Booking now live for Primary Arts!

25 September 2024

A New Direction is delighted to launch Primary Arts today, a new creative, cultural programme for London primary schools which aims to increase access to high quality, inspiring arts, cultural and creative opportunities for children and staff in London’s state primary schools and primary SEND settings - and the best part is the entire programme is offered free of charge!


The programme has five strands, with activity already underway with our second cohort of teachers embarking on the Cultural Education Leadership Programme. The other four strands of Primary Arts begin activity from November 2024 and can be booked using our online platform.


In-School Touring

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This year your school can enjoy a free performance in-school for the whole of one year group from one of our 10 creative partners: Animate Arts, Arvon, Clowns Without Borders, Conductive Music, Embracing Arts, emma + pj, LAStheatre, Mbilla Arts, Musiko Musika or The Postal Museum. All opportunities take place between March and May and are supported by an in-school workshop for pupils, teacher CPD, books, materials and classroom resources.

Find out more about In-Schools Touring


Masterclasses

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For school staff, we’re delighted to offer opportunities to support professional development. In partnership with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, we’re offering a series of six free Masterclasses, between November and July, focusing on creative approaches to reader development. The masterclasses will focus on planning creatively using texts, visual literacy, fostering a culture of reading for pleasure, and poetry.

Find out more about Masterclasses


Come & Try

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To support staff wellbeing, we are offering a series of free hands-on twilight workshops with the Crafts Council, between November and July, to explore a variety of areas of craft such as pottery and textiles for your own interest and enjoyment.

No prior experience is needed for any of these sessions, which will be suitable for complete beginners as well as for those interested in rekindling past interests. We aim for these sessions to be fun, supportive and enjoyable, as well as beneficial to your creative classroom practice.

Find out more about Come & Try


Go & See

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​Through our range of creative partners, you can take your class to amazing cultural experiences for free, during our Winter 2024 and/or Summer 2025 season from music, theatre and dance to galleries, museums and heritage sites, both locally and in Central London.

Partners include: Brixton House, Greenwich Theatre, Little Angel Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Stratford East and Frameless. Support with transport costs is available for SEND settings.

Find out more about Go & See


We expect places for Primary Arts to book up quickly, so we encourage you to sign up promptly to secure your place. We hope to welcome you and your class to our Primary Arts pilot programme. If you have any questions, please contact schools@anewdirection.org.uk.

Download full brochure