GLOW Creative Connections

GLOW Creative Connections is a multi-partner action research project exploring collaborations between artists and educational professionals working on projects that aim to improve young people’s social and emotional wellbeing.

The number of young people experiencing social and emotional mental health challenges in education is increasing. Whilst there is growing evidence of the wellbeing benefits of engaging in expressive arts activity, there has been a decline in the availability and uptake of arts provision in schools.

At the same time, there is growing compelling evidence of the benefits of engaging in expressive arts activity (How cultural learning can be used to overcome the current crisis in young people’s mental wellbeing, www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk).

GLOW Creative Connections asks:

• Can greater understanding and practice sharing between the cultural and education sectors help schools and colleges meet this challenge?
• How might co-creative residencies provide an alternative lens for looking at the issues?
• Will observing, reflecting on and experimenting with co-creative practice methods suggest alternative approaches for teachers?

How we did it:

We worked with three settings based in Newcastle upon Tyne to identify pupil or student groups and recruit a Resident Artist:

• Walker Riverside Academy, a mainstream secondary school in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Newcastle College Childcare Department
• Mary Astell Academy, an Alternative Academy Provision within the Prosper Learning Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.

We created an Action Learning Group of teachers and creative practitioners working with young participants on this project, and scheduled periodic meetings for reflection and shared learning at each stage of the process.  This was facilitated by our researcher in residence, Dr. Florrie Darling.

Each residency was co-created between artists, teachers or lecturers and young participants, and each had its own art-form, practice and thematic focus.

They all shared an over-arching aim to positively contribute to the wellbeing of the children and young people engaged in the project, and to critically consider how working partnerships and co-creative practices can benefit students and teachers.

Our GLOW Creative Connections report and resource bank:

(PUBLICATION DATE: 25/09/2025)

This resource includes:

• Case study examples
• Teaching and learning materials
• Reflections on our learning from the project

Download the full pack – report and resources: GLOW Newcastle Creative Connections FULL REPORT 

Download resources only: GLOW Newcastle Creative Connections ACTIVITIES ONLY 

This GLOW Newcastle Creative Connections project, report and materials have been a truly collaborative effort.

We’d like to thank everybody involved, especially all of the young people, teachers and school staff, artist-practitioners, project producers, and the wider GLOW Newcastle team.

Particular thanks to:

Mary Astell Academy and Prosper Learning Trust
Newcastle College
Walker Riverside Academy

Our Artist-Practitioner team:

Adam Cogdon

John Quinn

Becky MacKenzie

Ken Masters

GLOW Creative Connections Researcher in Residence

Dr Florrie Darling

Professor Sue Scott GLOW Newcastle Trustee

Gary Wright Director of School Improvement Prosper Learning Trust and GLOW Newcastle Trustee

Ann Winter GLOW Newcastle Programme Manager
Bex Mather GLOW Newcastle Director

Photography:

Dan May, Adam Cogdon and John Quinn

Report Design:

Wayne Gamble

We thank all of our funders for their vital support

We are especially grateful for the support and funding for this project from the North East Combined Authority Excellence in Education Programme — a wide-ranging and collaborative initiative focused on ensuring that all children and young people, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to the region’s future success.