Documentary Videographer: Culture Bridge North East – Creative Schools
In my latest film project, Creative Schools, I worked as a documentary videographer exploring how arts and creativity can transform learning environments in schools across the North East.
Commissioned by Culture Bridge North East, the documentary shows how creative approaches, from drama and music to visual arts, help students learn, build confidence, and discover their own voices. The arts become more than just subjects—they’re powerful tools for engaging pupils and tackling challenges in education.
Creativity as a Natural Space
One of the strongest themes to emerge while filming Creative Schools was how the arts provide a natural space where children feel safe to experiment and express themselves. As one creative practitioner said in the documentary, creativity often means:
“Turning off that inner critic, that inner editor that says, ‘You can’t do that, that doesn’t work.’”
Teachers and artists shared how they encourage children to create without fear of failure. Whether it’s drama, music, or visual arts, the creative process helps students step beyond routine lessons and engage with learning in personal, meaningful ways.
Ideas Born from Real Experiences
Creative Schools shows how creative practitioners draw their ideas from personal experiences, books, and observations of the world around them. One moment in the film highlights how taking lessons outside the classroom brings creativity alive:
“Instead of trying to explain it secondhand, say ‘Have a look at that big building—what’s it like to stand under it? What’s it made of? How does it feel different when you get up close?’”
This approach invites children to connect with culture firsthand. In a region like the North East—rich with historical and cultural landmarks—such direct experiences become powerful teaching tools.
Collaboration Between Teachers and Artists
A key message running through Creative Schools is that simply hiring an artist isn’t a quick fix for school challenges. Successful projects happen when teachers and creative practitioners collaborate, learning from each other along the way.
Teachers in the documentary highlighted the need for projects tailored to each school’s unique context, rather than “off-the-shelf” solutions. Artists, meanwhile, spoke about adapting their creative plans to fit the personalities and interests of each group of students. As one contributor puts it:
“The thing that is the most exciting for me now is to adapt—to what the school wants, to the group themselves. Get to know them. Go in and be like, ‘What do you like doing on a weekend? What was the last book you read?’”
Embracing Creative Chaos and Risk
Another insight from Creative Schools is the importance of embracing uncertainty. Creativity often involves stepping into what the film describes as “creative chaos”—moments that weren’t planned but spark unexpected results.
Both teachers and artists spoke about the value of flexibility and risk-taking in creative projects. One practitioner likened the process to making music or writing poetry:
“You have to write a lot of bad poems to write a good one… it’s the process, it’s exploring, it’s having a go.”
Children learn resilience from witnessing adults navigating failures and adjusting their plans. This honest modeling becomes a crucial life lesson about perseverance and problem-solving.
Ownership and Long-Term Impact
Beyond the creative process, Creative Schools emphasises giving pupils genuine ownership of their work. It’s not enough for children just to participate; they need to feel that the outcomes truly belong to them. As one teacher in the documentary said:
“It’s all very well to helicopter in, do a thing for two hours—everyone has a great time. Brilliant. But what have you actually changed?”
Projects with real impact leave pupils feeling pride in their achievements. Such experiences can empower young people to engage with culture outside of school, whether visiting local galleries or imagining themselves as future artists and creators.
Building Creative Futures
As a documentary videographer, I found filming Creative Schools deeply inspiring. The project highlights how creativity isn’t simply about arts education—it’s about giving children the confidence, curiosity, and adaptability to thrive both inside and outside school. Culture Bridge North East’s support for films like this ensures that creativity continues to play a vital role in education and community life across the region.
If you’d like to see more of my films exploring the lives and creativity of young people, visit my films about young people here.