How do we know it’s any good? Quality debate about the principles of work for, with and by children and young people

Event details:

Date:           Tuesday, 6 December, 2011 

Venue:       CBSO Centre
                     Berkley Street
                     Birmingham

                     B1 2LF

Times:        9.30am - 4.10pm

This event marks the start of a longer discussion about how we should work together as a culture sector, to develop a set of principles which will help everyone understand better the quality of work being produced for, with and by children and young people.

In recent years, there have been huge efforts to try and understand, recognise and demonstrate what ‘quality’ arts and culture projects look like.  Despite this, there is still a lack of consensus about how we can achieve and demonstrate high quality work.

At this event, Arts Council England will set out its approach to addressing the priority ‘raising the standard of work for, with and by children and young people’ as set out in Achieving great art for everyone.  A broad range of practitioners will be presenting their work and thoughts about ‘quality’ and we will present initial findings from recently commissioned research into existing quality and outcomes frameworks. Throughout the day delegates will be able to question and debate the issues inherent in this agenda with the presenters and with each other.

Who is this event suitable for?

This event is suitable for staff working in arts organisations, museums and libraries, future Bridge delivery organisations and other funded organisations producing and developing work for children and young people.

Event programme

09:30       Registration (tea/coffee)         

10:00       Welcome

                  The Arts Council's priorities for children and young people

                  Althea Efunshile, Chief Operating Officer, Arts Council

10:15       Keynote speech

                  François Matarasso, Writer, Researcher, Consultant and Arts Council  

                  member

10:30       Parallel session (see below)

11:15       Break 

11:30       Quality frameworks- review of evidence

                  National Foundation for Education Research

11:50       Discussion Q&A  

                  Chaired by Althea Efunshile, Chief Operating Officer, Arts Council         

                  England

12:15- 

13:05        Parallel session (see below)

13:00- 

14:00        Lunch

14:00        Parallel session  (see below)

14:45        Break

15:00        Continuing the quality debate

                   Group consultation

16:00        Round up and close

                   Althea Efunshile, Chief Operating Officer, Arts Council England

Parallel sessions:

There will be three opportunities for delegates to attend parallel sessions.  The session options include:

- Before we even start: approaching the question of what constitutes quality

Chair: Emily Pringle, Tate

- Working in partnership to achieve quality

Chair: Adam Coleman, Lyric Theatre

- The voice of children and young people in determining quality

Chair: James Mackenzie-Blackman, National Youth Theatre

- Rhetoric vs practice

Chair: Katherine Zeserson, Sage Gateshead

- Quality frameworks and principles within the wider cultural sector

Chair: Simon Woolley, Beamish museum

- Keeping evaluation creative 

Chair: Jane Sillis, Engage

If you are unable to attend:

If you cannot attend you can still get involved by viewing video content after the event on the Arts Council website.

Join the conversation on twitter with #cypquality. Follow the Arts Council at ace_national