Young Creative Awards and Connecting Notts
Young Creative Awards 2025 - Applications OPEN NOW
ENTRIES OPEN! Young Creatives Nottingham (11-24 yrs)
You can now enter the Young Creative Awards by uploading an image of your work and a brief description by the deadline - 24 March 2025. There are 10 categories of awards and 3 age groups, 11-15; 16 - 18 and 19-24. Find out all your need to know below!
- Animation & Digital Media
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Design & Architecture
- Fashion & Textiles
- Film
- Graphic Design
- Music
- Photography
- Visual Arts
Some of the category criteria have been updated and there is new guidance about the use of AI. Check out the online Masterclasses, brought to you by past Winners!
Connecting Notts - Youth Cultural Partnership
Connecting Notts (16-25 yrs)
Free
Connecting Notts is Nottingham's Youth Cultural Partnership– a monthly networking group for young people age 16-25 involved in arts organisations and community groups across the city. Connecting Notts aims to increase opportunities for all young people (aged 16-25) to connect, create and find support.
Find out more at www.connectingnotts.co.uk
Family days out
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
What is Green's Windmill?
Green's Windmill and Science Centre is a 19 Century restored windmill, museum and science learning centre. Entry to the grounds is free.
The interactive Science Centre tells the story of George Green, a mathematical genius whose work led to many modern day inventions.
Lakeside Arts at Highfields Park
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
A perfect day for the whole family - with a boat lake, playground, adventure golf, gallery and theatre.
2025 has been designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, marking 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics.
From 24 Jan - 27 April 2025 Lakeside Arts will host Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe. This exhibition visually explores scientific research from everything from black holes to the big bang!
Find out more about Cosmic Titans HERE
Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
Green's Windmill & Science Centre
Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
Spend the day at Wollaton Hall with all the activities on offer! There are walks around the Lake and playgrounds to explore.
With amazing natural history exhibits, lots of history and a beautiful park and lake Wollaton Hall is a much-loved place for many families and children in Nottingham.
Find out what you can see at the Natural History Museum HERE
Newstead Abbey, Bryon 200
Newstead Abbey, Bryon 200
Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
Byron 200 is a varied programme of exhibitions, events and activities that celebrate the sensational life and legacy of Lord Byron through the year, focussed at Newstead Abbey, his inspirational home.
Nottingham Castle
Newstead Abbey, Bryon 200
Nottingham Libraries
Adults: £15.60, Kids Go Free (15 yrs & under, 3 children per paid adult) Buy tickets
Step inside the Castle and Grounds for a single-purchase ticket that allows you to re-visit unlimited for 12 months on the Pay once, visit all year round ticket.
Discover the Museum & Galleries with Fine Art, Lace, Robin Hood, Nottingham Castle’s History and more.
Nottingham Libraries
Newstead Abbey, Bryon 200
Nottingham Libraries
Nottingham Central Library & Local Libraries - Free
There is always something happening in Nottingham libraries whether its term time activity or holiday events.
Find out what is happening locally, sign up as a member for free and settle down with a good book. Research tells us reading influences our well-being positively, a good way to start 2025.
Pre-school - under 5s
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
Nottingham Contemporary
Early Years - sensory workshops
Free, Oct - Dec 2024
You and your little one can explore the world through sensory free play, in a safe and stimulating environment. Each session is themed to make every visit special.
From babes in arms, to bum shufflers, snoozers and movers, there are workshops for different age categories, just so we can focus on those important developmental stages.
Circus Hub Workshops
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am
Free with promo code CIRCUSBABY
Sneinton Market
Come along to Circus Hub’s class for mums and babies. A sensory playful session for mum and baby to explore circus. The class includes gentle stretches, songs, aerial yoga and dance. Both babies and their grown ups can have a go in the aerial hammock.
National Literacy Trust
Nottingham Contemporary: We are Wonderlings
National Literacy Trust
National Literacy Trust - Nottingham Hub
Find out more about the activities and resources available from the National Literacy Trusts's Nottingham hub.
