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 inequality 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
We work to ensure that young people’s voice is a key part of decision-making in the development of creative education opportunities. We will shape effective policy planning by raising the profile of young people’s perspectives and creative education needs.
We look to create an evidence-based case for cultural education, and will use this to advocate to decision-makers and stakeholders in Leeds. We’re also raising awareness and removing barriers to Leeds’ cultural education offer, by developing targeted work where engagement is low, and providing targeted information for schools and young people on the cultural offer in the city.
We support cross-sector information exchange, networking, professional development and other initiatives which support health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people through engagement with arts and culture.
We look to support programmes that identify, nurture and retain young people’s creative talent in the city and address current barriers to cultural education progression from early years through to higher education. We work together to develop better practice in creative and cultural learning in schools and support progression and talent development for young people into creative careers.