for children’s rights to the arts on equal terms with everyone else
Connecting
all those with a personal or professional commitment to the importance of the arts in children’s lives
Celebrating
the quality and variety of children’s arts in the UK
“Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” Article 31, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Click here for our Manifesto – Children’s Arts, Children’s Lives.
Action for Children’s Arts is the only UK charity supporting all the arts for all children.
Michelle Magorian,Sir Alan Ayckbourn,Malorie Blackman,Joanna McGregor and Lynne Reid Banks are just a few of our Patrons. Click here to see them all.
“This country’s children are our jewels. Without adequate Arts funding much of their childhood will remain locked away. Let’s expose them to the light, so that like the gems that they are, they can do what all children do when they are given the chance to be creative. Sparkle.” Michelle Magorian
If you support our aims, you can support ACA by:
becoming a member – click here to found out how much it costs and how you can benefit
making a donation – as much or as little as you want, using the link at the foot of the page.
The Henley Review of Cultural Education was published at the beginning of March.
Like most people, we welcome the support that Henley gives to the importance of culture in children’s lives and in their schooling. But we think that he has pulled some of his punches and missed some opportunities.
We have sent our response to Michael Gove at the Department for Education and to Ed Vaizey at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Children up to the age of 12 make up 15% of the population, yet Freedom of Information requests made by ACA show that little more than 1% of public funding for the arts is aimed at children.
Our conference will ask what can be done to ensure that the arts are able to make their unique and vital contribution to the well-being of all children – and will suggest some practical answers.
“The true measure of a nation’s standing is how well it attends to its children.” UNICEF
We hope you will be able to join us and our line-up of distinguished speakers, including AILEEN CAMPBELL MSP, Minister for Children & Young People, Scottish Government, MAGGIE ATKINSON, Children’s Commissioner for England, SHARON HODGSON MP, Shadow Minister for Children & Families, video address by SIR KEN ROBINSON and closing speech by MICHAEL MORPURGO.
PLUS other speakers including Dr Pam Burnard (Cambridge University), Elaine Hindal (Director, Campaign for Children, Children’s Society), Dr Roger Morgan OBE (Children’s Rights Director, England), Mike Kenny (dramatist), Tony Reekie (Director, Imaginate), Kate Cross (Director, the egg), Will Brenton (Wish Films), Penny Hay (Director, 5x5x5=creativity), Rhian Hutchings (Director, WNO MAX), Jocelyn Stevenson (Children’s Media Foundation) and ACA Patrons Lynne Reid Banks and Peter Duncan.
DISABILITY ARTS FOR CHILDREN 12 October 2012 Polka Theatre, London
Drawing on practice from a wide range of artforms, the day will explore three main themes: creating work for children with special needs, creating work for children on the subject of disability and special needs, working with disabled artists who create work for children. More details coming soon.
CIRCUS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY AUDIENCES
Our last Inspiration Day was held at Circus Space on 25 October 2011. Click here for a full report, click here for the video.
CHILDREN’S MEDIA CONFERENCE
Our members are eligible for a great discount at this year’s The Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield (Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th July).
From 12 May up until the conference our members can get a discounted pass of £210+ VAT, a saving of £75 + VAT on the full rate.
Lane Merrifield is opening the conference with the keynote speech at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on the evening of Wednesday 4 July. Lane is one of the three co-founders of Disney’s Club Penguin, the world’s largest online playground for children, and he’s currently Executive Vice President of Disney Online Studios, responsible for all Disney’s virtual worlds.
The Children’s Media Conference will be welcoming 800 delegates from radio, TV, interactive media, games, licensing, toys, book and magazine publishing, and arts and museums – with speakers from all those sectors and beyond.
There’ll be great conference content and great networking opportunities at this year’s CMC. These few intensive days in Sheffield provide a unique forum where people and companies can learn from each other to better engage with the kids’ audience.