Their city-wide initiative is supported by Nottingham City Council and Small Steps Big Changes, and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Small Steps Big Changes
Small Steps Big Changes
National Literacy Trust
Ages: 0-5. Free
Small Steps Big Changes offer lots of activities and groups for children who live in Aspley, Bulwell, Hyson Green and Arboretum and St Ann's. Filter based on your area and download the events calendar from their website.
Find Baby Massage, Story and Rhyme Time, Messy Play, Free Play, Busy Bodies, Twigglets, BAME Dads Project, Cook & Play, Learning to Love Books, New Shoots and free Language classes.
Affordable Pricing
Small Steps Big Changes
Affordable Pricing
Ages: 0-5. Free.
Download the EasyPeasy app today and get thousands of tips and activities to try with your 0-5 year old! Parents can enter the age of their child and topics of interest to get content tailored to their needs and tackle specific problem areas. For more information and to download, visit the Small Steps Big Changes (SSBC) website.
Regular Youth Theatre groups
New Art Exchange: YARD Young People's Theatre
New Art Exchange: YARD Young People's Theatre
New Art Exchange: YARD Young People's Theatre
YARD
Ages 8-12 yrs Tuesdays 4.15-6.15pm. Term Time.
Free
Ages 12-18 yrs Wednesdays 5pm-7pm. Term Time. Free. (spaces available)
YARD is a creative and supportive hub for young people to come together, develop their skills in theatre and performance, devise their own work and explore new ideas and approaches working with professional artists.
FREE and open to all. Email yard@nae.org.uk to find out more.
Nottingham Playhouse: Theatre Groups
New Art Exchange: YARD Young People's Theatre
New Art Exchange: YARD Young People's Theatre
Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Groups
Infant Young Company Ages 5-7 yrs, Saturdays term time, 10am-11.15am
Junior Young Company Ages 8-11 yrs,
Saturdays term time, 11.45-1.15pm
Senior Young Company 12-16 yrs,
Mondays term time, 6pm-8pm
There are plenty of free bursary places available for each of these programmes. Email to find out more.
PLUS!
The Phoenix Theatre Company 13-19 yrs
Fridays term time, 6pm-8pm
Music
Nottingham Music Hub: Ensembles
Nottingham Music Hub: Ensembles
Nottingham Music Hub: Ensembles
Nottingham Music Hub
Various days and times
All year round
Nottingham Music Hub has a wide array of different clubs and groups for young people to join.
With over a dozen different ensembles on offer, Nottingham Music Hub is the perfect place for an aspiring young musician to hone their craft, meet like minded people and nurture their creativity.
Circle of Light 5
Nottingham Music Hub: Ensembles
Nottingham Music Hub: Ensembles
Find out more about Circle of Light - an award winning grassroots creative community of young people who are using their skills and personal experiences to reimagine the future of the music industry. Funded by Youth Music, they bring together musicians and creatives to collaborate and make cool music, put on awesome events and support each other. With the support of industry professionals, Circle of Light are carving pathways that will make the music industry more accessible and more inclusive.
Art
New Art Exchange: Saturday Art Club
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
Suitable for ages 4-7 (0-10 welcome)
Kickstart your Saturday with these free drop-in creative workshops, which make space for creative learning and lots of fun.
Artist-led activities change each session;
It is a perfect chance to get creative as a family.
Contact michael@nae.org.uk
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
Wednesdays, 3.30-5.30pm (term time)
Ages 5 -13 (younger children must be accompanied)
Free
Free weekly drop-in creative arts and play sessions running every Wednesday after school during term time. Join play workers and artists for adventurous indoor play, art, crafts and games. Membership forms for the Toy Library must be completed for young people to stay and play.
These sessions are delivered in partnership with The Toy Library, with support from Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.
