News and Ideas
The latest news and thinking from RIO – the Arts Council Bridge Organisation for the South West of England
Paper Nations presents: Time to Write
Creative writing incubator Paper Nations has launched commissions for writers who face barriers to developing their writing and having their voices heard. The commission will support writers from under-represented groups and backgrounds from Somerset, Gloucestershire,...
Tech Challenge for 11-16-Year Olds
Nesta Challenges’ £1m Longitude Explorer Prize is calling on young people across the UK to develop innovative AI solutions to society’s biggest issues, including living longer, living healthier and living greener. The Prize aims to inspire entrepreneurship among a...
Artsmark Partnership Programme Briefings – Free and Happening Near You!
As Bridge organisation for the south west, we at the Real Ideas Organisation are as enthusiastic as I’m sure you are to make sure that children and young people across the region have access to excellent art, museums and libraries. With any luck, you might also know...
Rising Arts Agency are Looking for a Creative Producer to Join Their Team
Rising Arts Agency are looking for a dynamic Creative Producer to join their small team. This is a chance to lead on Rising's two year Arts Council funded leadership programme BE IT, modelling a unique programme of leadership development that suits young people’s...
Building Bridges – Building Early Childhood Music Collaborations
How partners in music collaborations can enhance young children’s learning and development. Friday 18 October 2019, 9:00am - 4:00pm Room 605, Rolle Building, University of Plymouth Nicola Burke will lead an exploration into how partners in a music collaboration can...
Museums Futures Taster Day
Bristol Culture and South West Museum Development are delighted to be working with British Museum for their ‘Museum Futures’ training programme. This is a year-long paid traineeship for 18-24 year olds, new to the cultural heritage sector and interested in growing...
Arts in Education: A New Hope
Well, here we are again. Another summer done and another set of exam results underlining the parlous state of arts and creativity in schools. On A Level results day the BBC reported that ‘since 2014, the number of A-level entries in arts subjects, which include drama,...
BFI Film Academy Open for Applications
Do you any of the young people you know or work with love film? Are they aged 16-19? Are they interested in working in the creative industries? The BFI Film Academy Bristol is now open for applications. No experience or qualifications are necessary just an interest in...
Lord Kenneth Baker: GCSE reforms have ‘done a lot of damage’ to arts and technical subjects
The creator of the GCSE has condemned the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) in a letter to the new education secretary Gavin Williamson, the Telegraph reports. Lord Kenneth Baker points out that since 2010, entries for DT have fallen by 65 per cent, dance by 46 per cent,...
Automation Prototypes – Invitation to Apply
The South West Creative Technology Network are looking to invest in prototypes that use creative technologies to deliver original processes, experiences, products, services or platforms within the field of automation.
Into Film Youth Advisory Council
Into Film’s Youth Advisory Council was set up in 2013 shortly after the organisation was formed, to ensure that youth voice is at the heart of their work.
Future Make – Preparing Young People for Creative Futures
At RIO we are completely into the conversation of what the future of skills employment means, but also firmly believe the best way of working stuff out is doing it. Therefore we have developed Future Make.
Making Creative Careers a Reality
Careers in creative subjects can only come about through a passion for getting involved in a hands-on kind of way. At Richard Lander School, we encourage our young students to do just this.I would argue that the transferable skills that students learn from their...
Play Torbay to Bring Dartington Quest to Ordinary/Extraordinary Arts Festival
Play Torbay will bring the Dartington Quest to the Ordinary/Extraordinary Arts Festival in October 2019 to support learning disabled young people with an interest in the arts enable the creation of a wholly inclusive event.
WANTED: Young Mystery-Story Writers Across Devon
An opportunity to get students writing creatively during the school holidays, The International Agatha Christie Festival (IACF) is creating a new writing competition for young people living in Devon or attending a Devon-based school to be recognised for their skill at composing a plot, originality and the quality of their written English.
