A selection of children's poems, stories and other types of creative writing exploring cultural diversity were on display at the Respect Festival on 2 and 3 June 2012. 

Banners in the Cathedral was a unique opportunity for 1,800 children to explore the Olympic and Paralympic Values, and to share their work with thousands of visitors to Exeter Cathedral, coinciding with the passing of the Olympic Torch Relay through Devon on 20 May 2012. A link to a picture of each school's banner can be found in the list at the bottom of this article.

"The performance on Saturday was a complete joy to watch. There is something special about watching youngsters with a love for theatre being given such an opportunity. It is a real gift, and something in these financially difficult times that can't be taken for granted."

This was just one piece of feedback from those who attended the performance of Dialogues at the Exeter Northcott Theatre in April, created and performed by the gifted and talented members, aged 13-19, of Devon Youth Theatre and Devon Youth Dance Company. See below for photographs from the rehearsals and performance.

Inspiration Aspiration Partnership

arts, cultural organisations and schools working together

The feedback from the Daisi project 'A River's Journey: Axe Valley, Autumn 2010 to Spring 2011' is now available. Click here to view the full evaluation report or read a summary below.

Inspiration Aspiration Partnership

arts, cultural organisations and schools working together

The feedback from 'Learning About Where We Live: Exmouth, Summer 2010 to May 2011' is now available. Click here to view the full evaluation report or read a summary below.

Two Devon secondary schools have completed a year-long Daisi project which used creativity to bring issues of society and citizenship to life for young people, and established new and lasting connections between pupils, schools and their local communities.

The SEAL project - developing the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning through the Arts

During the past year an exciting and innovative project has been taking place in a number of Torbay's primary schools. Daisi has been working with Torbay council to deliver arts workshops in schools including street dancing, film making, printmaking and musical theatre, all of which have been designed to help develop social and emotional aspects of learning.

The Central Learning Community in Exeter worked with Daisi to create the Celebrating Our World Festival 2009 in the summer.

A partnership project, drawing 7 agencies together, about positive activities for young people that create change for them. 

Art to Start explores child-centred approaches to creativity in the early years foundation stage through growing the relationship between professional artists and setting staff.

Inspiration Aspiration Partnership is about arts, cultural organisations and schools working together to inspire creativity and increase aspiration by developing young people's pride in their local surroundings and resources.

3D is a Devon County Council funded organisation that aims to promote high quality dance and provide performance opportunities for school children and young people in Devon.

DYT is funded by Devon County Council and aims to bring Devon school students in years 9 to13 the opportunity to work in an innovative, high quality company, with other like-minded students and professionals, to learn more about the art form and discipline of theatre.

The DigitEX project (2005) was a participatory workshop and performance project for Exeter children initiated to explore personal, community and global identity through arts and new technology in celebration of the reorganisation of Exeter schools.

The Transitions project was developed in 2004-2005, funded by Youth Music. It explored the issue of continuity and progression for pupils between primary and secondary school, looking at the impact for young people of engagement in music making activities across this transition phase.

TREADZ was a multi art form, action research pilot project, initiated by Daisi in 2004. It explored the potential of the arts to increase self-esteem and confidence in young people who are excluded from school and attending Pupil Referral Units, or who are in a young offender's unit.

A partnership project led by daisi and theatre practitioner Phil Smith, using physical theatre to explore scientific concepts complementary to and beyond the science curriculum.

A Real Buzz was an innovative, creative partnership between EDF energy, 6 Exeter schools and Daisi in 2003. Artists in residence and EDF Energy volunteers worked with over 500 pupils to create art works on the theme of human and natural energy for EDF Energy's new Exeter Customer Service Centre.

This project was a response to the introduction of the government's School Improvement Strategy, and looked at supporting this strategy through forms of artist-led creative activity within schools.

The Groundswell Project was launched in October 1998 with a wide ranging programme of activities running through to March 2001; its focus was the work of artists in schools. The project research focuses on the impact of artists on pupils' learning.