Sherwood Young Artists
All Souls Community Centre: Build Create Play
Lakeside Arts: Gallery Art Group
Times and days vary depending on age range, Ages 7 - 18
£6 per class
Sherwood Young Artists is an art school that runs weekly classes in Sherwood, Nottingham. The classes develop skills in a full range of different artistic materials and techniques, to complete Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts Awards.
Plus there are lots of opportunities for young people to become Arts leaders, creating exhibitions for 'Sherwood Art Week', 'Nottingham Light Night', and 'The Hartley Creatives'.
Lakeside Arts: Gallery Art Group
Lakeside Arts: Gallery Art Group
Lakeside Arts: Gallery Art Group
Sat 11 January to Sat 29 March 2025 (excluding Sat 15 & 22 Feb) 10.30am-12.30pm
11 - 17 years
£12 per session, includes all materials
Young artists can take inspiration from the current exhibitions at Lakeside and explore materials, develop art skills and techniques whilst building confidence in a relaxed and sociable environment.
This is a great opportunity to help build GCSE or A level portfolio content. Additionally young people can access Arts Award qualifications with the opportunity to gain additional UCAS points. Work is also exhibited at a summer exhibition at Lakeside.
1525 Collective: New Members
Lakeside Arts: Gallery Art Group
1525 Collective: New Members
Ages 15-25. Nottingham Contemporary
1525 Collective are looking for new members to join them. 1525, are a group of young creatives who gather regularly at Nottingham Contemporary. They strive to be a proactive collective sharing resources, discussing ideas, and mutually supporting each other’s creative interests.
More information can be found on the website.
Creative Writing, Reading and Literature
My Storytelling Scrapbook
Writing East Midlands: Nottingham Young Writers
Nottingham City Libraries for Families
Nursery/Primary
Sit with your child and explore your culture and experiences together with My Storytelling Scrapbook. Encourage your child to draw pictures, stick in photos and write about the special people in their life. This resource is a perfect opportunity to get them thinking about who they are, reflecting on the world around them while developing their speaking, reading and writing skills. My Storytelling Scrapbook encourages you to share stories, memories, and experiences with your children, and promotes a love of reading and regional voices.
Nottingham City Libraries for Families
Writing East Midlands: Nottingham Young Writers
Nottingham City Libraries for Families
All ages.
Nottingham City Libraries have a wealth ofresources and activities for children and their families. The Libraries website makes it easy to find information about libraries, resources, book recommendations, events and more. Whether you are looking for stories and rhymes for little ones, code clubs, after school home work sessions or holiday activities, it’s all covered. You can find out more by signing up to our e-newsletter on the webpage.
Writing East Midlands: Nottingham Young Writers
Writing East Midlands: Nottingham Young Writers
Writing East Midlands: Nottingham Young Writers
Ages 10-17 years
Free, action-packed monthly creative writing workshops for budding young authors and poets aged 10-17.
Writing East Midlands young writers’ groups are fun, friendly and full of like-minded writers. They meet monthly, receive support and guidance, enter (and win) competitions, take part in literary events, and make friends with lots of other writerly types.
Dance
Jump Start
Circus Hub - Youth Aerial Classes
Little Movers
Fabric, iC4C, 2 Dakeyne St
Jump Start: 7-11 yrs
Mondays, 4.15pm – 5.15pm
Sessions £3/ or £1.50 (community offer ticket for those living in or attending primary schools in Sneinton or St Anns)
Jump Start provides creative dance experiences for children aged 7 to 11 (Key Stage 2) living in Nottingham and nurtures young people who have potential and ambition in dance.
.
Little Movers
Circus Hub - Youth Aerial Classes
Little Movers
Fabric: iC4C, 2 Dakeyne St
Little Movers: 0-5 yrs
Fridays, 10am-11am
27th Sept - Fri 6th Dec 2024
£5/ or £3 (community offer for those living in or attending primary schools in Sneinton or St Anns.)
