Arts Minister backs Bromley

19 June 2008

The Arts Minister Margaret Hodge visited Bromley Mytime on Thursday 12 June to find out about the wide range of arts provision it delivers, and experience at first hand the Moving On to Secondary School (MOSS) arts project at Southborough Primary School. The project includes a term of mixed sessions under expert tuition from Mytime’s Community Arts Team including set design, costume making, dance and drama, culminating in a musical performance at the end of the school year. 

The MOSS/Choice Project, funded by the LB Bromley Children’s Fund, was set up to help children, young people and their families feel more prepared and confident about the transition from primary to secondary school.. Mytime is one of the main providers for MOSS working with the coordinators at the Children’s Fund to create a wide range of bespoke arts projects for this initiative. Projects have included film-making and animation workshops, yearbooks and leavers’ showcases. Southborough Primary School has been part of the MOSS project for 5 years and has seen hundreds of their students make a successful transition to their next school.

Head Teacher Doreen Fellingham said,
“The arts are crucial to helping children develop and at Southborough we believe in adding as many creative activities to the curriculum as possible. We are very pleased to be working alongside Mytime on Moving On as it helps children adjust to secondary school and ensures they are not disadvantaged.”

Arts Minister Margaret Hodge said,
“It’s great to see how Bromley Mytime are delivering such a wide range of participatory arts programmes – they are an excellent example of what can be achieved for a local community.”

Arts Manager Kiaran Hall said,
“We work with many schools in Bromley on a wide range of arts activities for all ages and abilities. Projects like Moving On are really satisfying as the children learn some valuable new skills, work together as a team, and develop their confidence to tackle issues of real concern. They are more likely to succeed at secondary school as a result.”
Schools wanting to enquire about arts services should contact Mytime’s Arts Coordinator Toni Reeves on 020 8323 1740