News and Ideas
The latest news and thinking from RIO – the Arts Council Bridge Organisation for the South West of England
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...
Teacher Training for Btec Tech Award in Performing Arts
Pavilion Dance South West are delighted to introduce this course, new for Winter 2019 and designed for teachers of BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts with a Dance focus.
Light in the darkness?
It may just be early Christmas cheer, but RIO consultant Gary Futcher has seen some glimmers of hope for the arts in education this past week.
Britain’s creative industries break the £100 billion barrier
New figures reveal Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s sectors are now worth £268 billion.
This philistine government is betraying the arts
In a sharply pointed piece on arts policy, Guardian columnist Hannah Jane Parkinson evokes the spirit of Jennie Lee, the first minister for the arts in 1964, in attacking what she sees as a ‘cultural deficit’ and ‘philistine times’ at the heart of government today.
Arts Council England announce £700,000 for Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 programme
A major cultural programme funded by, amongst others, £700,000 from Arts Council England that includes a music theatre collaboration between UK and US communities with local artists Seth Lakeman and Nick Stimson, spectacular new events, including the Mayflower Week and Ocean Festival and community engagement through education, arts and culture, sport and volunteering
Arts Matters
RIO consultant and former headteacher Gary Futcher has heard all the debates about arts education but now feels it’s time for action.
Happy International Men’s Day, Especially to Men in Primary Schools
This International Men’s Day, RIO consultant Lewis Gerry want to give some recognition to any and all men working in schools, particularly primary.
Autism-friendly Opening at Cornwall’s Regimental Museum
Cornwall’s Regimental Museum are holding a festive ‘Relaxed Opening’ – an adapted opening for people with autism, so they can enjoy the museum at a quieter pace!
BFI Film Academy Residential Programme 2019
The BFI Film Academy Residential Programme 2019 is now open for applications!The courses which will be run during the February 2019 half-term include; animation, screenwriting, documentary filmmaking and animation and VFX. The Craft Skills residential...
Ashburton Questingle
This Sunday, head to the Bank Youth Project for Play Torbay’s ‘Ashburton Questingle’ event – an outdoor mystery and story quest for all the family!
‘For Remembrance Day, Celebrate Creativity in Schools’
Pupils need creativity skills more than ever, says Professor Bill Lucas in a TES article as he highlights a Remembrance Day project.
The National Creative Learning Awards Are Now Open
Nominations for the National Creative Learning Awards are now open, the charity The Creative Learning Guild have announced.
Bristol to Host Channel 4 Regional Hub
Bristol is to host one of two new Channel 4 Creative Hubs alongside Glasgow, while Leeds will be home to the channel’s new National HQ, it has been announced.
4MinuteFilm Challenge
The 4MinuteFilm Challenge is your opportunity to have a go at making a short film with young people you work with, about a sculpture in your area and receive £100 bursary to help you along the way!
Loss of small music venues is handing control of culture to robots, MPs told
The poor economic model for those running small music venues is handing influence over the UK’s cultural tastes to streaming service algorithms.
Nesta announces Cultural Impact Development Fund
Nesta launches the Cultural Impact Development Fund, a new £3.7m social investment fund for arts, cultural and creative organisations bringing positive change to their communities.