For four years, our Cultural Explorers signature programme has provided a cultural entitlement for all ten year olds in wards neighbouring the University, funding all the costs of their school trips to our cultural institutions: the John Rylands University Library, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Manchester Museum and the Whitworth. 4,000 children have benefited from the programme since 2014, ensuring that costs are never a barrier to access to culture.

In light of recent evidence that more than a one-off ‘school trip’ experience is needed to help children develop a lifelong affinity with culture – thus benefiting from all the advantages of ‘cultural capital’ and regular engagement with the arts – we are piloting some radical changes to programme for 2019-20.

This year, four local schools will test a brand new model that will involve multiple contacts with their chosen cultural institution and aim to enable both teachers and pupils to develop a deeper understanding and ownership of their local culture, science and heritage.

With the University’s increasing focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the projects will centre on how our institutions can highlight global issues such as Peace, Equality, Climate Change and Sustainable Cities. Schools will work with an artist to create their own creative public engagement response to what they find out, and will share their work with their family, friends and neighbours at our Community Festival next year.