Spaces and Places

Building on our pilot project, HotSpot, Spaces and Places is a three-year programme of artist-in-school residencies that form a core element of our Creative Schools offer across East Anglia. The programme aims to celebrate place and identity and develop a sense of community pride and belonging.

Each year, four residencies are delivered in four schools or educational settings, with each residency delivered by a different artist.  As with much of our work, activity is focused in areas of need and where there are typically low levels of cultural engagement and opportunity.

In a time where children and young people inhabit an increasingly ‘virtual’ world, participants are encouraged to investigate the ‘real’ built and natural environment in their part of the world, and to think about the communities to which these spaces, places, points of interest, etc. have meaning.

The focus of the residencies – e.g., a chosen space, place or site – are determined in collaboration with the artist, school staff and participants, and each concludes with a local community sharing.

As well as offering a unique artist-led experience for children and young people, Spaces and Places also supports the professional development of teaching staff through the artist collaboration process and a bespoke CPD session which is offered as part of the programme.

Each residency has its own identity and we aim to build, over the three years, a unique collection of East Anglian stories, spaces and places, chosen by and shared through the eyes of local children and young people.

‘The best thing about the project was learning new skills like willow sculpture. We were encouraged to work with people we don’t usually work with, and as a result, I gained confidence in myself. I’m excited to see our artwork displayed around the Academy.’

Participant, City of Peterborough Academy

‘The students have truly immersed themselves in the activities and have really benefited from the sessions. Thank you again for this opportunity. It has been lovely to watch them have so much fun!”’

Deputy SENco, Abbey College, Ramsey

2024 - East Anglia Residences

Year 1 of Spaces and Places concluded in December 2024 with projects delivered by Rose Feather (illustrator), Glass House Dance, Johann Don-Daniel (sound artist) and Kate Munro (artist and sculptor). All of the residencies were a huge success, with teaching staff across all participating schools noting how well their pupils responded to the project artists and, in particular, highlighting the positive impact that the activities had on their confidence and wellbeing.

We were delighted that the residency at City of Peterborough Academy was featured in the Peterborough Telegraph. You can read all about it here.

Artists

Rose Feather, Glass House Dance, Johann Don-Daniel and Kate Munro

Locations

Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

Participants

67 children across Key Stages 2-4 and 12 staff from:

The Nicholas Hamond Academy, Swaffham
Howard Community Primary Academy, Bury St Edmunds
Abbey College, Ramsey
City of Peterborough Academy

2025 - North Norfolk Cluster

For this year’s residencies we are moving to a cluster-based delivery model where we will concentrate activity in a single geographical area. It is through this approach that we hope to promote more effective and sustainable links between participating teachers, schools, artists and local cultural organisations.

During the Autumn term, four Spaces and Places residencies will be delivered in schools along the North Norfolk coast. This programme of activity offers valuable creative opportunities for children and young people living in rural and isolated communities, and helps to fill existing gaps in cultural provision in the area.

We are planning to celebrate pupil’s achievements by holding a public exhibition of their work in early 2026 and further details of this presentation will appear here once they are confirmed.

Artists

Rose Feather, Glass House Dance, Johann Don-Daniel and Kate Munro

Locations

North Norfolk

Participants

Children and staff from:

St. Andrew’s School, Aylmerton
Gresham Village School
Sheringham Community Primary School
Cromer Junior School

2026 – Peterborough Cluster

A Peterborough cluster is planned for Spring 2026, with further programmes of activity being designed for Suffolk and Cambridgeshire later in the year.

Watch this space for more information!