Birmingham Education Partnership (BEP), in partnership with Birmingham Creates, have just announced that Felix has been appointed to lead and develop Birmingham Arts School. Birmingham Arts School has been funded by match investment from both Arts Connect and the Esmee Fairburn Foundation to develop exciting arts and cultural opportunities for children and young people in Birmingham as part of Birmingham Creates (the Cultural Education Partnership for Birmingham).
The post is supported by BEP who are absolutely delighted to welcome Felix to the team as Principal of Birmingham Arts School:
“The arts have never been more important for our children and the future we all face than they are today. Whether it is about having your voice heard, or a sense of well-being and connectedness there is a compelling case for arts education. If you then look at the value of the Creative Industries there is an even stronger case for the arts and young people in a city like ours – we are thrilled that Felix is taking up this baton with an Arts School designed to address inequalities of access and opportunity in this area!”
Felix Pepler is an Educationalist, Musician and Cultural strategist committed to partnerships between the arts and education sectors to raise aspiration and extend opportunity for children, teachers and practitioners. Since 2013, as Head of Centre at Ingestre Hall, Felix has welcomed more than 20,000 young people, teachers and artists from across the world to the UK’s only dedicated residential Arts Centre for Children and Young People. Building upon his expertise in community capacity building and the application of creativity in statutory education, Felix transformed the curriculum offer at Ingestre working with schools to build bespoke programmes of learning supporting curriculum objectives and expanding the network of artists and practitioners engaged with the Hall. Before Ingestre, Felix worked as a Creative Education researcher, adviser and agent working to embed progressive work with schools throughout the West Midlands co-developing and evaluating creative programmes and projects through the Arts in Education consultancy Chatterbox. Felix also established Get on the Radio – a podcasting and radio broadcasting provider for schools. Felix was previously National Arts Director for the Social Action Charity RE:generate, Project Manager for Community Music Wales and a Lecturer in Music and Music Technology. Felix is an Arts Award Moderator, holds a MA from Goldsmiths University, and is a fellow of the RSA.
Felix said of his appointment:
There has never been a greater urgency to re-imagine the potential benefits of applying the arts and culture within schools to create significant and lasting impact. Birmingham Arts School will provide a unique opportunity to combine the best of the vibrant Birmingham cultural sector with ambitious local Schools, igniting a creative spark that will drive transformational learning and engagement experiences for those in most need. I am honoured to be appointed Principal, and am looking forward to realising new and innovative work, giving new approaches to learning space and time to thrive, so that we might build and support the next generation of creative, confident and talented learners who can lead, innovate and collaborate into the future.
Tim Boyes, BEP CEO commented:
“The arts have never been more important for our children and the future we all face than they are today. Whether it is about having your voice heard, or a sense of well-being and connectedness there is a compelling case for arts education. If you then look at the value of the Creative Industries there is an even stronger case for the arts and young people in a city like ours – we are thrilled that Felix is taking up this baton with an Arts School designed to address inequalities of access and opportunity in this area!”
For further information on Birmingham Arts School contact:
Lucy Kevern: lucy.kevern@bep.education
