For young people in rural communities in the north of England, there are significant barriers to accessing the arts. Students living far from urban centres often find opportunities limited – to explore the potential for careers in the arts, or to be exposed to new ideas, artforms and sources of inspiration. Schools, working on limited budgets, find the logistics and costs associated with school trips to local cultural centres prohibitive and can't afford the cost of bringing artists into school.

We will programme creative workshops in five rural schools over the period of one month, giving up to 2,700 students the opportunity to learn new skills, be inspired by professional performers and creatives, and to experience the benefits of involvement in the arts. Schools will not be required to pay for the workshops or to arrange transport and schedules to travel students to the workshops. The workshops will be in both traditional (eg. acting) and digital (eg animation) art forms.