Forest Arts Music Hub

Get your Diary Out and Book that Assembly Hall, Access All Arts Week is Coming

Sky Arts will be giving you everything you need to create your own arts week in your school. Every teacher and child across the UK and Ireland is invited to join in between 6th – 10th June 2022. You'll be supported each step of the way with a jam-packed, fun-filled and ready-made programme of free learning materials to fill an entire week and more.

To register or find out more details, visit the Access All Arts website.

BRING THE POWER – Birmingham 2022 Youth Programme

We would like to invite school staff from across the region to an online briefing by the Bring The Power team at Birmingham 2022. 

The briefing event will take place on Thursday 17th February, 3:30-4:15pm. During this, we will give an overview of the programme and outline opportunities for schools to engage. 

The Bring The Power programme aims to reach 1 million children and young people across the West Midlands. We will do this through numerous engagement opportunities including school workshops, digital classroom resources, cultural activities, school festival days and many more. The programme has been developed with the support of local young people and school leaders from the region to ensure it meets the needs of those it aims to support. 

Please register your attendance via the link here

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - 21-27 March 2022

Join us for an exciting week of projects, challenges and online events and exhibitions. Register to access our resources section to access hundreds of free resources that promote creativity across the curriculum.

Shakespeare Week is a national annual celebration giving primary school aged children opportunities for enriching and enjoyable early experiences of Shakespeare. It is one of the pathways to Shakespeare provided by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for people of all ages and stages of interest. You can access hundreds of free resources including online workshops, storytellings and cross curricular resources linked to Shakespeare's works, life and times on this website. Our wonderful creative teaching resources are available year-round.

Looking for a Creative Opportunity for Pupils in Spring/Summer 2022?

We are now booking our touring production Vixen for Key Stage 2 and Year 7 pupils.

About the show
Saffi is 11. She lives on an estate with her Dad and she is turning into a fox.
After being scratched by a vixen in the raincoat man’s garden she begins to transform and dreams of running away to live with her fox family. But what about her dad and the raincoat man? Soon she will have to choose who her pack really is.

The award-winning Travelling Light presents Vixen, an original story by Matt Grinter of a young girl who is turning into a fox. Expect to see beauty hidden in unremarkable places, friendships that don’t follow the rules, the things that unite us and a girl aching to belong.

“We were absolutely blown away by how fantastic Vixen was and how well the (pupils) responded” 
City Academy Bristol

“I like how she was showing different emotions and actions”
pupil, Bristol Primary School

Pricing
£450+VAT for the whole day, which will include two performances/one performance and one workshop, with Q&As (total of 120 pupils per performance or 30 pupils per workshop). 

Booking Availability
Birmingham schools:  3 & 4 May 

Other dates potentially available.

If you are interested in booking, please email Lizzy or call on 07305 010374

About Travelling Light
We are an award winning children’s theatre company with over 30 years experience of touring to schools. To find out more head here. 

 Day to Create
 
This year, we’re bringing children and young people from schools and education settings across England together to take part in Day to Create on Wednesday 6 July 2022.  

What is it?
Day to Create is an Artsmark community day for children and young people’s ideas, imagination and creativity to flourish through whole-school arts activity.   

Who’s it for?
Day to Create is open to all Artsmark schools and settings, as well as those eligible but have not yet joined the programme. A great way to see Artsmark in action!

How does it work? 
1.    Sign up here to take part by 28 February 2022.
2.    Receive a FREE Day to Create pack, in advance, with activities, practical tools and resources to help make it a day to remember 
3.    Enjoy your Day to Create!  
Show you champion cultural education for every child – give them a Day to Create, from Artsmark.  
#DayToCreate

RSC Education Learning and National Partnerships Strategy Consultation Sessions

We would like to invite you to take part in an online consultation session on the work
we create for young people, teachers and whole school communities.

