Making a Mark

This project has now been archived.

Making a Mark was a programme in the Tees Valley that offered schools a new way to deliver cultural education across the curriculum. Where we live and grow up is an important part of our identity. Making a Mark encouraged students to understand more about, and feel proud of, their local heritage and identity, and in so doing raise their aspirations.

Making a Mark supported students to explore culture and heritage through active, enquiry-based and creative learning sessions in local museums. Students discovered what an amazing region they live in and how they too can achieve.

By the end of March 2020 the programme had worked with over 500 schools and delivered at least 70,000 visits. Making a Mark was offered by eight museums across the Tees Valley.

Programmes were offered by: Kirkleatham Museum, Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, The Dorman Museum, Hartlepool Museum and Art Gallery, Head of Steam Museum and Preston Park Museum. In addition mima in Middlesbrough offered the Making a Mark Arts Award Discover for primary students.

Making a Mark supported curriculum topics in Science, Geography, Art and Design and English, as well as Local History study units. Online classroom resources for teachers enabled schools to extend museum visits or enrich classroom learning.

Find out more about the project and evaluation

Making a Mark was supported by the National Portrait Gallery, funded by DFE and is part of the Arts Council’s Museums and Schools initiative.