c. Ian Georgeson
c. Ian Georgeson
Ultimately it was so important to give 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...

—Participating Class Teacher

Immerse was a multi-year programme which embedded high-quality theatre, dance and creativity in schools who need it most. The project developed a long-term relationship with 6 primary schools located in areas of Edinburgh including Brunstane, Muirhouse and Wester Hailes, through the following activities:

  • An immersive theatre adventure by Punchdrunk Enrichment where the normal school environment is transformed into a place of mystery and wonder.
  • A 10-week artist residency, where 2 artists work with a full year group to explore particular topics or themes, developing pupils’ creativity, confidence and self-expression.
  • A visit to a Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Performance, with subsidised transport available to every pupil.
  • A 4-day, artist-led creative learning project, where children explore complex themes from a production they have seen and learn to formulate their own responses.
  • A programme of CLPL training for teachers, giving them confidence and skills in arts-based learning.

The three years were progressive, starting in Year 1 with an artist-led experience, and ending in Year 3 with confident teachers ready to develop their own ideas with Imaginate and artists supporting them throughout the process.

The following six schools were involved in the project. They are all united in having a real interest in theatre and dance, and in arts-based learning and the benefits which this can bring. 

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.