Join us for an energising day on 29 February 2024 at Leeds Playhouse, to learn, connect, be inspired and recharge.

The national Conference will provide opportunities to hear about incredible initiatives, best practice and fantastic events that have been happening in the sector and learn about the data, approaches and tools that can benefit your work.

Together we can help families and older people access arts and culture across the UK.

So what can you expect in this year’s programme? We will have keynote presentations, panel discussions, practical workshops, and creative spaces, in order to suit a range of learning needs.

We’ll be announcing our speakers and sessions throughout January, although places are limited so booking as soon as possible is advised.

Why Creativity and Culture Matters for Families

Joseph Coelho, Award-winning Poet, Playwright, Author and Waterstones Children’s Laureate

Join Joseph Coelho to discuss why access to creativity and culture is essential for children and families.

I’m A Teenager… Get Me Into There!

Led by:
Teresa Baggaley, Programme Manager for Training & Development, Curious Minds
Dr Stephanie Hawke, Head of Evaluation & Impact, Curious Minds

How do young people feel when they engage with our offer?
What barriers do they face and does this affect their likelihood to return?

In 2023, Curious Minds launched an online version of its training course I’m A Teenager Get Me Into There, which considers these questions. In this session we’ll explore elements of the course such as where our misperceptions of teenagers come from, and what teenagers say about their experiences of art and culture.

The teenage brain is still developing and we’ll encourage participants to consider what consequences this has for their approach to work with young people.

Creating representative content for families

Led by:
Chandni Mistry, Creative Programmes Practitioner, Curve Theatre

How can we make sure the work we create for families and participants can represent those in our communities? In this session, we’ll explore how to entice families, and create enjoyable and enriching experiences.

Questions we will work on:

• Where to start when creating work for families?
• What can we ask participants and ourselves as we make our work more representative?
• How can we use our professional and creative talents to bring the work to life

The Essential ‘A’s of Intergenerational Activities

Led by:
Louise Goulden, Founder & CEO, Together Project

Bringing different age groups together for shared creative activities has so many benefits – but there’s also lots to think about. In this interactive workshop, Louise will share insights, learnings and practical considerations born from her experience of growing a grassroots local project into a national intergenerational charity. 

The workshop will include:

• idea generation
• how to plan your activity
• making it a success
• pitfalls to watch out for
• inspirational case studies to motivate your work

Poverty Proofing© Arts & Culture for families

In this session will explore how poverty is defined, some of the causes and consequences of living in poverty. We will share information about Poverty Proofing© and how it can support settings in being more accessible to lower income families.

In this session, you will:

• Hear more about how you can Poverty Proof your work and the steps you will need to take
• Understand needs of families from low-income households and how you can support
• Inspiration for how you can make a difference to families in need

Growing with your audience
– the importance of data to build participation

Led by:
Lowri Jones, Senior Consultant, Spektrix
Lauren Watson, Client Success Lead, Spektrix

In this session we’ll be taking a look at some of the different approaches arts organisations take to engage with their communities and how data plays an important part in developing those relationships.

Learn how to effectively track and report on the impact you are having with participants new and old and how the use of CRM tools can help to increase efficiency and engagement. You’ll come away with a bunch of actionable takeaways to implement at your organisation, no matter the size of your team or CRM system.

Celebrating Similarities Through Story

Led by:
Richard O’Neill, International award winning Author, Storyteller and Creative Lead at Seven Stories the National centre for children’s books

Discover how storytelling, when wielded skilfully, becomes a dynamic tool for accelerating rapport in various contexts, be it during crucial meetings, crafting compelling funding bids, or expanding your reach to new audiences.

Participants will delve into the art of creating profound connections and fostering positive collaborations.

• • Learn practical techniques to infuse storytelling into your professional interactions. 
  • Gain insights into the art of crafting narratives that resonate across diverse audiences. 
  • Explore the transformative impact of storytelling in enhancing collaboration and rapport. 

  • Celebrate the common threads of our shared human experiences through the art of storytelling. 

A Space for Me – A creative space to reflect and recharge

Facilitator:
Alison Curry, Dispel Arts

An opportunity to connect, create and reflect with others, who share your passion and enthusiasm for equitable connected, creative opportunities for all.

A space for acknowledgement and affirmation of your contributions to the creative fabric countrywide.

Throughout the day, together, via collaborative or independent creative endeavors you will have the opportunity to connect and celebrate with connections old and new affirming the notion that no matter what is occurring elsewhere in other projects and communities there is always ‘A Space for You’ and that your creative voice matters.

