This week, Sky Arts has dropped one of the freshest initiatives on UK soil—Access All Arts Week—and it’s not your average classroom exercise. This isn’t just about teaching kids to draw or dance; it’s about lighting sparks of creativity across classrooms, and it’s built for a generation hungry to express, explore, and evolve.
Access All Arts Week: What’s the Buzz All About?
Launching for the fourth year in a row, Access All Arts Week—running from 16–20 June 2025—has already signed up over 20,000 teachers in nearly 12,000 schools across the UK and Ireland. In just three years, it’s touched the lives of 715,000+ children. That’s a wave of creative energy spreading through primary schools on a massive scale Sky Group.
Unlike traditional teaching kits, this year brings live lessons powered by household names and visionary artists directly to classrooms:
- Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, the legendary ballerina, kicks things off with DDMIX—a global groove workout to get kids moving and confident.
- Fleur East, singer, songwriter, and broadcaster, introduces pupils to rap basics and musical fun.
- George the Poet, known for his spoken-word brilliance, guides students in writing poems about the library using lyrical storytelling.
- Will Sliney, Marvel comic artist, teaches kids how to draw their very own superhero strip by step.
- And costume genius Paul Tazewell (Academy-award winner for Wicked) challenges pupils to design nature-inspired costumes Sky GroupAdvanced Television.
These aren’t abstract, artsy concepts—they’re real, interactive sessions filmed at iconic spots like the Royal Academy of Dance, the Cartoon Museum, and Willesden Green Library. They’re made so children can see their creativity backed by professionals who bring it to life Sky GroupAdvanced Television.
Why does Access All Arts Week Matters for Young People Now
For many kids, school arts lessons are fleeting. But Access All Arts Week gives them stage time, tools, and confidence.
- Mental Health & Self-Belief: Darcey herself says, “Imagination and creativity through the arts… helps to create mentally sustainable young minds.” Translation: movement boosts mood, creative outlets lift spirit. This is especially powerful in a time when kids are more stressed than ever Sky Group.
- Cultural & Creative Literacy: George the Poet’s poetry workshop isn’t just writing—it’s showing kids that libraries and words carry power. Fleur East’s riffs invite them to find their own rhythms. Will Sliney’s drawing class builds visual storytelling and confidence. These are mini masterclasses in creative thinking and self-expression.
- Representation & Inclusivity: The lineup includes Black, female, and diverse artists—showing kids they look like the people shaping creative industries. That representation matters.
- Breaking Career Stereotypes: With modules in rap, dance, comic artistry, costume design, and spoken word, kids see that “creative” isn’t just art class—it’s careers. Engaging with real-world creatives widens their horizons.
How Teachers Are Winning
Sky Arts isn’t just handing videos—it’s delivering full teaching packs, downloadable lesson plans, activity sheets, and inspiration.
In pre-launch surveys, 92% of teachers said the initiative had a positive impact on pupil confidence and well-being. Four out of five said they felt more confident teaching the arts after using the resources. That’s not shallow praise—that’s meaningful change happening in real-time, in real classrooms Schools WeekSky Group.
And this year, the programme won the “Free Educational Resource” award at the Education Resource Awards in Birmingham. This isn’t just flashy—it’s earning recognition where it counts Advanced Television.
Bringing It Home: Creative Sparks Last Beyond June
Here’s why this matters to young people, for real:
- Creativity is life fuel: These sessions give kids freedom to take risks, use their imagination, and discover voices they didn’t know existed. That builds resilience.
- Arts for all, not a few: Free, accessible, and high-quality input from celebs and icons—no fees, no exclusivity, just pure expression.
- Next-gen inspiration: Exposing pupils to dance, rap, poetry, drawing, design—all through voices that match their identities and moods—helps redefine what success and possibility look like.
Access All Arts Week: What You Can Do
If you’re reading this and care about creativity, here’s your move:
- Share the news: Tag schools, parents, youth groups, or your local library. Let them know these resources are live and free.
- Try it at home: Moonwalk with Darcey, drop your first verse with Fleur, scribble a hero with Will Sliney, or write a poem like George. Arts can happen in your living room, not just at school.
- Stand up for the arts: If you’re in school or work with schools, push for more arts funding—not less. Creativity is vital for mental health, problem-solving, and cultural identity.
Access All Arts Week: Final Thoughts
Sky Arts’ Access All Arts Week isn’t just a set of lessons—it’s a mic drop in favour of young people’s creativity, resilience, and potential. It’s proof that when we lift the arts and make them accessible, young minds bloom.
This week is more than an arts campaign—it’s a creative celebration. And for the young people watching, it’s an invitation to find their voice, draw it out, and speak up loud.
Because creativity isn’t just a subject—it’s a revolution. Sky Group.
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Zita Salum, a British, Tanzanian journalist with a London heart, is making waves in the world of media. Born and Raised in Hackney London, she discovered her passion for storytelling at a young age. Her journey began as an admin for the Inside Success magazine, but her talent quickly shone through. Zita's ability to craft compelling narratives and her knack for capturing the essence of a story led her to become an editor for the magazine.
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