On this page you’ll find information about Operations Partners and our CultureMeets, as well the detailed list of our 30+ Arts Partners. You can also read case studies about our projects and partners' work. If you're interested in working with us please get in touch.
Align resources and add value to existing provision, only creating new, where new is needed.
ChalleNGe Operation partners are:
Our Operations Partners meet five times a year and you'll find the list of current arts partners below (in alphabetical order). We also work with youth and community partners across the city, seeking to widen connections and collaborative opportunities. Youth leaders are welcome to join us, please get in touch with Cathy at cathy@challengenottingham.co.uk to find out more.
Our regular opportunity for teachers and arts partners in Nottingham to meet. Arts organisations highlight their offers and schools can share their needs and best practice. It's also where teachers can help shape the Cultural Rucksack, hear updates and be matched up through peer support networks for those wanting to develop their arts and cultural curriculum.
Anansi Theatre Company is a brilliant team of creative women of colour. They offer workshops incorporating a storytelling performance of a section of the Anansi story alongside breakout groups focusing on physical theatre and storytelling skills, improvisation and characterisation. By focusing on African and Caribbean folklore rather than the more familiar western fairy tales, pupils explore a different culture while learning new skills and developing their confidence.
Backlit is an artist-led gallery and studio space based in Nottingham. There is a free programme of exhibitions, events, and workshops and Backlit are keen to develop their relationships with schools, particularly in relation to their Samuel Morley Archive.
They want to improve mental health, raise aspirations and encourage community engagement.
BeatFeet are the UK’s No.1 provider of drumming, dance and well-being workshops. They work with schools to ensure their fun-filled and engaging workshops link to key teaching and learning points in curriculum themes such as Africa, animals, citizenship and travel. Beatfeet facilitators are experienced in working with students in special education schools and have safeguarding in place for vulnerable young
people, for example, Looked After Children.
Bonington Gallery is an exhibition space in the Bonington building at Nottingham Trent University, delivering a programme of exhibitions, initiatives and events from
October to July.
Bonington Gallery’s exhibitions and online events are thought-provoking, current and
exciting. The Gallery is able to arrange school visits to their three exhibitions a year by appointment.
Broadway has a mission to inspire creativity and a life-long love of film as a powerful, immersive and enjoyable way to expand horizons. Broadway is committed to providing cinema for all and is always delighted to welcome schools groups of all ages into the building to inspire creativity.
Child Friendly Cities is a global UNICEF initiative that reaches and supports nearly 30 million children and young people in 50 countries across the whole world.
A child-friendly city is committed to improving the lives of children and young people within the city by fulfilling children’s rights as articulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Children's University, at Nottingham Trent University, recognises and rewards the learning and activities that children take part in outside normal school hours and is open to children aged 7 to 14 if their school has signed up to the scheme.
City Arts supports and gives a platform to grassroots creative groups. From delivering early years festivals around the city for 0-5 year olds and their families, to large scale
outdoor events and puppetry festivals, to international projects supporting young creatives to develop employment skills, City Arts has a breadth of experience in participatory arts and artist development.
Annual Arts Festivals bring together schools and community groups to celebrate local creativity!
Using the arts to hold conversations around race and British values, religious intolerance and hate crimes, Diversify Education and Communities helps schools to embed cultural diversity into the curriculum, or to plan specific activities to celebrate British values, cultural occasions or Black History Month.
Dragon Breath Theatre is an award-winning theatre company who create innovative, immersive drama experiences for young people in theatres, museums and schools. Their productions are created alongside pupils, and supported by workshops and resources devised with teachers to meet Literacy and PSHE needs.
Fabric work in partnership with schools to better connect children and young people to the opportunities they offer, from taking part in performances to working with professional artists. They support teachers to develop their own professional dance practice. Secondary schools have the opportunity to host workshops for students who show potential in dance.
