Local Cultural Education Partnerships

Arts Council England’s Cultural Education Challenge is a call for schools, arts and cultural organisations, local authorities and higher education institutions to work together to achieve this ambitious aim.

We know that life-long patterns of participation and advantage are determined from early years. If children don’t get involved in cultural activities in their early years, they won’t develop life-long habits of enjoying, and of being inspired by art and culture. Access to cultural education and opportunities to progress and improve still varies considerably across the country.

Culture Bridge North East will coordinate the activity to meet the challenge in the North East through a range of programmes and initiatives, including Artsmark and local cultural education partnerships (LCEPs).

Culture Bridge North East has set up Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs) across the region to ensure access to and participation in the arts is available for all children and young people, and to make best use of the resources available.

We are looking for committed partners to progress and deliver on the challenge locally. Representatives are required from Music Education Hubs, schools, arts and cultural organisations, local authorities, higher education institutions, voluntary and community organisations and funders to improve the alignment of cultural education for young people.

This work is carried out by Culture Bridge North East area managers and will be developed/designed and shaped by local partners. If you would like further information about how to be involved in a local cultural education partnership please email the appropriate area manager:

• Tees Valley and County Durham: Eileen Atkins
• Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead: Helen Green
• North Tyneside and Northumberland: Mel Carter

In 2015 the North East Culture Partnership (NECP) published the Case for Culture, a positive statement of ambition for the next 15 years, building on the strengths of the regions’ diverse communities and pointing to opportunities for further investment in arts and heritage across the region.

The Case for Culture lists five aspirations, the second of which is, “Children and young people – ensuring we continue to innovate and broaden access to culture for children and young people, for all the benefits this brings to future generations.”

Blog: The Cultural Education Challenge & the Creative Case for Diversity: Connections and interplays between the Cultural Education Challenge and the Creative Case for Diversity