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.

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 are currently recruiting in North Norfolk for Year 2 of the project, aiming to run workshops across October & November. If you are a school interested in taking part, please contact David Stothard: david.stothard@nnfestival.org.uk

‘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

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