Lyric life

• School Arts Week will give the children of Hammersmith & Fulham free access to creative arts workshops Monday 7 – Friday 11 July 2025.
• 30 workshops will be delivered across 24 schools, reaching approximately 760 Year 5 students.
• This new initiative is launched in partnership with cultural and creative organisations in Hammersmith & Fulham; the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Amici Dance Theatre Company, DanceWest, Idea Project Design, LAMDA, Olympia, Turtle Key Arts and White City Theatre Project.
  

Hammersmith & Fulham’s Where Culture Connects Cultural Compact have today announced their plans for SCHOOL ARTS WEEK across the Borough. Taking place between Monday 7 – Friday 11 July 2025, it will provide school children access to free creative arts workshops supported and delivered by the Borough’s cultural organisations.

Workshops include costume design with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; contemporary dance with DanceWest; circus skills with Turtle Key Arts; inclusive dance with Amici; theatre acting with White City Theatre Project; Shakespeare skills with LAMDA; manga design with IDEA Design Hub.

H&F’s Cultural Compact is a partnership of 14 arts & cultural leaders, collaborating to deliver the Borough’s Where Culture Connects strategy. Set up in the wake of an unsuccessful Borough of Culture Bid, the Compact addresses the need to connect through culture, with a focus on the role of the local arts sector in supporting Children and Young People.

All state and SEND schools were offered a free creative arts workshop led by a local artist for their Year 5 classes, delivered in their school during SCHOOL ARTS WEEK. Ultimately, 30 workshops will be delivered across 24 schools, reaching approximately 760 Year 5 students across the five days.

Cllr Sharon Holder, Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, said: “The School Arts Week workshops will bring new, accessible opportunities to hundreds of children to flex their artistic muscles and inspire them to develop new skills with help from local arts professionals. It’s incredibly important they have the chance to be creative and experience different art and cultures. This is a key part of our work to make H&F a stronger, safer and kinder borough.”

Michelle Walker, London Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “We are delighted to see Hammersmith & Fulham’s arts and culture organisations coming together to galvanise more creative opportunities for young people in the borough. The joint delivery of School Arts Week this summer by such a wide range of cultural organisations – including the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, funded as part of our National Portfolio – is a great example of the possibilities that come from collaboration. We hope this networked way of working offers valuable opportunities for the borough’s arts sector as well as benefits for Hammersmith & Fulham’s local communities and the 24 schools who take part.”

Amy Belson, Executive Director, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said: “At the Lyric, providing opportunities for young people to engage with culture has always been a cornerstone of our work. I’m thrilled that this project, made possible only through the partnership and the collaborative spirit of the H&F Cultural Compact, has allowed us to extend our reach. In the face of the decline of arts provision in schools, I am delighted together we can offer this opportunity to the schoolchildren of Hammersmith & Fulham. Every year we provide free Pantomime tickets to Year 5 schoolchildren in the borough, and it’s thrilling that these workshops will help those same young people experience culture as active participants, unlocking the power of their own creativity.”

Alison King, Executive Producer, Amici Dance Theatre Company, said: “Amici Dance Theatre Company is excited to be part of School Arts Week, bringing inclusive dance to Year 5 students across Hammersmith and Fulham. This initiative reflects our belief that creativity should be accessible to all and helps build a more connected, understanding, and vibrant local community.”

Julia Fitzelle, Director, DanceWest said: “DanceWest is proud to be part of School Arts Week, bringing creative opportunities to children across Hammersmith & Fulham. We believe in the power of the arts to inspire, uplift, and unite communities and hope this is just the beginning of something that grows each year and brings even more accessible arts experiences to local schools.”

Robert Wong, Director, IDEA Design Hub said: “At IDEA Design Hub, we believe creativity is a powerful tool for building inclusive, empowered communities. Being part of this project allows us to share that vision while inspiring the next generation to engage with art, sustainability, and social impact.”

Professor Mark O’Thomas, Principal & CEO, LAMDA said: “We’re proud to support School Arts Week and help bring creative opportunities to young people across Hammersmith & Fulham. Access to the arts at a young age is vital – not only for developing confidence and communication skills, but for nurturing empathy, imagination, and a lifelong love of creativity. As the world’s oldest drama school, LAMDA is committed to civic engagement and to serving our local communities. Programmes like this reflect our belief that the arts should be accessible to all.”

Stuart Mayo, Director of Marketing and Communications, Olympia, said: “School Arts Week will benefit children across the borough, ensuring they get early exposure and access to the arts through workshops delivered by some of London’s top creative institutions. A big part of Olympia’s ongoing transformation is to ensure we not only celebrate global talent, but are also a showcase for emerging artists across all creative disciplines, and this is why we couldn’t be more pleased to support this initiative.”

Charlotte Cunningham, Artistic Director, Turtle Key Arts, said: “Turtle Key Arts is proud to take part in School Arts Week, offering creative workshops that inspire and connect. We believe access to the arts fosters confidence, community, and wellbeing-values at the heart of Hammersmith and Fulham. Every child deserves the chance to explore their creativity and feel included.”

Lucy Foxell, CEO, White City Theatre Project, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the School Arts Week in our home borough. At White City Theatre Project, we believe every child deserves access to the arts. This initiative brings creativity into classrooms and helps build confidence, connection and joy across our wonderfully diverse community.”