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CELEBRATE Y #OURART19

We want to see schools businesses and other organisations across the UK run small, local events under the #OURART19 banner to celebrate how art connects in their communities.

You can download logos and branding and share your art on social media with the #OURART19 tag.

Our travels to school communities across the UK this year have shown us that art is alive and kicking and we need to keep it that way.

We’ve seen school plays, art exhibitions, STEAM Festivals. One of the most special moments was on a cold damp morning in a rural Sunderland on a #RocketKids visit when we heard music coming from the next room.

We want this aspect of the #ARTCONNECTS19 Festival Year to be a celebration of that, your, their, our art.

#WE ARE FAMILY 19

We’re having a whole week in Liverpool during #OURART19 Week which would be a great week to run and share your #OURART19 Activities.

On the Friday we’re holding an #ARTattheHEART of an Outstanding School Community Day of Inspiring Keynotes, Short Talks, Performances and Workshops.

We had an idea and ran it past a chap we recognised off the telly that we say in the pub as you can see in the clip here.

His advice was to “just do it” so at 3pm on Friday 8th November we’ll link up with schools all over Liverpool and across the UK, the world even, to sing that classic anthem ‘We are Family’ to mark it’s 40th anniversary which the song’s writer Nile Rodgers will be celebrating at a party with Sister Sledge.

This will be our way of connecting with them. To show that #ARTCONNECTS19

Please click here to register your school for the #WEAREFAMILY19 Sing and Dance along.

FIND OUT MORE

See below for some examples of the sort of #OURART19 events you could run in your community, but be sure download the signage and planning guide.

REGISTER HERE NOW

Please click here to register your #OURART19 Activity

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR #OURART19?

There are many things that you can do in your school community during the week.

Here are a just a few few ideas, based on what we’ve seen on our travels this year:

KEEP THE VIBE ALIVE WITH OUR ARTCONNECTS VIDEO BLOGS

We have about 50 video blogs in the can that we’ll be publishing on our YouTube channel.

Here’s a taster of what’s to come so, for now, sit back and let Winnie and Geoff blow you away with their generous contributions from last year.

"It's not about funding, but allowing humans to be more human"

We really didn't expect, but were delighted by this call to arms to parents, teachers and businesses from  the schools leaders' leader Geoff Barton, General Secretary of ASCL talking about the importance of, yet pressure on creativity, and arts education in UK Schools.

And you’ll be blown away by what happened when Science teacher Winnie Greer walked on stage!

Get a feel for this inspiring day from the photos above and see the complete photo gallery here.

What's in it for you:

• Parents - find out why creativity is so important and compare your school options. Ensure your kids stand the best chance against the robots and artificial intelligence.

• Teachers - see how primary and secondary schools teach creativity and teach creatively. Be inspired to try it.

• Creatives - celebrate your art and share it with and be inspired by others. See how you can work with schools.

• Businesses - come and meet your community and find out how you can collaborate with them for creativity. You might even sponsor us or help runa STEAM Co. Day before the festival.

• Children - we will have a some creative activities for delegates and speakers children (aged 6 - 14) such as puppetry, newspaper engineering, paper rockets, t-shirt design and printing. Tickets are required and parents/carers much remain with their children.

THANKS TO THEM. But now it’s your turn

While we’re lining up partners and sponsors for next year’s event, this is probably a good time to thank all the generous companies, organisations and people who helped make the first #ARTCONNECTS Festival happen.

Do get in touch above if you’d like to be part of the next one.

WHO ARE STEAM CO.?

STEAM CO. PROVIDES INSPIRATION AND RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES TO RUN STEAM CO. DAYS.

Seven years ago, a group of carers (people who care about creativity - like parents, artists, techs, employers and teachers) were inspired by a TED talk and half a book to run a Creativity Festival in our children’s primary school.

We'd met some lovely creative people in a field who let us call ourselves 'The Little House of Fairy Tales'. 

Four years ago, we realised we were growing up and weren't little or about fairies and changed our name.

STEAM Co. was born.

We were aware of both the value of creativity, yet the challenges faced in UK schools, and saw an opportunity to bring the conversation out of education’s echo chambers by connecting schools, businesses and the wider community.

After a wonderful response from across the board and events in Liverpool, Sunderland, Ironbridge, Norwich, etc, a non-profit community enterprise STEAM Co CIC was founded to Put Creativity First in our Schools, Work and Lives:

Quite simply we exist to:

• Advocate - to fight creativity’s corner, educating anyone who doesn’t get it

• Inspire - to run events showcasing the power of creativity, tech and people

• Action - to give communities the resources to inspire their children with creativity.

This event will advocate and inspire by celebrating the power of creativity, tech and people to engage children, innovate business and connect communities.

It's always about one thing... Connection

If you're intrigued by the event, and haven't seen this inspiring 60 second film by Seth Godin talking about how art connects, do watch it now.

It’s a big part of what got us here.

Yes, it’s your turn. Let’s do this together.