For International Day of Education, we’re taking a look at the ways our Learning and Engagement team has been pushing the boundaries of what teaching and educating can look like. Keep reading to find out more about how we’re using the arts to empower and inspire the young people who visit our venues.
Written by Aaron Cawood and Learning and Engagement Administrator Sophie Ashley
“Some of the curriculum can’t be taught through the arts!”
While working through every aspect of a curriculum, it can seem easy to draw a line between arts subjects and STEM subjects. Through our workshops and tours, our team has been exploring the ways that the two can be used collaboratively, which has included running Continuing Professional Development days with teachers to expand the use of drama and performance skills in the classroom every day.
As well as history-based workshops exploring the background of our three venues, our Learning and Engagement team has spent time developing school workshops that apply the curriculum to our real-world case study; theatre and the arts.
“Learning about theatre is only for people who want to perform!”
Despite common misconceptions, there’s a large variation of job opportunities in and around the arts. A theatre is a good location for careers education as a whole, not just to learn about performing roles. As well as embracing the power of the performing arts, our team has also spent time showcasing non-performing roles across our venues, in a way that educates and inspires young people.
“It’s more productive to control creativity in the classroom!”
While it’s sometimes as if overly creative students should be expected to dull their sparkle to work well in class, we are continually exploring the ways that creativity can be embraced and used as a learning tool. We have been able to observe the progress of young people aged 7-11 and how drama exercises help them to develop key skills for life, further proving the importance of play and the opportunity to be creative in terms of young people’s development. Supporting young people’s confidence to perform helps them to improve the social element of their lives in all sorts of future contexts.
At Hyde Park Picture House we’re inviting young people aged 7-11 to take part in an Animation Workshop, where we’ll be providing an accessible introduction to the art of animation in collaboration with Leeds Animation Workshop – a women’s collective set up in 1978 to produce and distribute animated films on social issues, who have been giving workshops to beginners of all ages for over 40 years.
Through the creative use of drama games and techniques, LHT Unwrapped: Drama Day invites ages 8-11 to Leeds Grand Theatre to expand their imagination and confidence. From improvisation to script work, this is an opportunity for budding creatives to throw themselves into a safe and collaborative environment and learn in the process.
In collaboration with Circus Leeds, our LHT Unwrapped: Circus Skills workshop gives young people aged 8-14 the chance to learn about specialised skills like clowning and balancing acts. With a focus on mastering new skills, making friends and learning something new, we’re bringing the incomparable joy of the circus to Leeds Grand Theatre.
Leeds Heritage Theatres Engagement Fund
Every year, we work with over 10,000 young people across the city, in schools, youth groups and other sessions to help them build skills, confidence and pride through our creative learning and engagement programme. All donations to this fund will help us to continue our work and reach more people across the Leeds City Region.
