Kindling aims to build partnerships between Arts and Cultural organisations and the Early Years Sector, developing creative and critical thinking for Somerset’s under 5s, advocating creative excellence and disseminating experiences at a national level.
We also offer strategic support and brokering to enable funding opportunities for Somerset’s under 5s and their families to experience excellent art.
Funded by the Arts Council England to be the first point of contact for Early Years creativity in Somerset, Kindling was set up to increase the breadth and the awareness of Early Years creativity in the county. We also offer training and signposting for artists, practitioners and arts organisations; and deliver a regular programme of cross artform workshops and courses with partners such as SCIL, Forest Schools, Children’s Centres and arts organisations.
Through our pathfinder status and membership of Early Arts, Kindling aims to highlight exemplary work from Somerset and around the UK. We work in collaboration with Somerset’s arts education partnership Spaeda, as well as arts, play, health and education teams across the county.
Kindling is based at Take Art and managed by Early Years creativity specialists, Caroline Barnes and Gina Westbrook. Caroline Barnes can be found at caroline@takeart.org and Gina Westbrook can be found at gina@takeart.org or tel 01460 249450.
"Take Art is playing a very prominent role in the development of Early Years’ theatre, borne out by their biennual KinderGardens festival, presenting well-researched and hand-picked from work from across the world and, more crucially, embedding practice and cultural entitlement into Children’s Centres across the county."
Kate Cross, Director - the egg, Theatre Royal Bath