How Yorkshire Art Classes are Paving the Way for a Creative Future for Children
West Yorkshire-based charity The Children's Art School offer regular art clubs for children and young people from ages two to 18
The Children’s Art School was set up in 2015 as a response to the downgrading of the arts within the curriculum, and was designed to give all children and young people access to high-quality visual arts experiences.
‘We work with associate artists to make art and creative activities accessible and create opportunities for joyful art making in various locations,’ explains director Chloe Williams. ‘We’re about helping children become inspired and develop self-confidence in their own creativity and abilities, and empowering them to affect and change the world they live in.’
Since 2015, the charity has expanded from a regular art school programme in Holmfirth to MakerWorld, their creative space in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, and working with local festivals and arts organisations, including Huddersfield Literature Festival, WOVEN in Kirklees and Kirklees Year of Music 2023. They have also developed a Kirklees-wide outreach programme in areas of high free school meal need for the Kirklees Schools Out programme, and regularly partner with EvoKe (Kirklees Cultural and Educational Partnership), as well as local libraries and museums, and Kirklees Culture and Tourism team. ‘We’re currently transforming the former Toyland space in the Piazza Centre, with plans for additional cultural offers, building on MakerWorld, which includes music, a gallery space and a skatepark,’ Chloe adds.
The Children's Art School has reached more than 5,000 children and their families across Huddersfield and Dewsbury. ‘It’s a real example of how art can bring communities together,’ says Chloe. ‘We’ve provided accessible and inclusive art experiences to children from various backgrounds, making sure that every child who comes through our doors, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to explore their creativity and engage with the arts.
‘We’ve also animated and revitalised empty town-centre spaces in a time of declining footfall. We feel we’re setting a benchmark for what community participation in the arts can look like – transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences, drawing people together and breathing new life into the community.'
It’s clear by speaking to Chloe just why this work is so important on a wider scale. She adds that ‘the arts and cultural sector contributes substantially to the economy, creating millions of jobs and generating trillions in economic output globally. In the UK, the creative industries generate more than £124 billion for the economy [according to UK government estimates].’
As children increasingly engage with the world digitally, Chloe says their interaction with the physical, material world ‘diminishes’. ‘We need future generations who understand and can engage with the tangible,’ she elaborates. ‘Through activities such as painting, making and sculpting, children learn to manipulate and appreciate physical materials and develop a comprehension of how things work in the real world. This is foundational for fields like science, engineering and architecture, textiles, product design. And, of course, creative thinking skills are going to be crucial for a generation facing the huge challenges that the climate crisis is bringing.’
You can support The Children’s Art School via donations (whether that’s money or materials) or by visiting MakerWorld to find out more about what they do. ‘Better still, ask your local councils for spaces where MakerWorld can come and set up,’ Chloe suggests. ‘We’re also interested to hear from schools who would like a visit from our artists.’
The charity’s vision for the future has always been to establish a successful model of a children’s arts centre and they hope to inspire similar initiatives elsewhere, demonstrating the impact that accessible and inclusive cultural spaces can have. ‘We believe that by putting children and families at the forefront of planning and regeneration, we can create thriving, resilient communities where creativity and innovation are celebrated,’ Chloe concludes. ‘Our dream is to open a national children’s art gallery or an arts centre network that highlights young people’s creativity. This would not only provide a platform for young artists, but also put children and families at the heart of creativity.’
