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.