Who Are We?
We are a collective of creatives, educators and community leaders with an ambition and commitment to children’s arts and cultural education. We are hyperlocal and use place-based and co-created practice to strengthen and build on existing assets.Black Shale is hosted by Platform Thirty1Established 2016 📍 Alfreton, Derbyshire
Creative Schools
Ambitious collaborative practice through strategic development and investments, with children and young people's leadership and talents ignited and celebrated.• Colab Creators; seed investments to develop and pilot new collaborative approaches between creatives and schools
• Arts Award; youth talent and leadership development through qualifications
• Complementary Artsmark support; strategic arts and culture development with school SLT
Creative Communities
Hyperlocal youth-led activity, developing Young Creative Leaders in their community, and cultural collaborations to create grassroots legacy.• Go and see experiences; exchange visits to spark collaboration and inspiration
• Young Creative Leaders; leadership training and community volunteering
• Progression projects; extending collaborative practice
Creative Ecology
Increasing the depth and breadth of locally-owned opportunities and resilience of the cultural capital, through professional development, training and learning, alongside facilitated networking across community, education and creative peers.• Over The Garden Fence; half-termly practice sharing and networking events
• CPDL; practical arts and creative skill development workshops
• Buddying scheme; 10 pairs of partners exchanging skills and knowledge
Keep in touch
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Our Partners
Schools
South Normanton Nursery School, Glebe Junior School, Pinxton Nursery School, Blackwell Primary School, Westhouses Primary School, Newton Primary School, Shirland Primary School, Mickley Infant School, Stonebroom Primary School, Tibshelf Community School, Tibshelf Town End Junior School, Tibshelf Infant School, Heath Primary School, Brigg Infant School, Pilsley Primary School, Alfreton Nursery School, David Nieper Adademy, Alfreton Park Community Special School, St Johns C of E Primary School, Morton Primary School, The Bolsover School, Ambergate Primary School
Creatives
Rachel Scanlon, Emma Reynard, Steph Coley, Bob Moulder, Tibshelf Green Bunch, David Wadsworth, Blackwell Youth Club, Karen Herrick, Annie Ball, Karla Jones, Wendy Ducksbury, Sally Newham, AT Creative, Andrew Frost, Dean Leivers, Lucy Renshaw, Lise Bennett, Miram Keye, Heidi Luker, Karen Spring, Bethany Sheldon, Rachel Carter, Level Centre, Junction Arts, First Art CPP, Chesterfield Cultural Education Partnership, Make Shift CPP, Hubbub Theatre, Opus Music
Ambassadors
Claire Hunter Callum’s VoiceLaura Dawes & Chris Howarth St Johns CofE Primary and Nursery SchoolPeter Hallsworth South Normanton Nursery SchoolTreg Marsh Alfreton Park Community Special School