This programme had a huge impact on the children. For many this was an opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have had. It was especially pleasing to see children who rarely participate in group discussions in class willingly and confidently taking lead roles. The project gave the children the chance to be a part of a creative process, to access a quality arts programme at their own individual level and to celebrate their community through this. Watching their creativity and confidence soar was an absolute joy to witness as their teacher.

—Teacher, Canal View Primary

Immerse was an ambitious and immersive three-year project working with 6 primary schools in Edinburgh (based in areas of greater need and high index of social deprivation).


In Year 1 (2019/2020), the project included the following elements: 

  • Immersive in-school theatre intervention: The Lost Lending Library
    The project kicked off with The Lost Lending Library project: a spectacular 3-week adventure for the whole school community, from the masters of immersive theatre, Punchdrunk. Find out more about The Lost Lending Library.

  • Artist residencies over 10 weeks
    Each school then received a 10 week residency with artists. The 10-week artist residencies were also transformational in empowering children to discover new sides of themselves, and different ways of seeing the world around them. Find out more about the residencies.
     "I've learned that we all have different strengths and we can bring them all together to create something really unique!"- pupil, Craigroyston Primary

  • Festival visits and creative learning projects
    Schools were due to attend the Children’s Festival and take part in a week long in-school project to complement it. Following the cancellation of the Festival due to the Corona crisis, we worked with artists to design resources suitable for at-home learning, including workshops on Stop Motion Animation, letter writing and art design project. For children without internet access, we organised the distribution of arts packs and inspiration guides to their home.

Immerse is part of Imaginate's Inspiring Schools programme and is funded through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government - through Creative Scotland - the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals. We are also grateful to Baillie Gifford for their sponsorship of the project.