Freedom Foundation offers children and young people the opportunity to explore their individuality and learn to appreciate their self-worth through their Motivational Mornings and Freedom Factory programmes. Motivational Mornings help students ‘face the day in a positive way’, motivating and inspiring children and young people at the start of their educational day, with singing and songwriting which enable young people to release emotional anxieties in a safe environment.
First Story provide high-quality creative writing opportunities for young people in schools in low-income communities. They also provide training for teachers and educators to equip them with the confidence and skills to teach creative writing.
Hockley Hustle started in 2006 and hosts an annual weekend festival in October, with over 35 venues across Hockley. Ticket sales have raised over £150,000 for local charities. Young Hustlers provides performance opportunities and creative workshops for children and families.
Green’s Mill offers an action-packed ‘out-of-school’ learning experience at Green’s Windmill, a restored 19th Century tower mill in Sneinton. Nursery, reception or KS1 children can explore the windmill with a miller and bake their own delicious bread to take home using Green’s Mill flour.
Ignite! offers a range of STEM engagement activities, ranging from STEM workshops to science busking, setting up a Lab_13 in a school and after-school clubs and family fun days. They forge new partnerships to create exciting and engaging educational projects; and work internationally - in Nottingham, London, Europe and Africa.
Lakeside use current exhibitions, installations or productions as a stimulus for creative learning or curriculum-based workshops, Lakeside Learning Team deliver a range of workshops for all age groups and abilities. There are Summer Schools, opportunities for young people to work towards their Arts Award or Artsmark qualifications and CPD sessions for teachers.
Lit Theatre specialise in co-creating new theatre, cultural education and artist development, focused on year six transition, and story-telling for KS1. teachers are supported with classroom resource packs to extend children's learning. They're also an Arts Award Centre and Artsmark partner. Email to find out more.
Makers of Imaginary Worlds design and make immersive experiences and sensory performances, installations and storytelling spaces for children from birth to ten years.
Transforming live music for young audiences, MishMash productions have been producing and touring award-winning music-led performances since 2015. Their work champions high quality programming for children and young people through productions, school residency programmes, training pathways for musicians, digital developments and advocacy projects.
Based at Nottingham’s historic courthouse and County Gaol, the National Justice Museum provides an exciting insight into law, crime and justice. Students explore the 18th century museum with a facilitator, experiencing real contemporary and historical mock trials in the authentic setting of the Museums tow Victorian Courtrooms, 80 year old prison, original Georgian cells, exercise yard and medieval dungeons.
The National Literacy Trust has a Nottingham Hub aiming to improve early literacy skills and children's life chances, with literacy champions around the city and a host of projects working with families and schools. Find out more
New Art Exchange (NAE) is a ground-breaking, awardwinning and internationally recognised creative space in the heart of Hyson Green, Nottingham. They are dedicated to promoting excellence in culturally diverse contemporary arts through their exhibitions, events and engagement initiatives. (Image credit: Tom Morley)
Nonsuch believes Creativity is Power and produce a range of creative opportunities with communities and schools, as well as producing and directing large scale youth-led festivals and programmes across Nottinghamshire.
Noise Academy deliver creative workshops including DJing, music production and beatboxing. The sessions help students to engage at a social and emotional level, giving them the tools they need to reconnect with other parts of their lives.
There are 15 libraries around the city, many regularly host school visits and provide workshops, performances, activities and talks. Find your local library.
A variety of curriculum-based facilitated sessions for school pupils of all ages are offered across Nottingham Museums sites. Link to schools programme team: Learning & Education - Nottingham Museums.
Nottingham Contemporary has a changing exhibition programme with unique and immersive gallery spaces for schools to explore, sparkling imaginations, encouraging conversations and creative and critical thinking and offering exciting routes into subjects that extend far beyond the study of art itself. There are also resources to support emotional wellbeing, speaking and listening, creative writing, and ESOL. Link to Learning team pages:
This Festival takes place each year in February, providing ways of dynamising the STEM curriculum. There is an exciting schools’ programme, which includes pairing schools with scientists to lead activities: schools just need to get in touch
to get involved. Pupils can also develop their knowledge and skills by taking part in the Real Science in Schools Symposium at Nottingham Council House, sharing the science they have been exploring with their science-loving peers from schools across the city
Nottingham Music Service are committed to making music more accessible and inclusive. They support young people from across the city to develop their musical skills and participate in diverse ensembles and performances in partnership with schools.
