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
This Spring, ACA are completing the Arts Backpack with two 'Sharing and Development days. Day One at the Adam Smith Theatre in Fife for teachers and artists involved in both parts of the Fife Backpack; Day Two at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh for representatives from all of the Arts Backpack projects across the UK. Watch this space for a full report.
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.
Arts Backpack Access Fund
Donate today to ensure that every child can access the arts. Your donation could fund a ticket, a workshop, or some teacher training.
Listening to Children
We have been working with children from across the UK to tailor the pilots to their wants and needs.
Feasibility Study
We commissioned Michael Judge, Richard Freeman and Kate Regester to produce an Arts Backpack Feasibility Study in 2018.
"The arts may reflect our society, or stir the imagination but unless we can relate to them on a fundamental level they will not become a part of our lives. The Arts Backpack might be the needed bridge."
- Jenny Agutter, ACA Patron
Arts Backpack Funders