We hugely value our relationship with schools and teachers across the UK. Our mission is to unlock Shakespeare for everyone and we want to ensure that the work we create meets the needs of the audiences we are here to serve.

In these interactive group consultation sessions, you will be asked a number of open
questions about the RSC, for discussion in breakout rooms, as well as hearing more about our draft priorities for the future.

The sessions last 90 minutes, from 4.30pm to 6pm, and will be faciliated on Zoom by a member of the RSC Learning team. Those who take part will receive a £30 voucher as a thank you for their time.

No preparation is required for the sessions, and you can take part whether or not you
have worked with us in the past.

We do hope that you will consider registering to attend one of the events below. Please click on your preferred date and complete the information requested within the automatically generated email.

Thursday 17 February 2022, 4.30 – 6pm
Tuesday 22 February 2022, 4.30 – 6pm

The Inspired by British Art Show 9 Learning Hub

The Inspired by British Art Show 9 Arts Connect Learning Programme is a collaboration between the University of Wolverhampton, Arts Connect, local teachers, young people and artists who are working together to create dynamic contemporary arts programs in schools across the West Midlands. Developed to engage young people, inspire teachers and build upon an already vibrant arts community, there are currently over 2500 young people and 40 schools and colleges exploring BAS9 and contemporary art through the learning program.

We have created a hub page to showcase some of the activities taking place with young people, teachers and artists across the West Midlands. You can explore the hub page here. 

Contact Becky Thompson (Learning Programme Lead) to find out how you and your students can get involved. 

British Art Show 9 for Schools

British Art Show is acknowledged as one of the most important recurrent touring exhibitions of contemporary art produced in this country and is currently exhibiting at Wolverhampton School of Art and Wolverhampton Art Gallery until 10th April 2022. Over 35 contemporary artists are sharing their work through sculpture, painting, installation, drawing, photography, film, video and performance.

Find out more about BAS9 here.

Check out the British Art Show 9 What's on Guide here packed full of  activities and resources for teachers and schools. 

Student Tours 
To book a student tour of British Art Show 9 contact Becky Thompson (BAS9 Learning Lead)

Access All Arts Week - for Arts Organisations

Sky Arts is pleased to announce Access All Arts week, a nationwide arts week for all primary schools in UK & Ireland taking place 6th – 10th June 2022, celebrating the arts and highlighting their importance in supporting the health and wellbeing of young people.

There are many opportunities available for art organisations which include a ‘pod’ in the Partner area of the Access All Arts website with image, logo and a link to your website, potential to feature in the e-newsletters as part of a ‘partner spotlight feature’ plus so much more!  

If you are interested in becoming a partner, or would like to find out more information, please email us including a few lines of information about your organisation, an image and a link to your website.

The Culture Data & Research Network (CDRN)

The Culture Data & Research Network (CDRN) is a network of researchers and data practitioners working within public-facing arts and cultural institutions and heritage organisations across the UK.

CDRN operates independently of any research or data agency, database provider or funding body and is operated by a voluntary steering group who share a passion for data.

The network supports those who work with all kinds of data, which in turn supports the arts sector. CDRN aims to strengthen data and research practice and skills within the sector by providing members with a forum to exchange experiences, share best practice, debate current issues and form new collaborative partnerships.

Find out more and become a member here.  

Creative and Cultural Leadership Programme: Excellence through Participation and Inclusion

Arts Connect is pleased to announce our Creative and Cultural Leadership Programme – excellence through participation and inclusion for arts and culture professionals from Black, Asian, African, Caribbean heritage and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds. 

We know that we need more people from these backgrounds to improve the representation of leaders at all levels in our sector. We also know from our impact evaluation that following taking part participants demonstrate greater confidence, effectiveness and influence within their organisations and the sector, thus improving opportunities for children, young people and their families. 

Arts Connect is committed to reflect the diversity of communities in the West Midlands. The leadership programme will equip you to exercise your leadership with others, work with your peers and to build networks and connections with other participants.

