Creative Learning

Creative Learning is a new role within Arts Development NL. We work across nursery, primary, ASN, secondary schools, and further‑education colleges throughout the authority, building strong partnerships with schools and council services to deliver inspiring, cross‑curricular creative projects. 
 
Our aim is to enrich learning by offering opportunities that: 

• Complement and enhance core subjects 
• Support attainment 
• Improve health and wellbeing 
• Strengthen communication and essential life skills 
• Provide engaging alternatives to traditional classroom approaches 
• Broaden horizons and raise aspirations 
• Encourage continued participation in arts and culture beyond the school environment via Arts and You program 

The Big Empty – Creative Employability Programme

For 2026, Arts Development’s Leadership Academy will be delivered through a project called The Big Empty.

The Big Empty is an employability project designed for young people in S3–S6, offering hands‑on insight into non‑performance careers within the creative industries. 
Schools will receive free taster workshops that introduce pupils to behind‑the‑scenes roles and the transferable skills that arts environments develop. Pupils can then apply and interview for a place in the programme. 
 
Up to 15 participants will be selected to become “producers,” working alongside Active and Creative Communities to explore: 

• Event planning and management 
• Artistic programming 
• Budgeting and marketing 
• Audience development 
• Risk assessment and evaluation 

Participants will benefit from mentoring by Arts Development and wider council staff, plus masterclasses from leading Scottish creative professionals. The project helps young people build confidence, industry knowledge, and practical skills while meeting peers from diverse backgrounds. 

Gie’s a Laugh

Gie Us a Laugh is an innovative 10‑week programme designed to support secondary school pupils—particularly pupils with a lower attendance rate and those who thrive in non‑traditional learning environments—through the creative practice of stand‑up comedy. Delivered in partnership with selected secondary schools,  the project pairs young people with professional stand‑up comedian Viv Gee to guide them through a structured comedy toolkit. 

Participants will: 

• Learn the fundamentals of comedy writing, joke structure, performance skills, and creative self‑expression 
• Participate in group exercises designed to build trust, collaboration, and communication 
• Develop and refine their own short stand‑up set (performance optional) 
• Build transferable skills that support both personal development and wider learning 

All of this will happen in tandem with participants feeling the benefits of improved mental health & wellbeing, increased social connection and improved self-confidence, voice & self‑expression.