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.