PLUS more Key Notes, Panel Discussions and sessions on…

Understanding and supporting vulnerable families

Supporting families who require additional support

Families at risk of exclusion

Improving age-friendly practices

Empowering your role in Family Arts

Latest research on early years engagement

Leeds Playhouse, 29 February 2024

Accessibility:

The Venue

We are delighted to be hosting our event at Leeds Playhouse, a venue committed to offering a welcoming and accessible experience for its visitors. You can find out more about the accessibility of the building here and photographs of key spaces here. The conference will be making use of the following areas: Courtyard Theatre, Bramall Rock Void, Brooke Room, City Room, Weston Room, Multi-faith reflection room, Level One Balcony & PLAYhouse corner, Level One Terrace Bar, Playhouse Kitchen & Bar.

The Programme

We want to ensure the conference is accessible for everyone and we’ll be releasing a detailed conference programme in due course. To enable you to book with confidence, we’ll be including the following in our conference programme:

• A quiet space, available to all delegates at any point during the conference.
• A multi-faith reflection space, available to all delegates (and staff or visitors to the Playhouse) at any point during the conference.
• A creative networking space, with a range of self-led creative activities on offer, available to all delegates at any point during the conference.
• A variety of large group presentation style and smaller participatory style breakouts to choose from.
• Regular breaks throughout the programme schedule which include a catered lunch as well as tea, coffee and refreshments throughout the day.

We are committed to providing bespoke support for accessibility requirements wherever possible, this could be anything from a BSL interpreter or hearing loop provision, a water bowl for your guide dog or sending you a photo of a named member of the team who you can locate on the day, for any support you may need. When booking online there’s the option to tell us about any access needs you may have, but if you would like to discuss your needs with us in person, or have any access questions please email Anna Dever, Executive Director of Family Arts Campaign on anna.dever@thealbany.org.uk.

The Fantastic for Families Awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families across the UK.

Now in its tenth year, the Fantastic For Families Awards is an annual programme celebrating the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families and older audiences across the UK.

The annual awards programme is open to UK based cultural organisations or cultural activity organisers, providing creative opportunities, activities, or initiatives for families and older audiences.

This year’s awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of family arts professionals in supporting both families and older audiences, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised.

Tickets are free but booking a ticket is necessary to confirm your place.

Access information will be emailed to ticket holders before the event. Please contact Anna at anna.dever@thealbany.org.uk if you have any access needs you would like us to be aware of.

Fantastic For Families Awards are given by Family Arts Campaign, the national Investment Principles Support Organisation for arts engagement and families, funded by Arts Council England.

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Thanks to support from our sponsors, we’re able to offer a limited number of bursaries for the 2024 Family Arts Campaign Conference.

Bursaries help make our events more affordable for individuals and organisations who might not otherwise be able to get involved, as well as supporting those who are under-represented in the arts and cultural sector workforce to attend.

The Family Arts Conference 2024 will take place at Leeds Playhouse on 29 February, where we’ll be exploring how we can ensure opportunities for arts and culture are accessible for all families. You can find out more on the Family Arts Conference Page, including information about our commitment to accessibility.

Our bursaries aim to support: 

• Those who face barriers due to ethnicity, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation (LGBTQIA+). These spaces are part of our wider work towards creating a more inclusive sector. 

And / Or:

• Those for whom cost is a prohibitive factor to attend the conference. We want to support the organisations and individuals who are struggling during the cost of living crisis to continue their professional development by joining the conference.  

Bursary recipients will receive a significantly discounted ticket (£15 instead of full price) to attend the conference. 

To apply for a Conference Bursary, please complete the Bursary Application Form by 5pm on Thursday 2 November 2023.  

If you need support to complete this form or need this information in an alternative format please email anna.dever@thealbany.org.uk.

What actions can you take to make your work more inclusive and relevant?
Discover how you can better understand families’ needs. Learn about partnership projects, dive into the data with research insights, and explore what you can do to ensure families most in need are able to be part of quality creative experiences.

How can you build a network to support and improve your work?
The Family Arts Conference 2024 will give you the opportunity to connect with others who want to make a difference to the family arts landscape. You’ll have the chance to network, make meaningful connections, and discover what wider support is available to you.

