Primary Arts

For children and staff in London’s primary schools and primary SEND settings

A New Direction’s new Primary Arts programme aims to increase access to high quality, inspiring arts, cultural and creative opportunities for children and staff in London’s state mainstream primary schools and primary SEND settings.

Delivered in partnership with 20 cultural organisations, our Primary Arts programme offers free opportunities for schools. It aims to unlock the creative potential, cultural capital and skills of teachers and children, offering opportunities to support wellbeing, confidence, personal interest and development.

Schools will be able to choose from the following strands and the programme. The entire programme is offered free of charge to schools.

Apply Now

Primary Arts In-Schools Touring programme and the winter season of Go & See are now closed for bookings for 2024/25. If you would like to be kept informed about next year's Touring programme and other opportunities (including the summer season of our Go & See programme), please sign up for our schools enewsletter.

  • In-Schools Touring: a choice of 10 arts performances and in-class workshops for your pupils, plus staff CPD, resources, creative materials, and books.
  • Go & See: free tickets for pupils to experience theatre, film and visual arts.
  • Masterclasses: CPD days for teachers exploring a range of creative approaches to literacy and reader development.
  • Come & Try: creative practical twilight sessions for all school staff.
  • Cultural Education Leadership Programme: for all London primary teachers ECT+1 and above interested in leading a change in their school's approach to arts, culture and creativity across all subject areas.

Primary Arts is supported by The City of London Corporation City Educational Trust Fund (29084), a City of London Corporation charity. We are extremely grateful to them for their support.

What's on offer?

Get involved

In-Schools Touring

Bringing high quality arts experiences into your school through performances and workshops

Masterclasses

A series of six full day CPD sessions delivered by creative literacy experts at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

Come & Try 

A series of six evening twilight sessions delivered by the Crafts Council, the national charity for craft.

Go & See

Offering a range of opportunities for pupils and their teachers to experience theatre and visual arts in London

Cultural Education Leadership Programme

For all London primary teachers ECT+1 and above interested in leading a change in their school's approach to arts, culture and creativity across all subject areas.