me - especially when an idea arrives fully formed and I don't really feel like I've had anything to do with it.  I did an NLP course recently and it's made me a lot more aware of how I actually think, so at the moment the curious thing about my mind is how curious my mind is about my mind....(unpick that if you dare!).

3. Tell us a ‘Curious Story’ about yourself

The first time I ever went in an aeroplane was when I did a parachute jump.  For about a year I was able to claim to have taken off in an aeroplane, but never to have landed in one.  Just before we jumped I remember thinking 'Why on earth did I choose to jump out of a perfectly good plane?'.  It was very exhilarating - everyone should do it at least once!

4. If you could be a famous artist/performer from present, past or future who would you be and why?

Erm......there are lots of people I admire, but I'm not sure I would actually want to be them.   Lots of the more edgey artists I like have had horribly troubled lives - and I'm all for a peaceful, gentle, playful life!  Also, if I was them, I wouldn't be able to appreciate them!  I think I'll stay being me thanks very much.

5. You've lived in Liverpool, Todmodren and now Burnley - one thing/place/activity in all three locations you would recommend?

Liverpool has changed so much since I lived there.  Part of me always thinks of Liverpool as home because I had such great experiences of being there, and I'm so glad I get to go to Liverpool quite a lot through Curious Minds.  Go to St Luke's Church (the bombed out church) at the top of Bold Street.  It's an amazing building which was hit during WW2, but still stands as a shell and physical memorial to some of the most amazing blitz stories about strong human spirit which I've been privileged to hear from people who experienced that time, when I worked with Urban Strawberry Lunch.  It has no roof, or insides, but is eerily quiet.  Urban Strawberry Lunch are still artists in residence there and regularly put on brilliant performances and events in this magical space.  Quite unique.

Todmorden - apart from the very dramatic hills, which I love, it probably has to be Three Wise Monkeys - a little bar that sells very unusual beers and has a nice atmosphere, friendly faces (and welcomes my little dog Barkley).

Burnley - Curious Minds.  Obviously.  I'm voting with my feet on that one.

6. Contemporary art - Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst etc. - This isn't art - Discuss .

I like anything that makes me see something differently, and challenges me to look from a different perspective.  Whether I really like something, or really dislike it, am made uncomfortable or elated I just want to experience some kind of strong response - it actually doesn't matter what the response is.  Some modern art completely does this for me and some I feel completely underwhelmed by, which is when it doesn't work for me.  But I appreciate that's different for everyone and what doesn't engage me will engage someone else.

7.  If you could live in one place in the North West where would that be and why?

In a wooden hut in the middle of a woodland, near a stream, anywhere that I can't hear traffic and can look at the stars without seeing light pollution from silly orange streetlamps.

8.   Desert Island – three luxuries  - what are they?

An endless supply of really good cheese and red wine (is that one or two?).  A sauna.  A really good masseuse.  I wouldn't want to be rescued - this sounds like heaven to me.

9. If you didn’t work for Curious Minds where and what would you be doing?

I'd be living out of a rucksack, playfully experiencing whatever life puts in my path.

10. What do you like about working for Curious Minds?

The total commitment of the people I work with to doing the best we can do to enable more young people to experience a creative way of being.  That our individual ideas are respected and heard and valued and we're a damn strong team.  That during busy and challenging times we're pulling together and supporting each other.  That we actually do make a difference to young people's lives - what's more important than that?

(* Although the height of fashion in the 1980's Alice no longer wears glasses like this).

1. What or who inspires you?

I am fortunate enough to meet people who inspire me every day: creative agents, teachers, young people, my colleagues. Or more boringly, I am inspired by a really long run in the rain - I make my biggest plans and solve lots of big problems out there.

2. What is ‘curious’ about your mind?

I am very curious about people and finding out how they tick; what has made them the way they are; what do they believe in; what will become of them. All really just a smokescreen for being a nosey parker! I am also curious to know where technology is going to end up in 20 years time. It's already pretty mindboggling.

3. Tell us a creative joke

“Knock Knock”

“Who’s there?”

“Granny”

“Granny who?”

“Granny in the car with Bella”

I made this joke up when I was 4, misunderstanding how jokes work  

Bad jokes unite people!

