Symposium: Teaching Artistry in Action

Join us in Liverpool for a day of keynotes, provocations, artist-led conversations, panel discussions, and networking as we elevate and advocate for teaching artistry.
For Cultural Sector
Tue 2 Dec 10:00 - 16:00
Liverpool
Royal Court Theatre

Teaching artists operate at the vital intersection of artistry and pedagogy - bringing their professional creative practice into classrooms, cultural organisations, and communities, and helping learners develop curiosity, resilience, identity and belonging. This work is essential to the arts and cultural ecosystem, yet too often undervalued or overlooked. 

As we digest the results of the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the arts’ place within it, Curious Minds invites you to join a national conversation at this crucial moment for cultural and educational policy. Teaching Artistry in Action brings together teaching artists, cultural leaders, funders, and policymakers to explore how we can make teaching artistry visible, valued and sustained in England. The symposium will also mark the launch of the ITAC England Hub, hosted by Curious Minds, connecting England’s teaching artists to a global network of practitioners through the International Teaching Artist Collaborative (ITAC)

Speakers include Darren Henley (Chief Executive, Arts Council England, Madeleine McGirk Rutherford (International Teaching Artists Collaborative -ITAC), Ali Eisa (Goldsmiths) and Saul Argent (Goldsmiths/Curious Minds PhD). More speakers below.

Tickets PWYC to £30
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
10am to 4pm

Arrivals from 9.15am

This event is for: 

  • Teaching artists, to feel valued, make connections, and leave empowered.
  • Funders & policymakers, to discover the investment case and influence system change.
  • Cultural & education leaders, to deepen insight, connect with new teaching artists and catalyse action in their organisations  

Am I a Teaching Artist?

We recognise that the term Teaching Artist may not be how you describe yourself and your work. If you use the arts and culture to activate the artistry of young people and communities, we consider you a Teaching Artist!

 

Pricing:

We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. Tickets are priced at £5 for individuals, £15 for small organisations, and £30 for large organisations.

If you're booking on behalf of a large organisation, please consider selecting a Pay-it-forward ticket (£35) to help sponsor a place for a freelancer.

If cost is a barrier, simply select a Community Ticket (£0) - no questions asked. We’d much rather have you in the room.

Similarly, if you're from a small organisation and would like multiple staff members to attend but your budget doesn't stretch to multiple tickets, we're happy for you to select Community Tickets for your additional staff members. 

Speakers

Darren Henley CBE

Darren Henley CBE

Chief Executive, Arts Council England

Madeleine McGirk Rutherford

Founding Managing Director, International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC),

Ali Eisa

Artist & Lecturer at Goldsmiths, BA Fine Art (Studio Practice) and contributor to BA Fine Art (Critical Studies)

Saul Argent

Cultural Education Research Specialist

Hafsah Naib

Film maker, Social Arts Practice

Jennifer John

Vocal Composer, Creative Director, Cultural Activist

Amina Atiq

Poet, Activist & Teaching Artist

Sarah Shorten

Artistic Director, Stacked Wonky

Andy Ash

Artist and President, NSEAD - National Society for Education in Art and Design

Ashleigh Nugent

Writer, Performer & Director

Tom Stocks (The Chubby Northerner)

Poet and Spoken Word Artist

Graham Helm

National Partnerships Manager, Street Games

Jamie-Lee Wainman

Interdisciplinary Practitioner

Put me on the waiting list

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