Papatango Present: WriteWest
Papatango theatre company have recently launched their programme of new writing in the south west: WriteWest.
Pathways Into Children’s Publishing
Pathways Into Children’s Publishing is a ground-breaking new two-year illustration programme for diverse, talented and ambitious artists taught by world-class illustrators and writers, university tutors, children’s editors and art directors. Pop Up Projects CIC have...
Young Company Taster Sessions at Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic Young Company would like to invite young creatives from around the city to try a free taster session on Sat 29 Jun. Bristol Old Vic Young Company provides an environment of playful creativity; allowing young people to experiment with different...
Beyond Face – 2,000 Stories
Beyond Face theatre comapny will be making their debut in the Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth this June with their new show 2,000 Stories, as part of the Mayflower 400 programme. “I’m bringing everything I ever knew- everything good, strong, kind and powerful. I bring it...
Into Film
Into Film are a registered Artsmark Partner Organisation endorsed by Arts Council England, who aim to support schools in achieving their Artsmark Award accreditation. Whilst examining how they can match the Artsmark assessment criteria to their Into Film Programme for...
New Programme for Disabled Young Artists and Creatives
If you are a young disabled artist or creative from Dorset aged 18 to 30 years old, who is looking for support to develop a career in the arts or to develop a saleable product, this programme is for you. Supported by The Arts Development Company, this diverse group...
Youth Voice Training
Upstart Projects have announced a Birmingham training session for arts and cultural organisations to improve their offer for young people. The half-day session, on Tue 21st May, will support NPOs at Goal 5, Artsmark Supporters, Arts Award centres/Supporters, LCEPs and...
Play Torbay May-July Activities
Play Torbay's Play Activities programme for May, June and July is here, with lots of activities for children and young people of all ages. Playground activities are FREE to anyone who would like to join in! Play Torbay is a charity aiming to improve the quality and...
Young Artists Workshops
DROP IN ART SESSIONS FOR TEENS AGED 13-18 YEARS:
Held on fortnightly Sundays 1pm-4pm from October to July. Cornwall residents pay the membership price of…
The Thriving Child in The South West
As part of ‘The Thriving Child in the South West’, we will be connecting live to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden…
The Arts & Culture Impact
Latest figures on economic contribution, published recently by Arts Council England, show the arts and culture industry has grown by £390million in one year, and contributes £10.8billion to UK economy. Commissioned from the Centre for Economic and Business Research,...
The Creative Case
Can creativity be taught and does it have a place in education? Rather than decide for himself, RIO consultant Gary Futcher hands over to his teacher-to-be daughter. Here I am, relatively fresh out of a career in teaching. And there’s my daughter Emily, completing her...
Dance and Dramatic Singing INSETs – Royal Opera House
In the next school year, Royal Opera House will be hosting a series of full-day practical training INSETs that explore the 'building blocks' of dance and dramatic singing to inspire cross-curricular learning. This suite of programmes will support teachers to take a...
Get Creative Festival
This year’s Get Creative Festival is open for event listings. Add yours at: getcreativeuk.com Get Creative Festival is a huge celebration of everything creative, taking place across the UK & Ireland from 11 – 19 May 2019. The annual festival shines a light on all...
Royal Opera House’s ‘The Thriving Child’, Streaming at Ocean Studios
As part of The Thriving Child in the South West, we will be connecting live to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for their conference ‘The Thriving Child’. Featuring a unique line-up of speakers, the day will explore the obstacles to young people thriving in the 21st century and how creative and cultural learning can support children to flourish.
Get Into Theatre
Get Into Theatre is the essential website to help you find all the information and opportunities you need to pursue a successful career in theatre in the UK. From backstage to performing, training to apprenticeships, you will find up-to-date theatre jobs information...
LVY Youth
It started with chill winds and rain, with nothing to do and nowhere to go in the cold winter evenings after school that LVY Youth was born.
