About the Arts Backpack

On Saturday 4 August 2018, Action for Children’s Arts launched the Arts Backpack UK at the National Theatre. This is a project which ensures that every primary school child in the UK has at least five quality cultural experiences in the school year.

'Sharing and Development' days - Spring 2024

ACA produced a 'Sharing and Development day' at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh for representatives from all of the Arts Backpack projects across the UK..

Fife Part Two

We completed the second-phase of the Fife pilot in June 2023 with the support of Creative Scotland, Fife Council and the Robertson Trust.

Click here to read the evaluation.

Leicester Pilot

In September 2022 we began piloting the Arts Backpack with three primary schools in Leicester in partnership with Attenborough Arts Centre. This pilot is being supported by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, Aviva Community Fund and the Mighty Creatives.

Click here to read the evaluation.

Click here to download our November update.

Belfast Pilot

From January - June 2022 we piloted the Arts Backpack with five primary school classes in Belfast, in partnership with Young at Art. The schools we worked in were: Ballysillan Primary, St Matthews, Nettlefield Primary and Cliftonville Primary.

Click here to download the evaulation.

Click here for the mid-project update.

We are grateful to Arts Council Northern Ireland for supporting this pilot.

Fife Pilot

From November 2020 - March 2021 we piloted the Arts Backpack in six Fife primary schools. We worked with ten teachers and around 200 children. The schools we worked in were: Cowdenbeath Primary School, Kelty Primary School, Benarty Primary School, Hill of Beath Primary School, Fulford Primary School, and Cardenden Primary School. We are grateful to Fife Council and the Haberdasher's Company for supporting the first pilot.

Click here to download the evaluation.

Click here to download the February 2021 update.

Click here to download the November 2020 update.

Click here to download the October 2020 update.

If you would prefer to access our documents in large print or audio described, click here for our accessible content library.

Scotland Residency Week 2024 (Hill of Beath Primary School)

As a conclusion to the Arts Backpack Projects in Scotland, the ACA Team and a group of artists delivered a week long residency at Hill of Beath Primary School in rural Fife from 17th-21st June 2024. Working with P1, P3 and P6 classes, the children were fully immersed in a week of artistic creativity and play. Daily workshops were delivered in dance and movement by Yolanda Aguilar from Dundee based Shaper/Caper, Art with flag making workshops from local artist Hazel Terry and Drama workshops from Suzie Bell from Glasgow based performance company Visible Fictions. Daily workshops in drama and storytelling were also facilitated by Vicky Ireland who introduced the children to stories from Greek mythology.

Alongside these visiting artists, Composer Kenny Forrest was in residence to deliver daily music workshops alongside Creative Director and lead teaching artist Janet Robertson. Each afternoon the children were immersed in music and were taught a song, composed exclusively for the project by Kenny and Janet entitled 'I am Child'.

For some of these children this was their first experience taking part in the creative arts; it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and confidence develop and grow throughout the week. Watching the children gradually move into the spotlight, perform and finally sing a solo in front of the entire group, was a joy to behold.

The week was recorded in its entirety by filmmaker Graeme O'Hara of Bob's Trainset. This final film will premiere the song 'I am Child' and capture the creative journey of the week. The film will premiere at the J.M. Barrie Awards this November at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

The week culminated in a day with the children professionally recording their song at SubStation recording studio in Rosyth. It was inspiring for the children to gain insight into 'behind the scenes' action in a studio and to understand the process of live recording. They are all incredibly excited to see and hear the outcome of their hard work!

ACA received incredibly positive feedback from Maureen Lewis, Headteacher at Hill of Beath, School:

I just wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of the children, parents and staff of Hill of Beath Primary School for all your hard work and enthusiasm in delivering our 'Backpack Bonanza' ... I knew it would be good; and I knew it would inspire staff and delight children/parents - but this exceeded all my expectations. I thought I might have had to persuade staff to embrace potential gains and to promote a flexible approach, but not so. Along with the Team, you added colourful costumes, made the pupils' singing spectacular, made their dancing dynamic and made their confidence soar... I can't wait to see the film, but I already have all the evidence I need to know that you gave our little school an experience that will create life-long memories for those involved...

This residency was a wonderful week for ACA, the artists and the children alike. Thank you for having us Hill of Beath Primary and allowing us to 'takeover' your school!

"WITH ARTS AT THE START,
I WILL FIND MY HEART
LOOK AND SEE, I AM ME, I AM CHILD"

Arts Backpack Funders