Our Partners

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.

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!  Bulwell Arts Festival 

Bilborough Arts Festival   Wollaton Festival 

Sherwood Art Week 

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.

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.

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. 

Read on Nottingham improves early literacy skills and children's life chances, with literacy champions around the city and a host of projects working with families and schools. We are working together this year on developing Nottingham's Year of Stories.

Schools and other education providers are warmly welcomed to New Art Exchange and invited to take part in a lively programme of activities that act as a stimulus for creative learning: students are encouraged to engage with current issues through discussion as well as practical art activity. Many sessions are cross-curricular with Geography, History, Citizenship, and PSHE. 

Next Door Dance currently run 3 youth companies across Nottingham and Derbyshire developing contemporary dance technique and creativity. They offer a number of opportunities and projects for young people to be involved in throughout the year.

Nonsuch runs Youth Theatre workshops, schools projects and city-wide young producers programmes.  They have new Studios in the city centre, bringing music, comedy and theatre performances. 

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 

There are 15 libraries around the city, many regularly host school visits and provide workshops, performances, activities and talks. 

Find your local library.

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: 

Nottingham Music Hub 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.