The Power of Global Collaboration

Earlyarts is delighted to be launching our second Pocket Guide, International Creative Practice in Early Years Settings which highlights some of the tremendous opportunities happening for very young children and their families through creative partnerships on a global scale. It demonstrates the power of global collaboration and the unexpected positive impacts this can have on supporting young children's growth.

"This latest Earlyarts booklet brings readers up to speed with the tremendous progress of creative opportunities for children and families happening on an international scale," says Ruth Churchill Dower, Director of Earlyarts. "It highlights some of the best organisations featured on our online map, demonstrating the power of global collaboration and the unexpected positive impacts this can have on supporting young children's growth."

The research, conducted by Jo Belloli, esteemed early years producer based at Polka Theatre, for Earlyarts, updates an original research commissioned by Arts Council England in 2004. It reiterates the importance of networks to enable creative practice with the very young to flourish because it enables knowledge and expertise to be shared through action research, professional development and innovative practice. It emphasises the common themes of organisations whose work has a lasting effect on the development of young children throughout Europe and beyond.