Our vision
Our mission
Leeds33 enables the city to harness the power of arts and culture, empowering every child and young person to flourish. Through transformative cultural partnerships and programmes, children and young people will have ownership and agency of their own cultural learning.
Our Values
Collaborative
We work in partnership with children, young people, communities and organisations, valuing shared learning and collective impact.
Child‑focused
Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do, shaping our decisions, priorities and ways of working.
Inclusive
We actively challenge inequity and create spaces where all children and young people feel valued, heard and able to participate.
Generous
We share power, resources and learning openly, acting with care, kindness and commitment to the wider sector and community.
Our story
Leeds33 (formerly known as LeedsCEP) was established in September 2017 in response to Arts Council England’s Cultural Education Challenge and is part of a national network of Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs).
LCEPs are a partnership of arts and cultural organisations, educational institutions, local authorities and other stakeholders committed to developing cultural learning opportunities for children and young people in their local area. They exist across the country in different local authorities and respond to local needs and contexts.
Leeds33 works strategically to drive a joined-up cultural offer locally, to share resources and to bring about a more coherent, visible, cultural education offer for children and young people in the city. We have a wide and growing membership of organisations through our mailing list, from across the cultural, education, and community sectors which cover all geographical areas of Leeds.
Why we're here
Our priorities
Making cultural opportunities accessible to every child and young person.
We work to reduce barriers to cultural participation so that all children and young people can access meaningful, high-quality cultural learning, regardless of postcode, income or circumstance.
We believe access to arts and culture should be a right, not a privilege.
Building confident, art-rich schools.
We support schools to embed culture sustainably through leadership, partnerships and shared learning, creating the conditions for long-term cultural engagement.
We believe strong cultural education depends on confident schools and connected communities.
Culture that reflects Leeds’ children and communities.
We champion inclusive and representative cultural experiences so that children and young people see themselves, their identities and their lived experiences reflected through arts and culture.
We believe cultural education should foster connection, voice, confidence and belonging.
Supporting young people to love well, learn well and thrive.
We champion cultural education that builds confidence, wellbeing, creativity and aspiration, helping young people develop the skills and agency to shape their futures.
We believe participation in culture should lead to lifelong opportunity, whether in education, work or life.
Creative Health
A thread running through everything we do.
Creative Health underpins all four of our priorities, recognising the role that arts, culture and creativity play in supporting wellbeing, connection, confidence and resilience.
We believe that creativity helps children and young people thrive.