Primary Arts

For children and staff in London’s primary schools and primary SEND settings

Booking for all strands of Primary Arts 2025/26 is now open!

Watch the Primary Arts trailer on YouTube

A New Direction’s Primary Arts programme aims to increase access to high quality, inspiring arts, cultural and creative opportunities for children and staff in London’s state mainstream primary schools and primary SEND settings.

Delivered in partnership with over 22 cultural organisations, our Primary Arts programme aims to unlock the creative potential, cultural capital and skills of teachers and children, offering opportunities to support wellbeing, confidence, personal interest and development. The entire programme is offered free of charge to schools.

Schools will be able to choose from the following strands:

  • In-Schools Touring: a choice of ten arts performances and in–class workshops for your pupils, plus teacher CPD, a curated box of reading books and a selection of creative materials and resources.
  • Go & See: tickets for your pupils to experience theatre, film, museums, heritage and the visual arts.
  • Masterclasses: CPD days exploring a range of creative approaches to literacy and reader development for teachers.
  • Come & Try: a series of creative practical twilights for all school staff.
  • Cultural Education Leadership Programme: for all London primary teachers ECT+1 and above interested in leading a change in their school's approach to arts, culture and creativity across all subject areas.

Book via the Primary Arts booking platform

Primary Arts is supported by The City of London Corporation City Educational Trust Fund (29084), a City of London Corporation charity. We are extremely grateful to them for their support.

What's on offer?

Get involved

In-Schools Touring

Bringing high quality arts experiences into your school through performances and workshops

Masterclasses

A series of six full day CPD sessions delivered by creative literacy experts at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

Come & Try 

A series of six evening twilight sessions delivered by the Crafts Council, the national charity for craft.

Go & See

Offering a range of opportunities for pupils and their teachers to experience theatre, film, visual arts, museums and heritage in London

Cultural Education Leadership Programme

For all London primary teachers who have completed their ECT programme and are interested in leading a change in their school's approach to arts, culture and creativity across all subject areas.

Download Primary Arts 2025/26 Brochure

Performances, learning resources, inspiration and wellbeing for pupils and staff in London’s primary schools and SEND settings.