Our ambition, is that you will feel seen, heard and valued as talented leaders, as you meet in a space with like-minded others, adding your leadership voice to our leadership community, our alumni of over 130 arts and culture professionals in the West Midlands.

Talk to Us to Find Out More
If you would like to talk to us about the programme before you apply, we are running drop-in sessions via zoom on the 16 February and the 1 March. Please book to secure your place. 

 16 February  2022 2:00pm
Register in advance for this meeting here.

 1 March, 2022 4:30pm
Register in advance for this meeting here.  

Find more details about the course here.  

Excellence & Quality in Participatory Arts

CALL FOR PROVOCATIONS
  
This March (17th) Collective Encounters will be hosting an ‘Open Space’ style event exploring notions of ‘excellence’ and ‘quality’ in participatory theatre. The words ‘excellence’ and ‘quality’ are frequently cited in English cultural policy, and this event is an opportunity for artists and arts organisations to come together with peers to explore what they mean in a participatory context. 
We are seeking three different 5 minute provocations on ‘excellence’ and ‘quality’ in participatory theatre. 
 
Provocations / presentations may explore:
- Examples of co-created participatory arts quality principles 
- The balance of excellence in product and process
- Audience expectations of quality in the 21st Century
- Resourcing of participatory theatre productions
- Whose quality/excellence is it anyway?

A £50 stipend will be paid to presenters. Contact Marianne for more information and to discuss your idea.

Latest roles with Coventry City of Culture Trust

Roles include: 
Duty Manager – In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats – Deadline noon, 21 February
Experience Host - In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats – Deadline noon, 28 February
Freelance Project Manager/Campaign Lead – Coventry Opens –Deadline noon, 24 February
 
 Apprentice Events Assistant opportunity with Coventry City Council - apply here

Check out the latest jobs with Coventry City of Culture Trust here.  

 CEP Saturday 2022 - Inspiring Creative Education

Date: Sat, 5 March 2022
Time: 9:45am  – 4pm

Join us on 5th March 2022 for a day of Networking, Inspiring Talks and interactive workshops online.

About this event
Join us on Zoom to explore creative careers and how to practice what you preach as an artist/educator, network with like-minded professionals and be inspired by talks.

Book here. 

Come out to play at Light Night Worcester 2022!

Immersive and interactive artworks alongside intriguing and playful performances, will bring light, joy and fun to the dark nights.  

From diva Lips on Cathedral Square to the immersive sensory experience of Submergence at The Old Palace and the  gentle robotic sculpture: Luma at the Guildhall, there will be plenty to spark imaginations and laughter.  

The festival is a FREE event taking place in Worcester city centre on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 February from 6pm – 9.30pm.  

For more information visit

Free Community Art and Craft Day

The New Art Gallery Walsall and Walsall Leather Museum
Saturday 19th February, 11am – 4pm. All ages welcome. Free, drop – in!
     
At Walsall Leather Museum, learn about the leather-making history of Walsall, meet local crafts people and make a leather notebook, a money pouch or emboss and paint a leather bookmark.
At The New Art Gallery Walsall, meet local artists with varied arts practices, watch demonstrations and have a go at making your own art inspired by their practice.
 
 Confirmed artists at The New Art Gallery Walsall:
•    Vik Chandla, Co-founder of the South Asian Arts Collective – craftivism and embroidery.
•    Kerri Williams, The Heritage Crafter – paint roses onto cards in the canal art tradition of the Black Country.
•    Ruth Radcliffe of Paperdolls Handmade – cut paper and pen and ink illustrations.
•    Joe Hemingway – detailed dot illustrations using fine-line pen.
•    Kate Tilley – ceramics combined with textiles – experiment with the artist’s crockery press-moulds

Man Made Youth Company / FREE February Half Term Intensive!

