Z-arts are delighted to be invited to join Arts Council England’s National Portfolio for 2018 – 2022.

This period of funding not only helps us to create exciting new projects and collaborations with amazing artists, it also gives Z-arts the recognition as a leading figure in Theatre and Arts for children and young people.

It’s heart-warming that ACE recognise Z-arts as “an organisation of regional / national significance… delivering a high quality engagement work and talent development within CYP”

This funding isn’t just for Z-arts.  It’s to develop and maintain the Big Imaginations Children’s theatre network in the North West currently 15 venues, but increasing to 20 and spreading as wide as South and west Yorkshire, meaning we can continue to bring brilliant children’s theatre to areas that otherwise wouldn’t be able to see it.

It also means we can formalise some exciting new partnerships, like new projects with Discover Children’s Story Centre who helped us bring the magical Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things experience to Manchester, and a four year partnership with the hugely talented Theatre-Rites as an Associated Company.  We’re launching our first co-commission with them at the Manchester International Festival next week, The Welcoming Party.

Projects are also being hatched with other new NPO’s like China Plate and Venture Arts as well as those who have had significant uplifts like The Spark Arts and 20 Stories High.  It feels like a good time for the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) sector.

On behalf of Z-arts, Chief Executive and Artistic Director Liz O’Neill said: “As well as our partner artists, we would like to thank our audiences and visitors.  It’s comments like “I’m just blown away by the quality of the performances” that help us reach this moment.

And thanks to Arts Council England for the recognition.  It’s an honour to represent the children and young people arts sector.  We won’t let you (or them) down.”