LMEP have teamed up with Leeds 2023 to bring a new commissioned singing resource for all schools. Created by LMEP partners Musical Futures for the Year of Culture, this is a great opportunity to be part of a city-wide collaborative video performance!  

Get involved! 

Online resources are available for teachers to guide classes through learning and performing the song. We are encouraging you to film your final performance and to share it with Leeds 2023 to be edited together into a mass participation music video.  The resources are suitable for primary and secondary schools.

We would love as many schools in Leeds as possible to get involved. This FREE resource includes backing and performance tracks, and sheet music to allow instrumental performance to accompany voice performance if you want to. Film your final performance (the more creative the better!), send it in to LEEDS 2023, and it will feature in the final video on LEEDS 2023’s YouTube Channel during Leeds Language Week 13 – 19 November! 

Learn to sing in French, Spanish, Romanian, Polish and Urdu. We encourage you to add in other languages you may have in your school.

To access the song resources, instructions and find out how to submit your song videos, please click on this link:  

Video resources – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6WV9wEVdssgwikG-yDybeYC2SmjYDPX4

Lyrics, audio and chord sheets – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-DzJxi6Hr3e1Fno2obDLSeehnzGZWj8E?usp=drive_link

We would love to see you share any images and clips of your school practicing for the challenge on social media by tagging @LEEDS2023, @ArtFormsLeeds and #LeedsMultilingualSong.  

Please note that all children and young people captured on your video must have photographic and video permissions, as these images will be shared on the internet and social media where necessary.  

Deadline: The closing date for entries is Friday 27 October 2023 at 4pm. 

How to submit your videos: 

Guidance for filming on cameras / tablets / phones: 

·       Minimum resolution full HD – 1920*1080. 4K is preferred if supported by the device used to film. 

·       All videos MUST be landscape / 16:9 aspect ratio. Vertical videos such as Instagram reels (mobile phones held upright) will not be usable. 

·       24fps (frames per second) if possible, using your device. Most phones will offer this as an option within camera settings. 

·       Steady, static angles are preferred to too much movement. Any movement must be steady, preferably with the aid of a gimbal. 

·       Files must be shared uncompressed via WeTransfer (https://wetransfer.com/) to hello@bigskycreative.co.uk directly. Please state your school in the description. Once your video is downloaded, you will receive a confirmation email from WeTransfer.  

·       In the title of the email sent from WeTransfer, please write: L23-LLW-Song-[insert the name of your school].  

·       In the body of the message to Big Sky Creative, please write the name of your school and sign off with the name of a lead contact from the school should we need to get in touch with you regarding the footage. Please also state how many pupils took part.  

·       Files shared via messaging apps etc are often compressed and this will degrade footage, please transfer to computer using a cable connection, AirDrop or other form of transfer that will not compress footage. 

For more information please email Artforms at Educ.Artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

Our first Primary Music and Arts Newsletter will be winging its way to you next week.  In the meantime, we’ve compiled the LEEDS 2023 schools programme of projects and events into one bumper edition, which can be found here.

If you want to share any of the brilliant music and arts taking place in your school, please contact: jane.zanzottera@leeds.gov.uk.

Linked to LEEDS 2023, the University of Leeds are leading a research study to find out what creative education and enrichment activities are taking place in schools across Leeds. This information will provide an overview of creative education across the city. All schools that participate, will be entered into a prize draw. We only need one submission from each school, so we are asking you to share this with your headteacher to complete.
Full information about the project and a link to the survey can be found here.

We are looking for an Independent Chair for the Leeds Cultural Education Partnership (Leeds CEP) – someone who can steer, advocate and really drive forward our work with children and young people at this exciting time.

Together with LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture, we have a unique opportunity to engage children and young people with high quality, transformative creative and cultural experiences.  LEEDS 2023 will be a transformational year – a ground-breaking, 12-month-long cultural celebration of our extraordinary city.  Children and young people are central to its vision and LeedsCEP is an important, strategic partner in realising its aims for children and young people and sustaining its impact and legacy far beyond 2023.

LeedsCEP’s goal is to ensure every child has access to high quality arts and cultural education, which responds to their needs. 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 looking for an experienced leader who can take the LeedsCEP to the next level. The Chair will work with the Children & Young People’s Partnership Manager (LEEDS 2023/LeedsCEP), the steering group and key stakeholders to achieve the ambitious objectives we have set out in our action plan.

The successful candidate will be able to operate strategically and provide confident leadership to drive forward the partnership.  Either with experience of chairing or leading others, they will have strong relationship-building abilities and be an effective supporter of cross-sector collaboration.  The chair will also be an articulate and persuasive advocate on behalf of the LCEP.  Demonstrable commitment to cultural education is essential.  Experience of working in the education or cultural sector is desirable but not required.

This is a voluntary/pro bono role.  Minimum commitment of two years, commencing on 1^st September 2021.

A full role description can be downloaded here: LeedsCEP Chair Role Description

Please send a current CV and a letter of application setting out the contribution you could make in the role of Chair to kathrynwelford@leeds2023.co.uk by 12 noon on Friday 25 June 2021.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Sarah Beckett, Senior Cultural Education Manager, IVE at SarahB@weareive.org / 07718453248.

Interviews are provisionally planned for Tuesday 6^th July 2021 (am) or Wednesday 7^th July 2021 (pm)

Thursday 18th March 2021

3.45pm – 4.45pm

Our free Primary Arts Network is for any primary teacher interested in finding out more about matters relating to arts and cultural teaching and learning.

We are delighted that for our upcoming network, we will be joined by Kathryn Welford, the Children and Young People’s Programme Manager for Leeds 2023!  This will be a great opportunity to hear more about the festival and how your school can get involved.

Book your place through Leeds for Learning.