Latest News
The best children’s arts festival in the world
Posted: Wed, 24 Nov 2021 11:40
Leicester is the home to so many extraordinary things. A Pork Pie library, world renowned sports teams and food, stunning countryside, a multi-cultured city, medical breakthroughs - the list goes on. Leicester is far from ordinary. In most areas you will find out something extraordinary. The Spark Festival will take place in Leicester from 7-13 February 2022, live and online for seven days. Children and families can take part in schools, libraries, their homes, their communities and in well-known venues across the city. Read More »
Aakash Odedra Company and The Spark Arts for Children come together with the British Dyslexia Association to create a new work for young audiences
Posted: Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:00
We are proud to announce our collaboration with Aakash Odedra Company in the creation of a new work for children and their families. Little Murmur is based on the true story of a child's struggle with letters and words. Read More »
Adel Al-Salloum will leave The Spark after nearly a decade
Posted: Fri, 01 Oct 2021 09:36
After nine festivals and nearly a decade Adel Al-Salloum will be leaving The Spark on 29 October to take up a new post at UNBOXED2022. Adel was appointed as Director of The Spark Arts for Children in January 2012. Read More »
The Fun Café: a positive impact on Leicester's high street and city centre
Posted: Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:53
This summer we worked in partnership with the City Council and Highcross Management to produce a Fun Café.
We have created a report to provide an overview of our reach and impact. This report is a two-minute read.
We're delighted that the Fun Café benefitted hundreds of families and the high street/city centre of Leicester.
Helping to shine the spotlight
Posted: Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:09
Kim Salt has joined The Spark Arts for Children as communications manager. Her main role will be to promote the annual festival and showcase the extraordinary work delivered week in, week out by the talented team and partners. Read More »
Festival Directors finding the extraordinary in the ordinary
Posted: Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:30
Trina Haldar and Daryl Beeton begin preparations for The Spark Festival 2022.
The Spark Festival will be back in February 2022 bringing a simple curiosity to discovering who we are and a chance to find joy in truly being ourselves after a year of global turmoil.
The Festival will offer a blend of live and digital performances to ensure that everyone has the chance to experience them. It will include a programme of dance, theatre and music which invites children to reflect on themselves and others and provide much needed shared creative and cultural experiences for all. Read More »
Creating Community in a Digital World
Posted: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:16
The start of 2021 saw us in another national lockdown resulting in our 2021 Festival moving entirely online, presenting us with sudden and unexpected challenges that we have not had to navigate before. How do we produce a festival online that has the energy and vibrancy of our physical festival, and how do we support our regular communities? Read More »
The Spark champions learning through music for the under 5s
Posted: Mon, 19 Oct 2020 16:00
The Spark has been awarded £95,390 from Youth Music, using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England to support musicians and early years practitioners to be 'music champions'. The project will promote the role music plays in the development of children aged 0 - 4 years through a newly created Leicester/shire Music Champions & Early Years Music Network. Read More »
The Spark appoint new Associate Directors
Posted: Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:26
The Spark are delighted to announce the appointment of Trina Haldar and Daryl Beeton as Associate Directors.
October will be a bright and bold month as The Spark welcomes Trina Haldar and Daryl Beeton into their roles as Associate Directors.
The new Associate Director roles place artists at the heart of The Spark's decision-making processes, working closely with the Director and the rest of The Spark team, Stakeholders and children of Leicester. Read More »
The Spark Festival is moving
Posted: Mon, 19 Nov 2018 09:00
The Spark Festival is moving from its regular slot in May to February. Read More »