Artsmark: Not What You Think It Is
When I mention Artsmark to most teacher friends and colleagues they initially pull a bit of a face. What they don’t realise is that, with significant advice from schools, it was completely re-designed and relaunched in 2015. It is still Arts Council England’s creative quality standard but re-framed as a powerful curriculum review and support tool, designed to help ensure that arts and creativity are at the heart of a broad and balanced learning experience for young people.
The EBacc is Failing Both the Arts and Itself
In the latest House of Commons report on Culture, Media and Sport, the impact of the EBacc on music education is listed as a “threat to the talent pipeline”. Whilst the report hesitates to admit any concerns from ministers themselves, it highlights a variety of issues...
Creative Making Residencies – Gloucester and Matson Libraries Commission
Create Gloucestershire, Art Couture Painswick and Gloucestershire Libraries and Information Service are looking to commission two innovative artists to deliver a creative making residency programme over a three month period in Matson and Gloucester.
£15,000 Grants Available For Teachers
SHINE’s Let Teachers SHINE competition is offering up to £15,000 to teachers who have brilliant ideas to help disadvantaged children succeed in English, maths or science.
ACE plans to match crowdfunding for Music Education Hubs
In response to a 2017 pilot project that found arts and heritage crowdfunding donations increased by 17% when the project was match-funded, Arts Council England is planning to develop further projects to support Music Education Hubs (MEHs) nationwide with match funding.
Artsmark – Find Out More!
Interested in Artsmark, but want to find out a bit more before taking the plunge? Pop along to one of our free, informal sessions.
Is Anybody Listening?
Just before Christmas it seemed there was positivity in the air for arts in education. And yet it seems the January gloom has darkened expectations again, with a number of recent reports once more highlighting the perilous state of the arts in schools.
Young Roche Artists
Do you know a young person who is a keen artist? Would they like to develop their understanding of art concepts and practical making skills? Are they between the ages of 13 and 18? Then Young Roche Artists is for them!
National Orchestra For All
The National Orchestra For All is a unique, mixed ability orchestra made up of 100 musicians aged 11-18 from across all four countries of the UK.
How Did We Get Here?: The Dangers of Sidelining Creative Education
It seems we have drifted into a world where ongoing funding for all schools and colleges has been replaced by initiatives, projects and schemes that make great announcements but do little to deal with real issues.
The National Theatre’s Drama Teacher Conference
The National Theatre’s Drama Teacher Conference is 2 days of inspiring professional development, exploring theatre practice through workshops, discussions and masterclass with a variety of fantastic theatre-makers. The weekend is taking place 21 – 22 February 2019.
Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival
Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival is the first UK festival dedicated to craft and film. The Crafts Council offering secondary, 6th form and college students under 16 to chance to submit a film for free.
Voices – Creative Writing Competition
Voices, a creative writing competition for children in care and young care leavers, is back for 2019 and open for all your incredible entries until midnight on 10 February 2019.
Freelance Community Producer At Create Gloucestershire
Freelance Community Producer - Creative Trade Route This brief is for a freelance Community Producer to contribute ideas and experience to shape a new Creative Trade Route (CTR) which will run up and down the Painswick Valley and connect a range of cultural venues...
Porthmeor Young Artists
Aged between 13-18 and want to make art? Then Porthmeor Young Artists is for you!
Shape My City
Shape My City is a year-round programme involving 15-19 year olds in design and place-making.
Primary Colours: Fabian Society Report on the Decline of Arts Education in Primary Schools
The Fabian Society have today published a new report, Primary Colours, which reveals that two thirds (68%) of primary school teachers in England say there is less arts education now than in 2010, and half (49%) say the quality of what there is has got worse.
Work experience in the creative industries
With the cultural and creative industries adding approx £92billion to the UK economy, it is hard to ignore the financial value and opportunity for employment that the creative sector brings to the country. It is also argued, ‘highly creative’ jobs are immune to the...