Creative Learning

Our Creative Learning Department was created in 2017 following a restructure of resources and our desire to work in our community outside the walls of the building.

Donations, Grants and Council subsidy all contribute to the theatres Creative Learning work in our community, through our Culture Team.

In the financial year (19/20):

548 School children benefited from free art provision through illustration workshops.

13 Tunbridge Wells Primary schools participated in projects, 3 from some of our most rural areas (Sandhurst, Frittenden and Benenden). Delivering theatre benefits outside the town centre.

We developed our Stairwell Art projects programme where our Stairwells are used as a community art gallery, we hosted ‘Blooming Marvellous’, created in partnership with Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom; with help from local budding photographers, we collected photographs of our town, parks and borough looking ‘Blooming Marvellous!’

We delivered an 84% increase in our arts based workshops in the community.

We delivered 146 hours of arts facilitation in the community.

We hosted 8 non-performance community events with 7 community groups. 125 people participated, creating the Panto Art Display and decorating the theatre foyers.

We hosted regular "during performance" guide dog training days.

We ran a new formalised Work Experience programme, resulting in 5 students participating in the programme, they then produced their own on stage event at the end of the programme.

We delivered tours of the theatre to 152 people including Heritage Open Days.

We delivered, in partnership with Trinity Theatre, Sherwood Youth Drama a free drama club for 8-16year olds from the Sherwood/Lakewood area.

We hosted our first ever Pride event in partnership with Tunbridge Wells Pride, which saw the stage adapted to a small speakeasy cabaret bar, the event was hosted by Charlie Hides (Ru Paul's Drag Race).

Also during the Centenary Poppy Appeal between 20,000 – 30,000 poppies were created and donated by members of the community for the Knitted Poppy display. Approximately 5000 people participated, based on 5 poppies made per knitter. A project delivered through our Gateway and wider Council colleagues.

We developed a new cross culture (Museum and Theatre) Creative Learning Menu that is heavily subsidised to ensure accessibility - it can found HERE.

This list does not cover the work that our team members in other Council services such as the One You (Health) Team, and the Museum and Gallery Team are also doing in our communities.

We hope you can see that the support that you give us really does enable us to continue this work and we hope to be able to expand our programme of creative learning over the next few years. If you would like to offer or continue your support please find out how by clicking HERE.

Thank You.