What fantastic work has been happening in the sector?
Hear from peers making a big impact; discover incredible initiatives, brilliant activities and out-of-the-box thinking to support underserved families. Whilst the Conference aims to get you thinking, we’ll also be sharing practical resources and opportunities to inspire your work further.

Take time to look at your work from afar, consider your next move, generate ideas, reconnect with others and recharge with some creative activity of your own.

Schedule:

Arrival and registration will take place from 10.30am. Speakers and workshops will be from 11am – 5.30pm.

Is the event for you?

Are you working to engage family and/or older audiences with arts and cultural activities and initiatives? Or are you a support service for families and/or older audiences, curious about how arts and culture can play a part in your work? Then this event is for you!

Whether you’re a programmer, marketer, leader, practitioner, maker or working in community outreach or service provision, the Family Arts Conference is designed to support your work. The Conference Programme will be relevant to representatives from across the family support and cultural sectors, including museums and libraries.

Programme

Click through to our Programme Announcements Page to discover what’s been revealed of the programme so far. The full programme will include opportunities for find out more about:

• How you can use data to understand and grow your family audiences
• How to understand similarities, as well as the differences families share
• Understanding and supporting vulnerable families
• Developing intergenerational work and how to bring very young and older participants together
• Supporting families who require additional support
• Families at risk of exclusion
• Improving age-friendly practices
• Best practice for engaging with teenagers
• Empowering your role in Family Arts
• Latest research on early years engagement

…and much, much more!

We will have keynote presentations, panel discussions, practical workshops, and creative spaces, in order to suit a range of learning needs.

Learn – Find out more about latest research, and practical advice to support your work with families.

Connect – Meet with hundred of fellow professionals, all passionate about working with families.

Inspire – You’ll hear about brilliant case studies and practical advice to help you develop even better work and connections with families.

Recharge – Working in the cultural sector is rewarding, but of course, it can be incredibly challenging. We want to provide you with space throughout the day to not only learn, but also reflect on your own role and practice within the cultural sector. Whether that’s through painting, clay modelling or creative reflection, we’ll provide fun and inspiring activities throughout the day!

Tickets:

• Freelance / Small Org* Ticket: £150
• Standard Ticket: £225
  
• Team Ticket Bundles: Choose a bundle to receive a £25 discount on your extra Standard Tickets.**
  

*Small organisations are any classed as a “micro entity” by HMRC (e.g. has 10 or fewer employees)
**Team Tickets are only eligible for colleagues working for the same organisation. If you are freelance or a small organisation (10 or less employees) please purchase a Freelance / Small Org* ticket for the best discount.

Tickets are subject to booking fees. Tickets are limited so booking as soon as possible is advised.

Booking Terms and Conditions

The deadline for Bursary application has now passed (5pm on Thursday 2 November). Find out more information on our Bursary page.

Accessibility:

The Venue

We are delighted to be hosting our event at Leeds Playhouse, a venue committed to offering a welcoming and accessible experience for its visitors. You can find out more about the accessibility of the building here and photographs of key spaces here. The conference will be making use of the following areas: Courtyard Theatre, Bramall Rock Void, Brooke Room, City Room, Weston Room, Multi-faith reflection room, Level One Balcony & PLAYhouse corner, Level One Terrace Bar, Playhouse Kitchen & Bar.

The Programme

We want to ensure the conference is accessible for everyone and we’ll be releasing a detailed conference programme in due course. To enable you to book with confidence, we’ll be including the following in our conference programme:

• A quiet space, available to all delegates at any point during the conference.
• A multi-faith reflection space, available to all delegates (and staff or visitors to the Playhouse) at any point during the conference.
• A creative networking space, with a range of self-led creative activities on offer, available to all delegates at any point during the conference.
• A variety of large group presentation style and smaller participatory style breakouts to choose from.
• Regular breaks throughout the programme schedule which include a catered lunch as well as tea, coffee and refreshments throughout the day.

We are committed to providing bespoke support for accessibility requirements wherever possible, this could be anything from a BSL interpreter or hearing loop provision, a water bowl for your guide dog or sending you a photo of a named member of the team who you can locate on the day, for any support you may need. When booking online there’s the option to tell us about any access needs you may have, but if you would like to discuss your needs with us in person, or have any access questions please email Anna Dever, Executive Director of Family Arts Campaign on anna.dever@thealbany.org.uk.

The Board is responsible for steering and supporting Family Arts Campaign to deliver and develop its strategy as part of Arts Council England’s Let’s Create national portfolio.

