Arts Connect

21/06/2026

Arts Connect are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been highly commended in the 2026’s NSEAD Awards! 🥳

This commendation is in recognition of our visual art projects, programmes, CPD and research in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The formally recognise who champion our subject, push boundaries and empower change within the sector.

Read more about what we do on our website and how we could work with you: https://artsconnect.co.uk/

16/06/2026

👉Please support our friends by completing the: AccessArt Education Survey 2026 👈

The AccessArt Education Survey 2026 seeks to build a clearer picture of the current state of art education in England, drawing on the experiences and perspectives of teachers, school leaders, and professionals working across the creative and cultural sectors.
Your participation will help us identify key issues, opportunities and priorities facing arts education today. The evidence gathered will strengthen our campaigning and advocacy work, helping us make the case for every child and young person to have access to a rich and meaningful visual arts education.

By sharing your views, you will help ensure that the concerns, experiences and aspirations of those who value arts education are heard and represented in national conversations about education and culture.

Whatever your role, your voice matters.

https://www.accessart.org.uk/the-accessart-education-survey-2026/

All completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 voucher for art materials.

Deadline 24.06.26 5pm

The AccessArt Education Survey 2026 AccessArt is launching its biggest-ever survey to help drive positive change in arts education.As a Subject Association for Art and a Registered Charity, we take seriously our responsibility to champion the value of a rich visual arts education for all. To do that...

18/05/2026

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK!

🙌“My takeaway from today is a pathway that moves us on from where we are now as a school.”🙌
📢Arts Connect Creativity in the Classroom Art CPD for Schools: Developing an Ambitious Art Curriculum📢

📅 Friday 22 May
🕰️9.30am-3.30pm
🏢Wolverhampton School of Art
💷£95 (Refreshments provided on welcome, please bring your own lunch).
👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓Student Discount available (details on website)

Our Arts CPD for Schools programme is designed for primary teachers of all stages of experience and expertise and offers practical CPD workshops led by leading art educators.
Our workshops have been tailored to your teacher curriculum needs and experience and are in person for the full school day.

Book your place now! 👇

https://artsconnect.co.uk/art-cpd-schools-progression-developing-ambitious-art-curriculum/

12/05/2026

📢TEACHERS! SPEND THIS SATURDAY WITH ARTIST BLACK COUNTRY TYPE! 📢
Grab your free tickets now

🎨"BOYS IMPACT IN ART" FREE ART CPD 🎨
FOR PRIMARY, SECONDARY, FE and HE teachers of art
🏫Wolverhampton School of Art
📅Saturday 16th May
🕰️10-2pm
💷FREE

'Boys Impact in Art’ is our new programme for secondary art teachers to explore and research approaches to improving the engagement and achievement of boys in art, running in five secondary schools in the Black Country.

We're opening up our 'Boys Impact Art' CPD workshops to those outside of the programme so that we can share learning and expertise and grow a network of art educators who are keen to lead change in their classrooms that supports boys and young men to thrive.
Join us at this workshop led by artist Tom Hicks AKA Black Country Type.

Find out more and book 👇
https://artsconnect.co.uk/cpd-boys-impact-in-art/

12/05/2026

📢"BOYS IMPACT IN ART" FREE CPD WITH ARTIST BLACK COUNTRY TYPE📢
FOR PRIMARY, SECONDARY, FE and HE teachers of art🎨

🏫Wolverhampton School of Art
📅Saturday 16th May
🕰️10-2pm
💷FREE

'Boys Impact in Art’ is our new programme for secondary art teachers to explore and research approaches to improving the engagement and achievement of boys in art, running in five secondary schools in the Black Country.

We're opening up our 'Boys Impact Art' CPD workshops to those outside of the programme so that we can share learning and expertise and grow a network of art educators who are keen to lead change in their classrooms that supports boys and young men to thrive.

Join us at this workshop led by artist Tom Hicks AKA Black Country Type.

Find out more and book 👇
https://artsconnect.co.uk/cpd-boys-impact-in-art/

11/05/2026

🙌“My takeaway from today is a pathway that moves us on from where we are now as a school.”🙌

📢Arts Connect Creativity in the Classroom Art CPD for Schools: Developing an Ambitious Art Curriculum📢
📅 Friday 22 May
🕰️9.30am-3.30pm
🏢Wolverhampton School of Art
💷£95 (Refreshments provided on welcome, please bring your own lunch).
👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓Student Discount available (details on website)

Our Arts CPD for Schools programme is designed for primary teachers of all stages of experience and expertise and offers practical CPD workshops led by leading art educators.
Our workshops have been tailored to your teacher curriculum needs and experience and are in person for the full school day.
Book your place now!
https://artsconnect.co.uk/art-cpd-schools-progression.../

06/05/2026

🙌“Inspiring! Rewarding! Fun!” 🙌
🙌“Great practical ideas.” 🙌
🙌“My takeaway from today is a pathway that moves us on from where we are now as a school.”🙌
Just some of the wonderful things teachers who have been to our Art CPD for primary teachers, have been saying about our workshops! 🥰
So, what are you waiting for? Book today!

📢Developing an Ambitious Art Curriculum📢
📅 Friday 22 May
🕰️9.30am-3.30pm
🏢Wolverhampton School of Art
💷£95 (Refreshments provided on welcome, please bring your own lunch).
👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓Student Discount available (details on website)

Our Arts CPD for Schools programme is designed for primary teachers of all stages of experience and expertise and offers practical CPD workshops led by leading art educators.
Our workshops have been tailored to your teacher curriculum needs and experience and are in person for the full school day.

Book your place now!
https://artsconnect.co.uk/art-cpd-schools-progression-developing-ambitious-art-curriculum/
More about the programme:👇
The Arts Connect Creativity in the Classroom – Art CPD for Schools programme is designed for primary teachers of all stages and offers a range of practical CPD workshops led by leading art educators.

Our final workshop for this year is Developing an Ambitious Art Curriculum, it's for primary Art Leads and those who are responsible for curriculum design and leading colleagues in its implementation.

We’ll explore: What is an ambitious curriculum? How can it enable progression and encourage creative expression? And we’ll look at the practicalities including affordable resources, materials and where to start.

05/05/2026

🎉🎉We are absolutely delighted that everyone now has access to: 👉'Towards a framework for care-full teacher learning: stories from the British art show professional development programme' an article by Professor Pat Thomson and Dr Rebecca Coles which references their research: 'Practices of Care: Teacher Responses to Arts Connect’s Professional Development Programmes', research that is based upon their review of the impact of our work with art teachers through a programme of innovative Continuing Professional Development and Learning (CPDL) inspired by contemporary art practice.

Our Education Producer Becky Thompson said:
"I'm incredibly proud of this report as it recognises the impact of the work that we are doing with teachers and art galleries to bring new and exciting contemporary art teaching practices into the classroom. The teachers we collaborate with work so hard to create the best opportunities that they can for their students and they deserve our support, care and appreciation."

Read the article here 👇

The education system in England can arguably be characterised as care-less. Art teachers, for example, are rarely offered opportunities to acquire subject-specific knowledges. This paper reports on...