SCHOOLS
PROGRAMME
In our inaugural year, more than 3,000 children and young people across Alton and surrounding villages took part in free creative workshops – and in 2026, we're going bigger than ever.
This year's programme brings professional artists from Alton and across the UK into every local school, offering 64 free workshops to more than 3,500 children and young people from Reception through to Year 8. That's 15 primary schools, both of Alton's secondary schools, and Treloar's specialist SEND school – ensuring every child in our community has access to a creative experience, at no cost to schools or families.
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A core tenet of the Alton Arts Festival is that everyone deserves access to the arts, and this is especially true for children. The arts are fundamental to expanding children’s experiences, building empathy and confidence, and increasing wellbeing. We wanted to make sure that no child misses out on what the Alton Arts Festival has to offer, and we were so thrilled to be able to offer such a comprehensive programme in our first year, thanks to the support of our sponsors.”
Sara Wood, Schools' Programme Lead,
Alton Arts Festival
2026?
What's happening in
From African drumming and taiko to hip-hop dance, silversmithing, comic art and creative writing – this year's workshops span an extraordinary range of disciplines, all led by professional artists. Highlights include:
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Street art with Street Style Surgery
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Hip-hop dance with Boy Blue
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Silversmithing at a local studio, funded by The Goldsmiths' Centre
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Taiko drumming with Hampshire Music Service
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Creative writing with local author Sarah Lucas
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Sculpting from recycled materials with Junk Jodie
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Yoga and mindfulness with Yo-chi
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Art and science with Emma Callow's Imagination Art Bots
Workshops run from late May through to the festival (3–12 July). Work created by the children will be exhibited online and across Alton venues during festival week.
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Here's what
teachers say
Gemma Gundry, Headteacher, Andrews' Endowed Church of England Primary School
The Alton Arts Festival Schools Programme is more than an event; it's a catalyst for curiosity. It empowers our pupils to ask in-depth questions about their own creativity, boosting their confidence and wellbeing through meaningful exploration.
Sarah Holman, Headteacher, Eggar's School
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We benefit hugely from this collaborative community initiative as it supports our students' wellbeing, builds confidence and fosters creativity beyond the classroom. It is a highlight in our school calendar.
Jo Eyres, Head of St Mary’s Bentworth CE School
Alton Arts Festival is a celebration of everything creative and all that is wonderful about being human on this great earth.
The budget crisis in schools means that when amazing people get together and put on amazing events like this, giving our children a truly creative curriculum, we are enormously grateful.
Introducing
ArtBox
AAF2026 is also launching something brand new for younger visitors – Art Box. An immersive, installation-style creative experience at Alton Community Centre on 6th, 8th and 10th July, Art Box is designed with pre-schoolers, homeschoolers and families in mind.
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Local artists Flossy Waters (Illustrator), Veronica Williams (Creative Artist) and Emma Callow (Experience Designer) will each take over the space for a day, transforming it into something to explore, play in and be part of.
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Art Box is completely free, but spaces are limited.