Better Lives Through Culture (BLTC) Evaluation Report

The Better Lives Through Culture (BLTC) programme aimed to provide children and young people with cultural learning opportunities by collaborating with professional arts practitioners. Although its direct reach was limited by time and budget, the Culture Box Surrey (CBS) programme could serve as a model for the wider education and cultural sectors.

“It was amazing because we don’t normally get to do things like that”

Student

The programme involved collaboration with strategic and local partners to deliver
programmes in schools, alternative education settings, and the community. It worked with partners to integrate Arts Award accreditation into programmes and offer training to teachers and practitioners where necessary. The programme enabled Culture Box Surrey to enhance schools’ cultural learning programmes, promote Artsmark accreditation to all schools involved, and develop new cross-sector partnerships while expanding existing partnerships. The programme also ensured that the voices of young people were heard in the development of BLTC projects, particularly during taster sessions where discussions between the students, teachers and arts practitioners explored content and outcomes.

“Staff and pupils have engaged in the process well and my manager has asked me to follow up at project end re: future Stopgap / Dance sessions, which I think is the biggest endorsement the school can give”

Teacher

CBS expected children and young people to benefit from participating in the arts, with wider impacts on their attainment, health, and well-being, and this was achieved. The BLTC programme has also established a community of practice that has improved cultural learning opportunities for children and young people in Surrey.

5065 – Number of Children and Young People Engaged

41 – Number of Schools Involved

71 – Number of Practitioners involved

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