What we do

The Common Ground Arts programme brings high-quality artist residencies to schools within the Birmingham Special Schools’ Co-operative Trust, a partnership of seven schools serving over 1100 students with special educational needs. The programme uses a school-improvement model to guide collaboration between artists and special educational needs (SEN) teachers to generate valuable art experiences for students. Teachers and artists share their professional knowledge and practices in their respective disciplines to create meaningful and accessible artist residencies with meaningful student art outcomes.

These artist residencies take a student-centred approach by personalizing artistic practices in line with the individual SEN needs of students. The resulting student art experiences and outcomes from all seven schools are shared and celebrated during a public event at the Midlands Arts Centre in the summer. This event not only highlights the students artistic achievements but also increases community engagement for students with SEN.