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Memorandum submitted by East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)
1.1 Executive Summary
The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has submitted this evidence to the committee in support of Creative Partnerships and to show evidence of their role as a facilitator across a wide range of disciplines, particularly economic development. This submission refers specifically to a very successful partnership between emda and Creative Partnerships in February 2007 in response to Science and Engineering Week.
1.2 Following a competitive tendering process, Creative Partnerships won a contract to deliver a regional programme of public engagement activity around science and technology leading up to National Science and Engineering Week. The programme included a series of activity which engaged artists with scientists and used creativity to question greater ethical and moral issues around science.
1.3 The evaluation shows that 4000 young people and their families took part in hands-on creative science activities as part of the programme and emda is currently investigating how in future years we can continue to work with Creative Partnerships on similar projects.
1.4 Certainly through our experience Creative Partnerships is a professional, inspirational organisation that delivered a provocative, successful campaign. They have demonstrated that they are able to engage young people and their families through a creative, well managed and structured approach. Through our work with them we have found we are able to connect hard to reach groups with economic activity using engaging and thought provoking activities. They offer a valuable service to young people and their families and have clearly demonstrated the value of creativity in engaging young people cross-curriculum.
2. East Midlands Development Agency 2.1 East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. 2.2 Our shared vision is that by 2020 the East Midlands will be a flourishing region, a region made up of growing and innovative businesses, a region where skilled people are employed in good quality jobs. A region where we all feel part of healthy, inclusive communities and live in thriving, attractive places. 2.3 The East Midlands is England's fourth largest region with a population of 4.3 million, 7% of the UK total. It consists of 6 counties - Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The region's main population centres are the cities of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln and the towns of Northampton and Mansfield. 3. Come Alive with Science Programme 3.1 Following an open procurement process, Creative Partnerships (Nottingham) were selected to deliver a regional programme of public engagement activity around science and technology leading up to National Science and Engineering Week 2007. The contract, worth £150,000 was used to deliver a programme of activity as part of Innovation East Midlands[1] first ifestival and Nottingham Science City. 3.2 'Come Alive with Science' was delivered in 25 secondary schools and directly involved 100 feeder primary schools from across the East Midlands. This exciting and inspiring programme of activity engaged teachers, scientists and creative practitioners working together for the first time to develop and deliver creative science based activities. The programme aimed to give young people practical experience of science experiments and also introduce them to scientific achievements, discoveries and opportunities. A scientist and an artist were attached to each secondary school where they worked with students and staff to plan and deliver a series of creative science experiments which responded to the science curriculum but were also exciting, imaginative and engaging. Workshops with the practitioners led up to science games days where pupils from feeder primaries participated in activities led by secondary students. Most schools also help evening events directed at parents and the local community. 3.3 As part of Science City five films were made by pupils from Nottinghamshire Schools working with scientists and filmmakers to investigate the ethical, moral and science issues associated with nanotechnology, health, ICT, the environment and engineering. The films were then shared with schools from across the East Midlands at a film premier hosted by Broadway Cinema, a creative industries hub in Nottingham. 3.4 A creative debate was also held at Nottingham Playhouse, where the Royal Academy of Engineering and NESTA launched 'Shape for the Future' - a series of profiles highlighting science, engineering and technology achievers from across the UK. 4.0 Conclusion The East Midlands Development Agency recognises the strong role that Creative Partnerships plays in engaging schools, young people and their families in cross-curricular activity. Our experience of working with them has demonstrated to us that they are able to make a contribution to both economic development and community cohesion. They are able to engage communities that are economically excluded through their work with children in schools and they are also able to use creativity to broaden access and participation in areas of activity such as science, technology and innovation. July 2007 [1] Innovation East Midlands is the name for the Regional Science and Industry Council |