Learning at The Grange

How can opera play a part in developing essential skills in young people – curiosity, leadership, persistence, resilience? Combining a broad range of expressive arts – music, drama, dance, design, creative writing and visual arts – we use opera to nurture creativity and give young people a platform from which to explore and develop their imagination.

The Grange Festival is continuing its Learning at The Grange programme for schools and the local community, sharing its passion for opera and dance with young and old alike. Our aim is to demystify opera and dance, and create exciting and stimulating opportunities to engage with the Hampshire public.

At a time when the performing arts, especially music, are increasingly being side-lined in the national curriculum, we are committed to helping our local schools to keep the arts alive. We are engaging with young people and their teachers to spark creativity, build confidence and develop the emotional intelligence and balanced mental state they require for their future lives.

For the wider community, we will be opening our doors, welcoming people to our magnificent theatre and the beautiful setting of The Grange with a greater range of out-of-season events. We will also be taking our knowledge and expertise into schools and youth groups and touching the more fragile members of our community, for whom we hope to provide life-enhancing support with interactive and inspiring workshops.

Susan Hamilton
Director of Learning

Learning at The Grange 2023

Gosport Educational Cultural Project is a 3 year project in partnership with Hampshire Cultural Education Partnership and Hampshire Music Service which will bring together children and young people from across Gosport, to celebrate their heritage an culture through innovative cross arts engagement.

In 2023, we offered students of all ages from Hampshire and the surrounding areas free access to: Mozart’s great opera, Cosi fan tutte; Orfeo ed Euridice / Dido and Aeneas - a double bill featuring two early operas which changed the course of operatic history; and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the evolution of Duke Ellington in one sitting… Ellington: From Stride to Strings.

Learning at The Grange 2022

Learning at The Grange 2021

Learning at The Grange 2020

An ambitious digital project bringing together 50 performers from England and Holland.

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As a response to Mental Health Awareness Week, this project was designed to help us escape our upside-down world, and process the challenges we face through creative activity.