Autin Dance Theatre’s little brother company Man Made Youth are re-launching a FREE artistic programme for young men aged 12+ which includes dance and physical theatre workshops, creating indoor
and outdoor work, as well as exploring digital programmes and screen dance.

They are currently inviting young dancers and interested participants to sign up to their February half-term intensive. It is open to all abilities. Any access requirements can be communicated in the registration form below.

The first intensive will take place from Monday 21st February to Thursday 24th February at Midlands Arts Centre, MAC Birmingham. The 4-day residency will be in the English Studio and will run from 10AM to 4PM.
Each intensive is led by inspiring male role models in the industry to offer young dancers the opportunity to learn and create with professionals and to support your creative journey.

SIGN UP NOW

Leadership Convention: Leading in Uncertain Times with Optimism

Date: 7th March,
Time: 10am -5pm,
Venue: Midlands Arts Centre
Cost: Free

The day will feature Gentle Radical, Turner Prize Shortlisted Artists and Raidene Carter, Executive Producer Birmingham 2022 Festival and more

What to expect of the day – we will:
• Reflect on the call to leadership in the context of current emergencies and challenges to the arts and cultural sector
• Explore the opportunities to re-imagine how arts and culture can develop in new ways to respond and sustain greater levels of participation and engagement in localised cultural ecologies
• Ensure we keep our commitment and fire alive for equality and inclusion and be a positive force for change through practice and praxis
• Continue to advance participatory leadership and cultural democracy and to build our resourcefulness as leaders in order to grow the capacity of emerging leaders and participants to safeguard the resourcefulness of the sector

Book your place here. 

Moonbeams Social Meeting: Sustainability, Citizenship and Activism in Early Years through the Arts

Date: 7th March 
Time: 4.30 – 6pm
Venue: Online
Cost: Free

A Fringe Event relating to BECERA 2022

In this lively social event, we will be discussing, sharing ideas and practice to consider the challenges of working with our youngest global citizens. The 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals offer much necessary challenge and debate. For example, how can we ‘wild up’ our work with children so that our relationship in and with nature is more attuned with a worldview of co-inhabitation with all living things and kinship with the planet? How in our daily work, can we ensure our settings, practice and organisations are using more sustainable materials, methods, and resources? How can we act on climate crisis, justice for all and the elimination of poverty in our work?

Come along to share ideas and hear the ways in which others are doing exactly just this and what is driving them to become activists, to make change and to think differently about the arts, education, and young children.

The Social Meeting is open to all working with young children: including artists, creative producers, schools and early years’ settings, arts, cultural and heritage organisations. It is an exciting opportunity to hear from others, share, and find out more.

Book your place here. 

Moonbeams Seminar: How we live with and give voice to difference through visual art provocations

Date: 10th March
Time: 12.30 – 4pm
Venue: Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Cost: £50 (lunch included)

A seminar for educators, artists and academics working in the Early Years

This Moonbeams seminar is open to all working with young children, including educators, artists, creative producers, schools and early years’ settings, arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

It will explore how visual art in all its forms, as well as visits to galleries, can address themes such as ‘how we live with and give voice to difference’.  This ideas can be used creatively with young children, their families, and the community. The key theme also runs through the British Art Show 9 (BAS9) at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the seminar will include a tour of the exhibition, led by a Guide, using augmented tours on your mobile phone.

There will also be provocations and opportunities for discussion, as well as a practical workshop led by Faye Patrick, an early years’ educator at Our Lady’s Primary Birmingham. This practical session will explore starting points and ideas from a range of stimulus, such as images in books and artists’ work, and provide actual examples of what you can do with children 2-5 years to help shape your early years, and artistic, practice.

To book your space, please click here

For more information about the British Art Show 9 – see here for further detail

Digital Resources for Children and Young People

Only Connect

Curated digital resources for educationalists, parents and all those involved in arts and creativity both at home and at school. Explore them here. 

Share your resources:

If you would like us to consider your activity or resource for inclusion please complete this form and email us.