A project to explore how skills sharing between artists and early years practitioners can have a positive impact on children’s creative development and the early years setting.
Scope
The project recruited eight early years settings to work with three lead artists and three ‘trainee’ artists. This group participated in a series of masterclasses with theatre practitioners who make work for very young audiences. The masterclass programme was convened and led by Patrick Lynch from Lyngo Theatre, and included sessions with Sarah Argent (Theatr Iolo), Mike Akers (Travelling Light / 5x5x5) and Oily Cart Theatre Company. These provided inspiration and opportunities to develop collaborative work that was then taken back into sessions with the children at the nurseries. The project ended with sharing sessions for parents and training for staff.
Partners
Arts Service West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Creative Partnerships Sussex and Surrey Chichester Festival Theatre South East Dance The Hawth Theatre University of Chichester Early Childhood Services WSCC
Project Artists
Lead artists Jane Gordon, Jenny Staff, Alex Sutton-Vane and associate artists Rebecca Parrant, Anne Colvin, Rosie Heafford, Lauren van Niekerk, Clare Halstead.
Participating settings
The Ark, Bolney Woodstock Day Nursery, Worthing Lancing Children and Family Centre Nursery Beach House Day Nursery, Shoreham by Sea The A House Pre-School, Hassocks Willow Tree Pre-school, Langley Green Colgate Pre-School, Horsham Stepping Stones Day Nursery, Bognor Regis