Nottingham Playhouse welcomes children and young people to the theatre. Led by a member of the Playhouse participation Team, during backstage tours, students hear from professionals about what they do day-to-day and how their role contributes towards productions. Students see the paint shop, wardrobe and props department, as well as what it’s like to be on the main stage, with time for questions and answers at the end
The UNESCO City of Literature team work collaboratively with partner organisations to develop new writing talent and produce events and programmes to inspire young people. The Young Voices Amplified programme aims to engage with Year 9 students in schools through creative writing workshops with writers.
Positively Empowered Kids is dedicated to early intervention and prevention of mental ill health in children. The Youth Voice in Action Digital Democracy Initiative empowers young people to express views on the things that matter to them most, rate ideas, create priorities and form working groups. They become change-makers within their schools and communities through this digital democracy, community organising platform.
Positive Pants helps children to flourish and overcome everyday obstacles by guiding them to them to recognise, understand and acknowledge their through creative activities. Schools’ visits include author visits, workshops and assemblies to classes, or 1:1 Positive Mindset intervention.
Primary is an artist-led space that supports creative research through artist studios and residencies, public exhibitions and events.
Squire Performing Arts Centre is an exciting and ambitious new theatre in Nottingham. As part of our vision to nurture and develop artistic talent, we are now offering Technical Theatre workshops for young people in Key Stages 4 and 5.
Skate Nottingham gives free skate lessons where skateboarders receive training and certification to support and inspire others, and develops a range of projects including free photography workshops, independent skate video nights and ‘Skate & Create’ sessions.
TRCH is the Lead Theatre Partner in the RSC Associate School Programme in Nottingham, working with the RSC and the P6P to bring about a significant change in the way young people experience, engage with, and take ownership of the work of Shakespeare. Link to Creative Learning team:
Tom Dale Company create world-class, contemporary performance with dance and choreography at its core. By combining dance, electronic music and the digital arts, TDC is a leader in the field, producing work which is bold, exciting and constantly evolving
UKYA supports artists’ development and practice; celebrating creativity at national & international biennials. Their engagement manager sits on our Operations group and is dedicated to ensuring wider participation and supporting arts awards.
The University of Nottingham Museum offers Travelling Exhibitions for Key Stage 1 & 2; antique travelling trunks housing a treasure trove of artefacts, replicas, costumes, games and activities based on local historic sites. To hire for two weeks, contact Michelle Johnson, Museum Administrator, or call 0115 748 4950 or
The William Booth Birthplace Museum is dedicated to telling the story of William Booth, his wife Catherine, their family and their role in forming The Salvation Army.
Travel back in time to 1829 to discover the young man who became Nottingham’s most famous preacher and social welfare reformer, helping to found an international movement working in 128 countries today.
Writing East Midlands engages children and young people in creative writing projects and experiences.
They inspire and support young people from all backgrounds and age groups, with a love of creative writing. Through it’s creative programmes, young voices are engaged, developed and celebrated in positive and inspiring ways.
Established in 2009, the Young Creatives Awards aim to nurture and support the next generation of writers, musicians, designers, performers and thinkers. Developing and celebrating the creative talent of young people between the ages of 11 and 24 who live, work and study in Nottingham, the awards encourage participation in Dance, Digital Media, Creative Writing, Design, Visual Art, Fashion, Music, Film and Photography.
If you run or work for an arts organisation that supports children and young people's creativity in Nottingham, join ChalleNGe as an Arts Partner! You will be invited to quarterly Operations team meetings and we will involve you in our evaluation and learning activities. Get in touch with Cathy Mahmood.
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