Last month saw the launch of The Helen Foundation annual subsidy programme for the nearly 60 schools in Teignbridge. This enables schools and colleges to choose professional artists to work with a young people in whichever art-form the school wishes to select. This could be painting, drama, music, dance sculpture - the school chooses for itself.
Already schools are signing up to use their THF subsidies to book arts workshops for this current academic year. Primary schools have access to £400 and secondary and special schools up to £800 for 2022–2023. In addition, schools that have not yet accessed their THF Arts Recovery Fund (ARF) still have that extra funding available. This amounts to an extra £500 for primary schools and up to £1000 for secondary and special schools. The THF ARF funding can be used for further professional artist workshops with a school's young people or for special equipment needed to improve the arts activity within the school.