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Creativity and the arts

The wider environment beyond the school grounds provides limitless opportunities for appreciating the arts and participating in creative work. These activities help young people develop a range of skills, raising their aspirations and achievements, and opening up more opportunities for their futures. Many arts organisations and locations provide educational resources targeted at a wide range of ages and abilities, and often have specialist staff to help schools make the most of their visits.

Arts Council England

Provides information about arts organisations and activities by region. The education and learning pages list arts organisations and arts education agencies that work with children and young people. The publications section has downloadable resources useful for teachers, youth leaders and others working with children and young people. www.artscouncil.org.uk The linked Artsmark Award site www.artsmark.org.uk has many resources on working with artists.

Creative Partnerships

The Government’s flagship creativity programme for schools and young people, managed by Arts Council England and funded by the DCSF and DCMS. The website includes many resources including publications, case studies and conference papers. www.creative-partnerships.com

Engage

The national association for gallery education. The information and resources section of the website includes a gallery finder, organised by region, giving information about educational projects and activities at visual-arts venues. www.engage.org

English National Youth Arts Network

ENYAN aims to raise the profile of, and support for, youth arts within England, making more opportunities for the creative and personal development of young people, especially young people at risk. The website is a source of national information about youth arts, with many links and resources. www.enyan.co.uk

Foundation for Community Dance

Has a members’ directory, searchable by region, with links to individual dance practitioners and dance companies. www.communitydance.org.uk

Independent Theatre Council

The website includes a database of members, searchable by region, with links to individual theatre and company sites. There is also a section for young people’s theatre. www.itc-arts.org

National Association of Youth Theatres

NAYT supports the development of youth theatre and young people’s involvement in theatre through a professional programme of training, advocacy, information, services and events. www.nayt.org.uk/frontpage.asp

National Association of Writers in Education

The website gives access to publications, resources and information about creative writing, including working with writers. www.nawe.co.uk

The Poetry Society

Provides publications, resources and information about working with poets and poetry. www.poetrysociety.org.uk

Youth Dance England

The national agency connecting young people with dance. The website includes information about the National Dance Festival and other programmes, publications, careers information and a directory to help people find out about dance activities in their area. www.yde.org.uk

Youth Music

This organisation works alongside the formal and community-based sectors to support music making and training. Its funding complements music in the national curriculum by supporting activities held mainly outside of school hours and delivered by non-profit making organisations. Programmes include support for music making in the early years. www.youthmusic.org.uk