The Campaign’s mission is to work with arts providers across the UK to help every child and family access arts and culture. Each board member brings valuable skills and experience to support the campaign’s strategic work and advise on the development of the Campaign’s programmes, projects and activities.

Elaine is pleased to join the Family Arts Campaign’s Board at the beginning of the Campaign’s new journey. From April 2023, our organisation began operating as an independent company, and as one of Arts Council England’s Investment Principle Support Organisations

Elaine shared with us what it means to her to join the Board: 

“I’m extremely honoured to join FAC board at this important time in its development. Together we will be able to make significant changes on a national level for many organisations.”

Elaine believes arts experiences should be accessible to all, and her work supports theatre professionals to welcome diverse audiences. Her previous projects have included managing a unique family arts programme ‘Family First Nights’ at Go Live Theatre Projects for 16 years which had an important impact on family theatre-going for thousands of families across Greater London and the South East. 

The incredible impact the arts can have on families and young people is something Elaine feels passionate about. From the positive effect it can have on mental health for people of all ages, to the dreams it can inspire and the meaningful experiences it provides.

“Arts for families is important because everyone deserves access to high quality live experiences! Arts for families can be life-changing for the whole family, it enhances well-being and creates long lasting memories and can be aspirational for the young people and their futures.”

Zoe is excited by the national scope of the Campaign and the potential to have a big impact on how families access creative and cultural experience and improve inclusivity:

“There is such a lot of amazing, inclusive practice in the sector, but the need for creativity is greater than ever—with arts subjects being stripped from our school system and the impact of a decade of austerity, there are increasing numbers of children who have no access to creativity in any sphere of their lives.

As a sector we should be more explicit about the structural challenges that prevent families from accessing creative activity—structural racism, the impact of austerity, ableism—and how we can work to overcome and dismantle these. I’d like to see more guidance on audience segmentation and audience development for priority family audiences—we need to see a more targeted approach in order to shape an offer that is truly for everyone.”

Creative and collaborative work with families has always been important to Zoe professionally but becoming a parent has made this much more personal. She shared: “I will never forget the magic of seeing my sometimes-shy toddler make her way to the middle of the stage at the Half Moon Theatre and sit herself between the performers, completely transfixed.

My experience of taking my daughter to museums, galleries and theatres has also brought home how vulnerable you can feel as a new parent and made me more keenly aware of the privilege that allows me to access cultural spaces with relative ease. I’ve thought a lot about what we can do to make all families feel at home in cultural spaces— like a warm and inclusive welcome, free snacks or a quiet chill-out space away from a busy workshop. It can make all the difference.”

Find out who else is on the Family Arts Campaign Board on our Team Page and stay up to day with Family Arts Campaign news by subscribing to our newsletter.

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Did you provide incredible arts activities, events or initiatives for families or older people from April 2022 – March 2023? Did your work have a positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of your community? We want to hear from you!

The Fantastic for Families Awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families of all ages across the UK.

Each year, the Awards recognise and champion the achievements of family arts providers and the ways their work enriches the lives of families and older people. From artists and producers to venues and touring companies, we want to hear from everyone involved in creating and delivering family arts across the UK!

Fantastic for Families Awards are given by the Family Arts Campaign, a national initiative to improve access and creative opportunities for families. Family Arts Campaign is an Investment Principle Support Organisation within Arts Council England’s national portfolio.

Following shortlisting, entries will be judged by an expert panel of arts professionals. Awards will be presented in a virtual ceremony in November 2023.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

Best Family Arts Activity

This category focuses on family arts activities. This award celebrates families’ overall enjoyment, the quality of the content provided and the suitability for family audiences and participants of all ages.

Best Age-Friendly Outreach

This category recognises outreach approaches, such as support or programming, provided specifically for older people. This could be through participation in age-friendly activities, events, supplying creative resources, or broader forms of support and outreach.

Audience Impact and Innovation Award

This category recognises the achievements of creative organisations or cultural event organisers who have demonstrated innovation and adaptability to reach and make a difference to families in need.

Full criteria for each award is detailed in the application form, along with further information about supporting material and the application process. A large print application form is available here. 

You may apply for more than one award category in your application but each organisation may only submit one entry per category. For example, you may apply for both Best Family Arts Activity and Audience Impact and Innovation Award but may only submit one entry for each of these awards. 

Applications and supporting material should be emailed to info@fantasticforfamilies.com. Please note the deadline for applications has been extended to 6pm on Monday 31 July 2023.

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