Loving learning Through Creativity is a partnership project with Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire Cultural Education Partnership, Arts Connect – West Midlands Regional Arts Council England Bridge organisation, Partners in Creative Learning and YMCA.

Working with 11 schools in the Stoke on Trent area the project was developed to tackle persistent absences and has been set up as an “artist in residence” style project.  Each schoolwork’s with an artist to deliver in school sessions and additional extra-curricular breakfast and afterschool sessions.

Our aim is to engage young people, who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging with arts activities, linked to the curriculum to reignite their love of learning and make positive associations with school, as well as learning new skills, increasing confidence, finding new ways to express themselves and develop positive relationships with peers, teachers and the artist.

The programme also includes additional trips and activities, linked to their arts and cultural work and a showcase to celebrate their work.

“The project has been a great experience for me and my practice, i feel it’s made me go back to basic’s in my development and reassess composition and design ideas which i’m sure will influence new products. It has also helped my confidence with creating sessions where pupils can feel comfortably to express themselves in an individual way.”

Libby Ward