Fun and creative movement sessions for 0 to 5 yr olds and their adults. Slip, slide and hide and explore sensory experiences with objects, textures, sounds, stories, and more. Each Friday brings a new adventure; a safe space for you and your children’s imaginations to run wild.
Circus Hub - Youth Aerial Classes
Circus Hub - Youth Aerial Classes
Circus Hub - Youth Aerial Classes
Saturdays
Ages 7-11, 10am-11am
Ages 11-18, 11.15am- 12.15pm
£8
Sneinton Market
Learn aerial circus skills, such as trapeze, silks and aerial hoop. Suitable for beginners, open to everyone. Instructors are professional, trained aerial performers.
Wellbeing
Empowering Your Young People
The Pythian Club
Monday-Friday after school, across Nottinghamshire.
The Pythian Club (TPC) offer a comprehensive timetable of after school activities taking place at venues across Nottinghamshire. TPC aspire to support the development of our young people by progressing them onto further initiatives such as a coaching opportunities, young leader’s academy, vocational courses and/or employment opportunities. For more details visit the website or email.
Base 51: Outburst
Ages 11-15 yrs, Tuesdays 5-7pm
Ages 16-21 yrs, Wednesdays 5-7pm
Whether it’s with help understanding your new feelings as an 11-15 year old, or learning about LGBTQIA+ equality and sexual health as a 16-21 year old, OutBurst has it all! Base 51 provide a safe space to express yourself,
make friends and join in with a wide range of activities, as well as getting access to 1-2-1 support and signposting to a wider range of LGBTQIA+ focused services. Read more
Base 51: Young Leaders
Base 51: Young Leaders
Ages 16-24, Mondays 4-5.30pm
Base 51 has recently moved to new premises (41 Peachy St) and created a safe and welcoming space.
Young Leaders is Base 51's programme to ensure young people have a chance to run activities and have a say in the decisions made at Base 51, as well as getting workshops from industry professionals about CV writing, interviewing etc.
Want to know more? Email volunteering@base51.org.uk or call 0115 952 5040 and ask to speak to Amy.
Base 51: Art in Mind
Base 51: Art in Mind
Base 51: Young Leaders
Ages 11-18
Every Thursday, 4-7pm
Starting 1st August 2024
The Art in Mind project combines art and nature, where you will be learning various art techniques whilst exploring the outdoors and capturing it's innate beauty. The goal of the sessions is to improve mental health and prevent self harm and suicidal thoughts. For more information, contact Jamie, Art in Mind Coordinator, j.burnett@base51.org.uk 0115 952 5040
The Wolfpack Project
Base 51: Art in Mind
The Wolfpack Project
Ages 16-24
Group meetings and activity times vary
Founded in 2019 by Damien Reynolds; The Wolfpack Project was established to combat the substantial, growing issue of youth loneliness as a serious public-health problem of our time. As a result of his own experience of loneliness, Damien set up the charity in his hometown of Nottingham.
Everything Else
The Change Makers Initiative
Community Recording Studio: Youth Sessions
Community Recording Studio: Youth Sessions
The Change Makers Initiative in partnership with The Burns Price Foundation supports young people under the age of 19 from across the UK, with grants of £100 each to work on grass roots level ideas with art and science at the core of the social action project. Find out more on the website.
Community Recording Studio: Youth Sessions
Community Recording Studio: Youth Sessions
Community Recording Studio: Youth Sessions
Ages 12-17 Fridays, 5-7pm. Ages 8-11 Wednesdays, 5-7pm.
Join in with Football, Table Tennis, Basketball, Pool, Music and Board Games. Find out more on the CRS website.
Travel info
Plan your journey
NCT offers a Grouprider ticket which covers up to 5 people for £8. (There has to be at least 1 adult, aged 19 or over, and no more than two adults.)
NET trams also have a Group ticket for 1 or 2 adults and up to 3 children for £8.50, weekends and Monday to Friday, after 4pm. Check out all the ways you can get about in Nottingham.
