We believe every child should have access to a high quality arts and cultural education which responds to their needs, and LeedsCEP is working in partnership to deliver this ambition. Established in September 2017, LeedsCEP brings together a diverse and growing membership of over 50 organisations from arts, cultural and education sectors which cover all geographical areas of Leeds. LeedsCEP provides a collective voice within the city. We aim to lead a path through co-creation of practices and policy, to develop sustainable, creative opportunities that address inequality in Leeds.

We are now looking for an experienced leader who can take the CEP to the next level. S/he will work with the existing Strategy Group and the wider Partnership, and with stakeholders including IVE the Bridge Organisation, Leeds City Council, Leeds 2023 and the City’s thriving Cultural Education providers, to achieve the ambitious objectives we have set out in our action plan.

The successful candidate will have strong relationship-building abilities and experience of chairing or leading an organisation, be an effective supporter of cross-sector collaboration, and be an articulate and persuasive advocate. A demonstrable commitment to cultural education is essential; experience of working in the education or cultural sector is desirable, but not required. A detailed role description is available here.

Please send a current CV and a letter of application setting out the contribution you could make in the role of Chair to vincent@weareive.org by 12 noon on Friday 17 April. For an informal discussion about the role please contact Sarah Beckett on 07718453248. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 5th May in central Leeds.

We now need your help with this year’s annual return so that we can continue offering subsidies to schools, providing CPD opportunities and enabling children to participate in inspiring musical performances.

Please complete and return this form to Jo at jo.richardson@leeds.gov.uk by Friday 14^th February.

ACE requires data on musical activity in every school in Leeds regardless of who delivers the tuition so please complete the form even if you do not buy in provision from ArtForms or another LMEP provider.

Many thanks in advance for helping us to once again secure the future of music-making in Leeds.

We now need your help with this year’s annual return so that we can continue offering subsidies to schools, providing CPD opportunities and enabling children to participate in inspiring musical performances.

We’re asking all schools to complete the Arts Council Annual Data Return 2019 and return it to jo.richardson@leeds.gov.uk or ArtForms, Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson’s Corner,  Leeds LS28 5TA by 13th February 2019. Thank you!

In order to get a comprehensive picture of music education in Leeds, and maintain current levels of funding from Arts Council England, we require every school in the city to submit their data. As such, we are urging schools who have not yet completed their Data Return Form to do so as soon as possible and return it to rebecca.gormley@leeds.gov.uk or ArtForms, Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson’s Corner, Leeds, LS28 5TA.

If you require a copy of the form, please download it here.

The Artsmark Partnership Programme, run by Arts Council England, is an endorsed network of organisations who support Artsmark registered schools on their journey to embed arts and culture across the curriculum.

Jo Richardson, Partnership Manager at ArtForms, says:

“We’re delighted to have been awarded Artsmark Partner status. Schools embarking on their Artsmark journey can be confident that music activities and support services provided by ArtForms and Leeds Music Education Partnership (LMEP) are approved and appropriate for inclusion in their Artsmark music development plans.”

Schools who are working towards Artsmark can access a range of support including Innovative Activity grants and Artsmark registration subsidies.

To find out how ArtForms and LMEP can support your Artsmark journey, contact Jo Richardson (Partnership Manager) on 0113 3782852 or jo.richardson@leeds.gov.uk.

Find out more about Artsmark at www.artsmark.org.uk.

LMEP’s strengths include:

• Effectively engaging with 95% of schools (national average 89%)
• Providing relevant CPD through Music Connect and LLP
• Strong WCET provision (where a whole class learns to play an instrument together)
• Instrumental continuation rates growing year on year
• Ensemble provision expanding
• Supporting 80% of schools with singing strategies (national average 70%)

Retaining Arts Council confidence in LMEP will ensure that levels of funding are maintained in the years to come. We’d like your help once again to ensure that our next Data Return reflects the true picture of music making in all Leeds schools. This year we’re asking for a mid-year snapshot rather than an end of year return.

Please return this form (pdf) to jo.richardson@leeds.gov.uk or ArtForms, Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson’s Corner, Leeds, LS28 5TA.

October sees the launch of a totally revamped Artsmark award from Arts Council England which will help your school target priorities in your school development plan with support from arts and cultural organisations and practitioners.

Cape UK are offering schools in Wakefield, York and Leeds an exclusive preview of the new-look Artsmark and the chance to meet some of the region’s arts and cultural organisations at our Artsmark Briefing and Marketplace event on 30th September at Leeds West Academy from 4pm to 6pm.

The new Artsmark has been designed with teachers to support connections with schools’ own strategies and is aligned with the National Curriculum and planning cycles. For those who have achieved Artsmark before, the biggest difference you’ll see is that Artsmark is now forward looking rather than being an audit of past work. The feedback from pilot schools who tested the new process last term has been very positive.

After the briefing session there will be a marketplace where you can meet arts and cultural organisations and practitioners to discuss your needs and find new ways of working together to achieve your aims.

Places are limited so to book your place at this FREE event – click here