Previous Programmes
We believe that everyone is creative and we celebrate the creativity of everyone.
Linking Schools Network
Arts Backpack
The Arts Backpack UK aims to offer primary-school aged children access to five quality cultural experiences a year. Following a 2018 Feasibility Study, Attenborough Arts Centre worked in partnership with Action for Children’s Arts in 2022-23 on the third of four regional pilots. The rationale for the Arts Backpack UK to run in Leicester was to reach children who typically face barriers that prevent or reduce their opportunities to access and engage with the arts and cultural experiences. Leicester is a culturally diverse city and the participating schools were prioritised due to their inner-city locations in catchment areas of high socio-economic deprivation.
Our Arts Backpack schools are:
- Catherine Infants School Belgrave ward, Leicester
- Uplands Infants School Highfields ward, Leicester
- Bridge Junior School St. Matthews ward, Leicester
We engaged 900 children in this project and we are continuing to develop our partnerships with the three core schools. Two of our teachers from Uplands Infants school were awarded the JM Barrie Award for Education by Action for Children’s Arts.
Live Well and Dance with Parkinson’s
This project makes a positive impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s and of those of their families, loved ones and carers through dance activity, cultural experiences, and community connection. The programme enriches lives through creative dance experiences, offers greater connectivity with community & peers and aims to embed legacy and sustainability through our networks and partnerships.
At its heart, Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s aims to create access to new opportunities for dance and creativity in partnership with people living with Parkinson’s. Across six locations in England, dance and cultural activity is planned and delivered locally through area steering groups. These groups establish greater connectivity between people across different communities & peers, organisations, cultural venues, and dance artists to create legacy and sustainability.
Whilst activity responds to need on a local level, the programme also has a national and international impact across partnership development and programmes of workforce development through artist training, networking, and research.
Attenborough Arts Centre has been a regional partner on this programme. The national steering group is currently consulting on the future direction of Live Well and Dance with Parkinson’s.