Sky Arts Access All Arts Week returns today with a stellar new line up including Dame Darcey Bussell, Fleur East and George the Poet

Monday 16 June 2025

Sky Arts' Access All Arts Week, a free nationwide arts week for primary schools, returns for its fourth year this week, with over 20,000 teachers from almost 12,000 schools across the UK and Ireland already signed up to take part. In just 3 years, the initiative has already reached over 715,000 children.

Access All Arts Week is a free educational programme designed to help teachers bring the arts into classrooms and celebrate creative expression. Each year, Sky Arts collaborates with teachers, educational experts, and partner arts organisations to develop a brand-new range of free resources. Schools can choose from five modules - Marks, Images, Sounds, Moves, and Words - spanning 11 art forms, including poetry, music, drawing, and dance.

In May 2025 Access All Arts won the Free Educational Resource' category at the Education Resource Awards in Birmingham.

New live lessons for 2025

For the first time, this year's programme will feature live lessons lead by some of the UK's best creatives, including:

Former ballerina & creator of DDMix Dame Darcey Bussell DBE leads the way with an energising movement workshop, teaching fun dance moves from all around in a global dance adventure.

Singer, songwriter and broadcaster Fleur East brings the beats, teaching pupils the basics of rap and how to have fun with music.

Spoken-word artist and podcaster George the Poet guides students to craft their own poem about the library, using lyrical storytelling to explore a setting.

Marvel comic book artist Will Sliney guides pupils step-by-step in his drawing masterclass, teaching them how to draw their very own superhero.

Oscar winning Wicked costumer designer Paul Tazewell talks about the inspiration behind his stunning Wicked costumes and sets a design challenge centered around nature.

The lessons, filmed at iconic locations including the Royal Academy of Dance, the Cartoon Museum in Soho, Hits Radio (part of the Bauer Media Group) and the Library in Willesden Green, will give pupils an insight into the creative world.

Access All Arts Week is available for free to all primary school teachers and children in the UK and Ireland, celebrating the arts and highlighting its importance in supporting the health and wellbeing of young people. The programme supports teachers with ready-made lesson plans, video content, and interactive activities, helping to make arts education more accessible.

Sky Arts' Access All Arts Week starts today and runs until the end of the week. There's still time to get involved -

find out more here: https://accessallarts.skyarts.uk/

Additional quotes:

Dame Darcey Bussell DBE said:

Imagination and creativity through the arts is an essential part of learning and helps to create mentally sustainable young minds. Dance in particular can stimulate the child's interest in all areas of the arts, as well as sports, and give them the confidence to explore their own creativity in other fields. These benefits should be enjoyed by every child which is why I am so excited to be a part of Sky Arts Access All Arts week with our DDMIX dance fitness master class."

Fleur East said:

Being part of this incredible school's arts initiative is such an honour. I've always believed in the power of creativity to inspire young people, and this project gives children a unique opportunity to express themselves. Music has the ability to break down barriers, and I'm excited to see how the children use their voices to create something special. I'm looking forward to seeing their work and spotting any future rappers out there!

George the Poet said:

Im so grateful to have been part of this initiative, which taps into the creativity of our young people. The arts are a great way to bring learning to life, and I love making that happen through poetry. I hope that by teaching poetry as I know it, I can connect with the poets of the next generation. Looking forward to meeting you all and hearing the future in your words!"

Will Sliney said:

Its never been more important to encourage art for kids than now. Inspiring kids to learn how to draw is one of the most powerful gifts we can give them. Drawing isn't just about art-it's about expression, imagination, and confidence. When a child picks up a pencil and starts to sketch, they begin to see the world through a creative lens, learning to communicate thoughts and feelings that words can't always capture. I'm so Im thrilled to be a part of Access All Arts Week. Hopefully we can help prove that drawing is a skill and not a talent, and that everyone can do it with a bit of practice.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said:

Access All Arts Week was launched in October 2021, following the lockdown, with the aim of helping children reconnect and highlighting the essential role the arts play in supporting their well-being. We are thrilled by the positive reception it has received from the teaching community, and now, four years later, the initiative continues to thrive as it embarks on its fourth week this June.

Vanessa Woodard, Head of Partnerships, Sky Arts, said:

Access All Arts has been a passion project for us all. Taking the time to talk to teachers and education providers during lockdown has proven invaluable, allowing us to design a programme that addresses specific needs within schools and offers teachers customised resources that genuinely work for them. The support and enthusiasm of our talented contributors and partners has also helped to elevate this initiative and we would like to thank everyone who has joined us on this journey.

Notes to Editors:

For more information, please contact: Lucy.Butterfield@sky.uk / Emma.Thomas@sky.uk

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