Member Article

North East to school the nation in creativity

A nationwide school creativity programme is to get a new home in the North East. Creative Partnerships, run by Arts Council England, is set to be become an independent organisation with its headquarters in Newcastle.

The programme, which aims to develop young people’s creativity, has been managed by the Arts Council since it began in 2002. Its success has lead the Arts Council to set up a new independent organisation to deliver the programme - Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE). Creative Partnerships has already worked with more than 750,000 young people and 2,000 schools across England.

CCE will receive more than £75 million from Arts Council England between April 2009 and March 2011, the largest single grant in that two-year period. The new organisation will have its headquarters in Newcastle, a decision influenced by the North East’s ‘cultural renaissance’.

Mark Robinson, Executive Director for Arts Council England, North East said: “We’re thrilled but not surprised that CCE has chosen the North East as its base. This new organisation will sit comfortably within the region’s already thriving arts scene. We’re looking forward to working with this new organisation, which will create over 25 jobs in the area, to bring great art to young people all over the region, and the country.”

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said, “Creative Partnerships was an audacious idea that has become a phenomenal success. The Arts Council has nurtured that success and it is now a natural progression for it to be run by an independent organisation.

“This independence will mean that Creativity, Culture and Education can grow to its full potential and even more young people can benefit from creativity in their lives.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .