Category: Fair Access

FREE CLPL from Fair Access at RCS in March & April 2025

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Recharge Your Creative   Practice: CLPL Workshops for   Expressive Arts Secondary   Teachers 

 Energise your teaching with our spring series of free workshops led by professional practitioners

Two adults sitting at a desk designing

A man and woman working together designing a prop

Tuesday 29 April 4.30 – 6.30pm
Practical Prop Making led by Merlin Currie, RCS Props Tutor 

Join us to create a handheld prop for performance, using a practical step-by-step approach. Find out how to create simple but effective props and the best materials to have in your store cupboard. 

 

 

Two people working together at a piano

 

Tuesday 6 May 4 – 6.30pm
Ways into Composition led by Tom W. Green, RCS Lecturer in Composition  

Explore a range of compositional techniques including creative strategies for composing with pupils who have limited musical literacy, using digital and non-digital aids. 

 

 

 

A young person holding drum sticks

 

Wednesday 14 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Accessible Music Making for BGE Learners led by Stephen Henderson, Drummer, Composer, Band leader and Educator 

Develop tools to build pupils’ confidence and musicality, without them needing to read music. Explore rhythm activities, games, simple melodies and improvisation to make BGE music lessons more engaging.

 

 

Two people standing at lighting desk in a theatre

 

Monday 19 May 4.30 – 5.45pm
Get to Know Your Lighting Desk led by Paige MacGillivray, RCS Lighting Production Student 

For teachers who have the FLX S24 desk and want a better understanding of it. Led by an RCS Lighting student, who can give an insight into BA Production Technology. 

 

 

A woman pointing with her fingers

 

Tuesday 27 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Devising Towards Performance led by Robbie Gordon, Theatre Maker and Creative Engagement Specialist

Explore the devising and writing techniques Wonder Fools use to tell authentic stories with communities. Delve into practical ways of shaping narrative and performance and leave with tools to support your pupils’ creativity. 

 

 

Book Now button

Please Note: Fair Access prioritises those facing barriers in accessing the arts. Such as those who:

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced 
  • are estranged and receive no support from family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    • living rurally with poor transport links
    • Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    • D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

For this reason, our CLPL sessions prioritise places for teachers whose schools have a high percentage of SIMD1 postcodes within their catchment area.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

School Info Sessions: New Access Courses and Get Into

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 School Info Sessions 

New Access Courses and Get Into at RCS

A young person holding a theatre light

Are your pupils curious about creative careers? Do they want to know how to get into training and what jobs this could lead to in the world of work?

Book an in-school information session for your S5/6 pupils to find out about two exciting Fair Access courses that could be their next step.

Our staff will come and lead an interactive session about the following fully funded pathways and answer any questions that you and your pupils have:

  • Get Into: Performing and Production is for people 16+. This programme builds skills, confidence and insider knowledge. Ten weeks of practical workshops gets pupils started on their creative journey in Performance, Production for Stage and Screen, Singing Together or Arts with Community.
     
  • Our brand new Access Courses are for people 17+. This eight-month programme awards 40 Credits at SCQF Level 6. The courses are for people who are serious about studying BA Theatre Production, Bachelor of Education (Music) or BA Arts with Community at RCS. Pupils hone their skills and receive expert guidance on applying for BA programmes and preparing for auditions/interviews.

Pave your pupils’ way to employable careers in the creative industries.

Information sessions last one hour – morning or afternoon slots available. Choose from our menu of dates on application form. Spaces are limited so please sign up as soon as possible.

 

Book Now button

Deadline: 31 January

 Who Can Apply 

Our Get Into programme and Access Courses are fully funded and specifically aimed at people who:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Creative Conversations in the Classroom

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Careers Talks Across Scotland 

With Accompanying Teacher Resources

Are you, or the young people you teach, interested in applying to study in the performing and production arts? Are you not sure where to start or what careers there may be? Fair Access have produced a suite of films and resources that can help making those decisions.

What is ‘Creative Conversations in the Classroom’?

Creative Conversations is a series of short films and accompanying teachers’ resources. The aim is to give young people an insight into what it’s really like to work in the creative industries.

