Join us for the national Family Arts Leadership Symposium: A Space for Impact taking place on 18 March 2025, 10am – 5pm at Cecil Sharp House in London.

This year, we invite both established and aspiring leaders to join us to learn about and to strengthen the IMPACT of your work, your role, and your contribution to the cultural sector, and for families in need.

A Space for Impact will include keynotes, a panel discussion, workshops and lots of opportunities to connect with other leaders from across the UK. The Symposium offers a space to explore key concepts in co-creation, be inspired by life-enhancing projects for families and older people, and takeaway practical guidance to help you become an impactful leader. This is your time to refresh, recharge and reflect on your impact potential.

So what will the sessions be? Scroll down to discover our latest Programme Announcements…

Haven’t booked your tickets yet? There is still time – Book Now!

Registration will open at 9.30am for a 10am start and the event will finish at 5pm with a drinks reception until 6pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the day.

Keynote
Your Leadership Changes Lives

Why do you do what you do? How can you lead the way in inclusive creative opportunities? How can your work help people feel a sense of belonging?

We’ll kickstart the day with a powerful blend of storytelling and interactive activities.

After an introduction from Anna Dever, Executive Director of Family Arts Campaign, Kheron Gilpin will share his inspiring personal journey, illustrating the transformative impact of inclusive arts organisations on young people and families.

We’ll also hear from three winners of the Fantastic for Families Awards 2024: theatre ensemble Tangled Feet, Wiltshire Music Centre and the National Maritime Museum. Each will share their different stories of creating space for people to feel a sense of belonging. Award winning projects include a performance for care-experienced children, creative activities and conversation for older men to support their mental health and combat isolation, and a literal space to belong: a creative playground designed to be SEND inclusive.

These stories will be the catalyst for dynamic activities, thought-provoking discussions and networking prompts to get your mind ready for the day ahead.

Breakout Option One:
Workshop 
Co-Creation for Inclusive Strategies

Speakers:
Dr Ella Harris, Creative Researcher, Progress Today
Kheron Gilpin, Engagement Specialist, Progress Today

Do you really know what your community wants? How can you make sure they’re a part of what you’re creating? 
 
This interactive workshop offers a practical introduction to the principles and practices of co-design. Participants will explore a range of methods for actively engaging communities in processes including defining impact, designing services, and evaluating outcomes. Led by Dr. Ella Harris, the session will delve into key concepts like ‘epistemic justice’ – (equity in who is taken seriously as a knower and who knowledge benefits) ensuring that all individuals, especially marginalised groups, are heard, trusted, and given the tools to make sense of their own experiences. The session will include activities that equip you to implement co-design techniques in your work right away. 

Breakout Option Two:
Panel Discussion 
Leading Impact: Creating Space to Belong

Chaired by:
Zoe Dennington, Family Arts Campaign Board Member, and Head of Learning and Participation at Crafts Council

Speakers:
Ruth Boley, Senior Manager, Learning at National Maritime Museum
Lisa Parascandolo, Teacher and Cultural Capital Lead from Willow Dene School
Nathan Curry, Co-Artistic Director, Tangled Feet
Rebecca Seymour, Creative Producer of Celebrating Age Wiltshire, Wiltshire Music Centre

How could you lead the way in life-changing projects? How can you create a space for your community to belong?

In this Panel Discussion, we’ll dive deeper into how the award-winning projects from the 2024 Fantastic for Families Awards were developed with specific communities in mind. Find out how they’ve had a profound effect on the lives of older people, young people and their families, and how these organisations know they’ve made a difference.

National Maritime Museum: The Cove 
Joint Winner of the Audience Impact & Innovation Award 2024 
Ruth Boley, Senior Manager: Learning at National Maritime Museum, and Lisa Parascandolo, Teacher and Cultural Capital Lead from Willow Dene School, will speak about the development and impact of the Museum’s playground, designed to be SEND inclusive. They will share about their partnership in the development of The Cove, and how they ensured it creates a sense of belonging and acceptance for SEND children and their families.

Tangled Feet: Belongings 
Joint Winner of the Audience Impact & Innovation Award 2024 
Nathan Curry, Co-Artistic Director at Tangled Feet, will share the theatre ensemble’s commitment to socially engaged performances and the impact of their co-created therapeutic theatre show Belongings. The performance provided care experienced children, teachers and social workers in Luton with an opportunity to witness the story (their story) of growing up away from your birth family.

Wiltshire Music Centre: Celebrating Age Wiltshire’s Creative Conversations 
Winner of Best Age-Friendly Outreach 2024 
Rebecca Seymour, Creative Producer of Celebrating Age Wiltshire, will talk about Creative Conversations, how the project is tailored to participants, and the life-enhancing impact it has had on participants. Designed to reduce isolation and enhance wellbeing through creativity, Creative Conversations has supported men aged 65 years+ to connect and meet like-minded men, helping them to find a sense of belonging in their local community.

Keynote
Measuring Impact: Key Insights from Our Latest Research

Speakers:
Beckie Smith, Director and Consultant, Flying Geese
Sarah Glover, Research and Evaluation Consultant, Flying Geese

Community, Consultation, Co-creation – Nothing about us without us.  
 
Join us for our insightful keynote session which reveals the findings from our latest research led by Flying Geese, consultants for the arts, heritage and culture sector. Find out what underpins Family and Age-Friendliness from policy makers, cultural organisations and the people we engage with every day. 

Established Leaders Workshop
Driving Change: Realising what your organisation can do

Speakers:
Beckie Smith, Director and Consultant, Flying Geese
Sarah Glover, Research and Evaluation Consultant, Flying Geese

This interactive workshop is designed to equip leaders with the tools, strategies, and peer support needed to create meaningful change in their organisations.

Through open discussions and problem-solving exercises, you’ll explore the challenges associated with embedding change that sees you engage more deeply with your audiences and participants. With practical change management frameworks, and implementation tactics, this session provides a rare and valuable space for senior leaders to connect, share insights, and collaborate on solutions. You’ll leave with clear action plans, a personal pledge for change, and the confidence to drive real impact.

Aspiring Leaders Workshop 
Creative Leadership

Speakers:
Dr Ella Harris, Creative Researcher, Progress Today
Kheron Gilpin, Engagement Specialist, Progress Today

What does it mean to be a Creative Leader?

This workshop explores how creative thinking can unlock new ways to innovate, problem solve and inspire teams. Using practical exercises including challenges, strategic thinking activities and scenario-based discussion, participants will learn how to explore and navigate leadership with agility, resilience and creative vision. Building on the idea that leadership is the skill of creating more leaders not more followers, we’ll examine how to harness creativity to ensure teams and communities can flourish.

Keynote
Your Future Impact

Speakers:
Dr Ella Harris, Creative Researcher, Progress Today
Kheron Gilpin, Engagement Specialist, Progress Today

What does the future of your leadership look like? What will you do next?  
 
The day will conclude with an engaging session that brings everyone together to synthesise insights and share key take-aways and commitments. Throughout the day we’ve been gathering ideas, and this is where they come together. This final motivational session will leave you with a sense of purpose and concrete next steps for boosting impact.

Accessibility

We are delighted to be hosting our event at a venue committed to offering a welcome and accessible experience for its visitors. You can find out more about the accessibility of the building here.

We are committed to providing bespoke support for accessibility requirements wherever possible, if you would like to discuss your needs with us or have any access questions please email anna.dever@familyarts.co.uk.

Booking Terms and Conditions.