News and publications

This year in response to the challenges posed by Covid-19, the Teacher Development Fund (TDF) will focus on exploring how blended approaches, combining digital and face to face delivery, can enhance teacher continuing professional development in arts-based learning. Johanne Clifton, TDF Advisory Group Member and Head of Curriculum and Virtual Learning for the Elliot Foundation describes her own online-learning journey.

In response to the pandemic, this year our Teacher Development Fund will support projects that take a blended approach to continuing professional development and learning (CPDL) in arts-based learning. Nichola Clarke of Into Film shares the many ways they’ve successfully combined remote and face-to-face delivery to enhance teacher training.

Moira Sinclair reflects on our refreshed strategy, which reflects the innovations we have made in the past five years, and provides greater clarity about the values that underpin our work.

Our Strategy 2020 reflects the innovations we have made in the past five years.

Project Sparks supports musically-gifted, disabled young people to work alongside arts specialist teachers to teach music and dance to Keystage 2 classes in primary schools in Northern Ireland. Eamonn McCarron, who co-founded the programme, explores the strengths of their peer tutoring model.

Today we announced grants totalling £1.4 million to support civil society. The Foundation has made a five-year commitment to seven organisations in the latest round of the Backbone Fund. 

Mental Snapp is a video diary app for people actively managing their mental health, supported through its early stage of development by the Ideas and Pioneers Fund. Developed in response to founder Hannah Chamberlain’s observations throughout her professional career as a film maker and storyteller, the company was formed in 2015 and recently made the decision to close down. Chamberlain explores the lessons learned from her journey and shares tips for making a good exit.

Mary Schwarz discusses ArtWorks Alliance’s journey over the last five years, their plans for the future and how you can get involved.

Régis Cochefert, Director of Grants and Programmes, reflects on the Foundation’s emergency grant-making as we prepare to reopen to applications, whilst retaining a commitment to quicker decisions, more flexibility and better responsiveness to applicants.