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 our 2025 residencies we moved to a cluster-based delivery model, concentrating activity in a single geographical area. Through this approach we were able to promote more effective and sustainable links between participating teachers, schools, artists, and local cultural organisations.

During the autumn term four residencies were delivered in three primary schools and one special school along the North Norfolk coast. This programme of activity offered valuable creative opportunities for children and young people living in rural and isolated communities, helping to fill existing gaps in cultural provision in the area.

An exhibition showcasing pupil’s work was presented at Cromer Artspace between 12^th – 23^rd of March 2026. We were delighted to welcome over 400 people to this “joyous”, “inspiring” and “fabulous” presentation of their creative journeys.

‘I wish we could do this all day, all week, all term, all year, forever!’

Participant, Cromer Junior School

‘Participants gained the opportunity to work with a visiting artist and illustrator, giving them real-life experience of creative professionals and creative career pathways. They developed practical skills while contributing to a final outcome that had meaning beyond the school environment, helping to build confidence, broaden experience, and open up potential future career choices.’

Art Teacher, St. Andrew’s School, Aylmerton

Artists

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

Locations

North Norfolk

Participants

65 children across Key Stages 2-4 and staff from:

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

2026 – Peterborough Cluster

Four Spaces & Places residencies are currently being delivered in three primary schools and one special school in Peterborough. The participating schools are a mix of both inner-city and more rural, village-based settings and we are very excited to see what the children take as inspiration for their projects!

Each of the four residencies will be celebrated in a public exhibition of work in Peterborough over the summer. Further details will appear here once they are confirmed.

Artists

Amanda Rigby
Rose Croft
Madhu Manipatruni
Emily Bowers

Locations

Peterborough

Participants

66 children across Key Stages 2 & 3 and staff from:

Gladstone Primary Academy
Eye C of E Primary School
Northborough Primary School
Marshfields School