Skip page header and navigation

Our work

Our work

We’re here to help every child experience creativity where they live, go to school, and choose to spend their free time. 

We do this by working with the Department for Education, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, cultural organisations and artists, schools, cultural partners, broadcasters, local authorities, Higher and Further Education institutions and other partners.

Since 2016, with the Department for Education we have invested £650 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. The largest investment has been made by the Department for Education for Music Education Hubs (£541 million since 2016). Explore these pages to find out more about the other programmes we support.

We invest public funds in a National Portfolio of 985 arts organisations and museums, with the vast majority of them committed to work with children and young people. Thanks to National Lottery players, we also distribute funds from National Lottery Good Causes to projects aimed at children and young people. Read about some of these good causes >

Durham Commission

Durham Commission

The Durham Commission was convened to look at how our education system and wider system of learning for children can grow the capacity for creativity. The report and recommendations lay the foundation for future work, for a long-term shift in educational policy and practice.

Our investment in children and young people

We run several projects and programmes with schools to support young people’s creative lives and to help teachers deliver excellent cultural and creative education.

A group of young people dance with bubbles and bright fabric in a workshop environment.
Photo by Arts activity at Northway Primary School. Photo: Xavier Fiddes / Northway Primary School
1

We support several out of school programmes to engage children and young people in arts and cultural activity.

A group of 4 young people sit in a wooden pirate ship in a garden reading children's books together.
Photo by Let's Create packs photoshoot (Summer 2020). Photo - Wayne Pilgrim
2

Get all the information you need on our Music Hub Investment Programme.

Photo © Clive Tagg Lewisham Music Massed Voices, Southbank Centre
Photo by Photo © Clive Tagg Lewisham Music Massed Voices, Southbank Centre
3

Supporting children and young people to fulfil their creative potential and access high-quality cultural experiences where they live, where they go to school, and where they spend their free time.

Two young people take part in a priamry school arts activity. They are holding brightly coloured pieces of fabric above their heads.
Photo by Elmhurst Primary School. Photo: The LPA, Xavier Fiddes / Elmhurst Primary School
4

Our Youth Advisory Board work with staff throughout our organisation to ensure the voices of children and young people are at the heart of what we do.

A group of young people smile and wave at the camera. They are posing for the photograph on some stairs in an arts space with a multicoloured wall in the background.
Photo by Youth Advisory Board meeting at Leeds Art Gallery. Image: Mehul Patel, Reel Monkey Productions
5