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Arts Alive evaluation

Evaluations of the Arts Alive programme

Pupils and professinal artists playing musical instruments in a church and waving, smiling, making funny faces to the camera

Arts Alive was a creative arts in education programme for schools delivered by Scottish Book Trust, in collaboration with Scotland's National Performing Companies. It invitef schools from across Scotland to apply either for fully funded artist residencies, or single artist or practitioner school sessions.

During the Arts Alive school residencies project (2021–22):

  • 13 residencies were delivered across 14 schools in Scotland
  • 711 pupils and 71 learning professionals took part
  • 92% of pupils found an art form they'd like to continue
  • 100% of artists said the residency was a valuable experience for them

Key conclusions

The programme launched during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as our evaluation shows, Arts Alive delivered really positive results and outcomes over the period 2020-22. There is strong evidence that:

Our impact

Here are some highlights from our August 2022 evaluation reports. You can download the full reports below.

School residencies 2021–22

School sessions 2020–22

What participants said

It showed me how to become what I want to become.

- Pupil, session diary

It makes be feel smiley and joyful.

- Pupil, post-residency survey

We are in an area of deprivation so for the children to get an experience like this, it's invaluable.

- Learning professional, post-residency survey

I'm used to working in a studio with people who come to me. I'd never been in public schools in Scotland to do that kind of work.

- Artist, interview

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