Sparks Conference

Photo by Mags Bradley

The Sparks Conference will run from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on 9th July 2008, at the Central Hall, Grimsby. 

It is aimed at:

• local authority education stakeholders
• teachers at participating schools (some of which will be presenting about their project)
• teachers at non-participating schools who are interested in developing creativity in their schools.

The keynote speaker for the morning session will be John Godber, Artistic Director, Hull Truck Theatre.  

There will be opportunities to meet with many of the schools' projects whose work and creative journeys will be the subject of breakout groups.  The conference will also see the launch of the report on the Chameleon Creative Learning Project 2006-8 and its impact on teachers, children and creative practitioners.

The agenda is to include some of the other creative issues that will affect future plans - Building Schools for the Future, the future of the Government's Creative Partnerships programme, etc. so it will be informative and proposes ways forward as well as celebrating achievements.  A Panel of speakers will review existing and future opportunities to develop creativity in schools in the North East Linconshire area. 

These speakers are:

• Paul Collard, National Director of Creative Partnerships, UK
• Roger Edwardson, Deputy Director, Learning Children's Services
• Stephanie Simm, Education and Learning Officer, Arts Council of England, Yorkshire.

and the Panel will be chaired by the Cabinet member for Children's Services at North East Lincolnshire Council.

Conference Timetable            

 8.30 -  9.00 Arrive and registration 

 9.00 -  9.20 Keynote Speaker 
Why creativity in schools is important - a personal perspective - John Godber, Artistic Director, Hull Truck Theatre 

 9.20 -  9.30 Launch of the Chameleon Project report  
Cllr  Margaret Cracknell, Portfolio Holder for Children's Services at North East Lincolnshire Council 

 9.30 -  9.50 Presentation of the Chameleon Project 
Summary of its impact on children, artists and schools Tim Harris and  Alex Hallowes, Project Managers 

 9.50 - 10.30 Break Out session 1 
Individual journeys towards Creativity - the experience in  other regions 
McMillan Junior School, Hull; New Holland Primary School; Cultural Hubs - the Durham experience 

10.30 - 10.50 Coffee Break

10.50 - 11.30 Break Out session 2 
How Chameleon Schools managed their project       

11.35 - 12.15 Break Out session 3 
How Chameleon Schools managed their project  

12.20 - 13.45 Looking to the future
Chair - Cllr Margaret Cracknell, North East Lincolnshire Portfolio Holder for Childrens' Services 
A Panel drawn from Arts Council England, Creative Partnerships and North East Lincolnshire Council on future opportunities for developing creativity in schools.  

• 12.20 - 12.40  Paul Collard, National Director, Creative Partnerships 
• 12.40 - 13.00 Stephanie Simm, Education and Learning Officer, Arts Council of England (Yorkshire) 
• 13.00 - 13.20 Roger Edwardson, Deputy Director for Learning at North East Lincolnshire Council 
• 13.20 -13.45 Questions to the panel 
• 13.45 Chairman's Summary   
• 14.00 Lunch      

To book your place and choose your breakout sessions, please fill in the Sparks Conference Application Form (Word document) (32.5 KB).  Further information is also available in the Sparks Conference Leaflet (pdf). (279 KB)

Photo by Mags Bradley