About Us

Spaeda advances arts education and creative learning through partnership, advocacy, information and training.

Somerset Partnerships Arts Education Agency advocates for best practice in arts education, providing an information and brokerage service to schools, colleges and community groups. We work in partnership with a range of artists and arts organisations, covering all art-forms to provide training and professional development for all those working creatively with young people. Through our regular contact with schools, we play a key role in providing Somerset’s Young People with access to creative learning experiences.

Image: Students working with artists Louise Baker and Kate Rattray. Samba Coulibaly provides a drum roll for the Somerset Artsmark launch.

We help Schools, Community Groups and Artists to forge creative partnerships

We can provide information on:

• Local artists, arts centres and arts organisations
• Regional and national arts and arts-education issues
• Raising funds for arts activities with young people

We can provide Specialist Artists who:

• Deliver workshops and residencies with young people
• Work with mixed ability groups and can deliver workshops for Special Educational Needs
• Facilitate training and professional development
• Facilitate adult learning

Create Regular Arts Activities in your school or community setting
SPAEDA has a team of experienced, quality assured artists able to deliver weekly workshops in and out of school hours.

We can advise Artists on:

• registering with us
• developing and funding education projects
• training and professional development opportunities
• all aspects of working with education and community groups

Somerset Partnerships Arts Education Agency was initiated in 1997 by the Arts Council, Somerset County Council and Local Education Authority, to develop educational links between artists, arts organisations and young people within Somerset. The Organisation was established as a charity and limited company in 2001 and is governed by a Board of Trustees, drawn mainly from the arts and educational sectors.

News

SPAEDA News includes local, regional and national updates on the Arts in Education and Creative Learning.

Get the latest news in arts education see our News Bulletin.

Browse the SPAEDA Arts Education Magazine for inspiration, useful contacts and what’s on in and around Somerset.

See the SPAEDA Training Program for Training and Professional Development Opportunities in Somerset.

In addition a range of guidance and info sheets are available to assist you in developing arts policies and arts projects and events see Resources.

The SPAEDA Library is a growing resource. Includes Resources on Fundraising for Education Projects, Local and National Arts Education Documents.

Email us to book an appointment to use the library resources.

Image: Through Animated Eyes, Artist Richard Tomlinson with student on Schools Hub Club project.

Welcome to SPAEDA

SPAEDA : advancing arts education and creative learning through Partnership, Advocacy, Information and Training

Somerset Partnerships Arts Education Agency is a non-profit organisation working across all art forms to develop creativity in young people and to create partnerships and share good practice in the wider field of arts education and creative learning. We help to raise the profile of the arts within education and enrich the learning experiences of young people.

The Arts Award in Somerset

The Arts Award is a new accredited programme, which recognises young people’s development as young artists and young arts leaders between the ages of 11 and 25. It works for young people of all interests and abilities and leads to qualifications at Bronze (NQF Level 1), Silver (NQF Level 2) and Gold (NQF Level 3).

The award is run through a partnership between Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall with Canon (UK) Ltd as a supporting partner.

The Award values high art, popular culture and the arts of all countries. Young people may take part in many different ways, not only as creators of their own work, but also as performers, backstage helpers, front of house staff, technicians, camera operators, writers, editors, promoters, DJ’s, costume designers, prop makers etc.














Any organisation (or individual) can become a registered Arts Award centre, for example: schools, youth groups, arts organisations or community bodies. Organisations can only register to become a centre when they have a trained Arts Award adviser, who will work with young people. The adviser acts as a mentor helping individuals to plan and achieve their award, and to undertake the primary assessment of the Arts Award. All advisers must satisfactorily complete a one day training course before they can support young people through the award. From March 15th Spaeda will be delivering Adviser Training in the Somerset area. Full details will be found on the arts award website and you can book your training place online. Training courses cost £100 per person.

The training will provide guidance on running Arts Award programmes and assessing young peoples achievements. In addition to the day course, advisers will receive a comprehensive ‘toolkit’ and will have access to their own area of the website where advisers can share their experiences with others and get advice.

SPAEDA are holding adviser training on the following dates:
Bronze/Silver Adviser Training: 23rd April 2007 (cost £100)
Gold Top up Training Half Day: 26th June 2007 (cost £70.00)
Bronze/Silver Adviser Training: 11th July 2007 (cost £100)
You need to book these sessions via the Arts Award website: http://www.artsaward.org.uk/
For further information please contact Liesa Calder at Spaeda 01458 440315