Over the past 2 years Z-arts has worked with over 100 schools from across Greater Manchester as part of the Schools Linking Network agenda. We act as the ‘neutral venue’ facilitating the all important first day when the two schools meet for the first time. We provide a range of fun, engaging creative actvities that aim to encourage the children to collaborate, try new artforms and have fun! Sessions range from Comedy, Clay Cities, Screenprinting, Drumming, Drama, Streetdance, Bollywood, Stage Combat and Shadow Puppetry.
The Schools Linking Network (SLN) is a national charity which supports young people, schools and local authorities to explore identity, diversity, equality and community, using four key questions: Who am I? • Who are we? • Where do we live? • How do we all live together? The aim is to facilitate links between schools to help children and young people to explore their identity, celebrate diversity and develop dialogue. Schools are matched with a suitable contrasting link school by taking into account the ethnicity of pupils, special educational needs, religious or non-religious nature of schools, socio-economic factors, and urban and rural differences.
Nicole Hand, Schools Linking Manager from Stockport Council says…
“Z Arts have provided an outstanding and varied range of creative and artistic activities for the schools, children and young people involved in the Schools Linking programme across Greater Manchester for more than two years now. The exceptional standard to which all workshops are delivered with great energy, care and passion means our schools consistently ask to come back every year. The Z Arts team completely understand the aims, objectives and ethos that underpins the Schools Linking programme, and they always ensure the activities are tailored to support meaningful, collaborative, linking experiences and dialogue between the children and young people involved.”
David Waites, teacher at East Ward Primary school said…
“Z-arts is a safe and friendly environment where the children were encouraged to work together as a collective rather than an individual. We really liked the drumming-the leader was very passionate about it, this was conveyed to the children and the resulting composition was amazing, the shadow puppetry was also good. The building itself was beautiful and added real ‘wow’ to the day. I was that impressed that I am going to come this Saturday to one of your family craft sessions with my son. “