4. If you could be a famous artist/performer from present, past or future who would you be and why?

I’d love to have been Leonardo DaVinci’s apprentice -ok so not famous. To have learnt a craft from such an extraordinary and visionary character would have been amazing. I’d like to write a book from that perspective- observing his genius evolve and recording what onlookers might have thought.

5. Last film you saw?

‘The Hurt Locker’. War makes me sad.

6. Tell us about an adventure you have had on holiday 

My family holidays were all adventures- usually camping in France. My dad would start driving without any destination in mind and we’d just camp where we ended up. We would drive through rather suspect looking roads and occasionally the odd field. We often found ourselves somewhere obscure but always lovely, near a vineyard and swimming pool. 

7. What do you dislike the most?

Motorway service stations. Cultural black holes. I can feel the despair rising as I turn off the motorway!

8. Desert Island – three luxuries - what are they?

Running shoes

Sun cream

Wind up radio

9. If you didn’t work for Curious Minds where and what would you be doing?

Probably teaching in a primary school in an inner city. The path I was set for.

10. What do you like about working for Curious Minds?

I love that I work for an organisation whose purpose I wholeheartedly believe in. We are really fortunate to have our interests nurtured here. We also get on really well as a team. My colleagues are my friends too. 

Check out the next e-bulletin to find out a little bit more, curious, about the Curious Minds staff.

1. What or who inspires you?

My parents. They have always pointed me in the right direction and on many an occasion I have needed to be not just pointed but pushed in the right direction!

2. What is ‘curious’ about your mind?

I like listen to the white noise gaps between radio stations on the Medium Waveband or Short Waveband. Why? The noise you hear is actually noise produced millions if not billions of years ago that is breaking through the earth atmosphere. The sound was produced either at the point of the Big Bang or just after and has taken that long to reach us. Plus I hate listening to the Today show so I have to listen to something else. Sometimes it makes a lot more sense.

3. Tell us a tale about yourself

When 7 years old on Christmas morning, just after 2am, I crept down the stairs hoping to find Santa Claus delivering presents. He hadn’t been however. I heard a stirring from what sounded like a sleigh on top of the roof. So I climbed into the large chimney in my parents’ living room. I however climbed into the chimney far too much and became jammed in the stack. Then I heard Santa come into the living room and placing the presents around the fireplace and in our stockings. Being terrified in case Santa discovered me and turned my presents to soot I kept completely quiet and then fell asleep. The next thing I remember is hearing my name being shouted by all my family and feeling dreadfully frozen. But being scared of being found out by my parents I kept quiet again, forced my way out of the chimney, covered in soot, it was 10am, there was a police car outside and no one in the house. But all my presents sat unopened, not made of soot in front of the fire. My parents returned 10 minutes later and gave me the best Christmas present I have ever had, lots of hugs, kisses and love – them being so glad to see I was safe. Of course they then gave me a right telling off for being so stupid.

4. If you could be a famous artist/performer from present, past or future who would you be and why?

Merce Cunningham – Choreographer of contemporary dance and one of the leaders of the avant garde. Not only was this guy one of the most graceful dancers in Martha Grahams company he also developed dance into something which took away the restrictions of ballet and worked with such visionaries such as John Cage. As he became older he was one of the first choreographers to use digital technologies to write routines. A really inspiring man without who modern dance would not be the same.   

5. Last book you read?

The Tipping Point  - Malcolm Gladwell

6. Who do you trust?

I trust ‘Trust’ for what it is. A word to describe something that should happen naturally and not be forced. If you have to think ‘Do or should I trust this person’ then you shouldn’t trust them.

7. Who do you not trust?

See answer 6

8. Desert Island – three luxuries  - what are they?

A boat, a satellite phone and bubble wrap

9. If you didn’t work for Curious Minds where and what would you be doing?

My mother always said I would make a great Vicar. She once even sent application forms through to me for a position that had come up in an Appleby Bridge vicarage. One problem I told her, ‘I’m an atheist.’ She replied ‘Oh they don’t need to know that do they?’

10. What do you like about working for Curious Minds?

We help young people, schools, teachers, arts professionals, local authorities, arts organisations and individuals improve their lives and their practice. Knowing everything we do is leading to improvement and positive outcomes for all who we work with makes one jump out of bed in the morning and with a hunger to arrive into work to get cracking.

If you would like to be interviewed for a future Curious Minds e-bulletin please drop an email to glen.meskell@curiousminds.org.uk