What we do

Curious Minds is an ambitious charity that works strategically to create and improve opportunities for children and young people to experience brilliant arts and culture. Our work is grounded in a deep understanding of the fundamental social importance of arts and culture; and the belief that ALL young people should have the opportunity to become participants in and creators of it.

We know from evidence and experience that children who take part in arts and culture do better at school and are happier and healthier. As young adults, they are more likely to vote, to go to university, and to secure and stay in good jobs.

But access to arts, culture and creativity is far from universal. Children and their families are too often excluded as a result of social or economic inequalities, which makes accessible, high-quality provision through schools, the cultural sector and youth organisations more important than ever. It is here, working as field builders, with a multitude of teachers, artists, youth and community workers, that Curious Minds has it’s biggest impact.

Curious Minds provides these professionals - the cultural education workforce - and their employers with the skills, support, contacts and knowledge they need to create more and better opportunites for the young people they work with. We help them learn from and embed best practice, to forge partnerships that add value, to capture evidence of impact and to advocate confidently for investment in cultural learning. We recognise the importance of their tireless work and we champion their contribution.

Driving all our work is the belief that, with the right support and space to innovate, the cultural sector can play a greater role in making the North of England the best to grow up and achieve your potential.

We work nationally and internationally but focus our work on the North of England. Our team draws expertise from across the education, culture, public and private sectors.