​Each film features three professionals who work in a specific area of the performing or production arts in conversation with each other, and with an audience of secondary school pupils. At the end of each film, young people from the audience describe the impact this conversation has had on them. The Teachers’ Resources provide questions to get your own conversations in the classroom started after watching the film. ​

The Creative Conversations series includes artists working in:

All the films can be viewed at home, on your mobile devices or as a group in your classrooms or community spaces. You can also access them via our Toolkits page.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear about how you use these resources in your classroom or if you’re a young person that has found them useful in learning more about career options. You can say hello on our social media or if you have any questions about these resources, please get in touch at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Creative Conversations Live at RCS

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Creative Conversations 

Live and in person at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Fair Access here at RCS are excited to be running a new series of Creative Conversations focused on Community Arts in Scotland. Sessions are open to all and will take place in the Renfrew Street Building in Glasgow. Come along to one, or to the whole series to find out more about Community Arts in Scotland:

Working in Prisons

Bigg Taj and Isla Callister will be joining us to speak about their work in prisons

Date: Wednesday 15 January
Time: 5pm – 6pm

Book your space on our booking form
. . .
Play Therapy

Featuring Izzy Joss. Whether you have no knowledge on the subject or are well-versed, this conversation promises to be engaging, informative, and creatively enriching

Date: Thursday 30 January
Time: 5pm – 6pm

Book your space on our booking form
. . .
Documentary Filmmaking

Filmmaker Bircan Birol will be talking about finding your own way, style, and voice in the world of non-fiction filmmaking and the importance of self-representation and working ethically with diverse communities

Date: Tuesday 4 February
Time: 5pm – 6pm

Book your space on our booking form
. . .
Community as Abundance

In this session, Tawona Sithole will explore how a positive approach in seeing the value in people allows for an abundance in creativity, sharing and positive community spirit.

Date: Wednesday 12 February
Time: 5pm – 6pm

Book your space on our booking form
. . .
The School of Plural Thought

Led by Emmie McLuskey who is a Glasgow based artist who will be speaking about a project she leads called The School of Plural Futures

Date: Thursday 6 March
Time: 5pm – 6pm

Book your space on our booking form

New Course at RCS for 2025

Did you know we will be launching a brand new degree course to help you become a community arts practitioner. Come and study BA Arts with Communities with us in September 2025.
Find out more on the RCS website. 

Who We Work With

Fair Access is funded to support young people who face barriers in accessing the arts, such as those who are:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access Community Choir

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Community Choir 

Wednesday Evenings, 6 – 7:30pm at RCS

Woman singing with words: Fair Access Community Choir

We’re excited to invite you to our new, weekly Fair Access Community Choir, here at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland led by Anna Ghazal.

Anna is a community choir leader who conducts choirs in Glasgow, including the RSNO Workplace and Buggy Choirs. As the Creative Learning Producer at the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS), she focuses on making music accessible and inclusive. 

The Fair Access Community Choir is open to all current and past Fair Access students and staff. This includes Get Into, WACI and Transitions participants and their families and support networks.

All levels and voices are encouraged to join. No previous singing experience is required. There’s no audition and no pressure to attend every week. 

You will experience sight reading and build general musicianship skills so this will be useful for instrumentalists, for musical theatre and those interested in teaching as well as fun, social and healthy. 
Text: Apply Now

Please note: Under 13s must be accompanied by an adult.

Fair Access prioritise those facing barriers in accessing the arts such as those who are:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

How to Contact Us

If you have an queries or questions about this activity, you can contact the team at: 📧 fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access: Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access: 

 Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day 

Saturday 27 July at RCS Wallace Studios, Glasgow

Workshop day with 2 free workshops. Come to one or come to both!

Fair Access is excited to invite you to our Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day, here at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Based at the Wallace Studios for the day, you can attend one or both of the workshops that are supportive sessions open to beginners.

A man on stage street dancing Students with choir master

Big Street Dance
10:30am – 12:30pm, Room RS3

 Big Sing
1pm – 3pm, Room RS3

Join Adam McMillan of THREE60 for an introductory workshop in Street Dance.

Adam is a Scottish dance artist who has developed a unique style. He mixes Hip-Hop with a touch of contemporary-inspired movements. Adam’s mission is focused on sharing Hip-Hop culture authentically and passionately.

 Join Anna Ghazal in the afternoon to experience the joy of singing together.

Anna is a community choir leader who conducts choirs in Glasgow, including the RSNO Workplace and Buggy Choirs. As the Creative Learning Producer at the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS), she focuses on making music accessible and inclusive. 


Text: Apply Now

Booking Deadline: 23 July 2024

Please note:

Fair Access prioritise young people aged between 16 – 19 who are facing barriers in accessing the arts, such as those:

Get in touch if you would like us to check your postcode for you. 

Contact Us

You can contact the team at fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Get Into: Performing and Production Arts

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Get Into: 

 Performing and Production Arts 

Performance, Production, Singing and Community Arts

For pupils S5 & S6 or Young People 16+

Woman performing for school children

Starting Autumn 2024

Would you like to Get Into: Performing and Production Arts but not sure where to begin? Our free Get Into courses could be the perfect answer. 

We’re running four separate programmes starting this Autumn:

  • Performance (acting, devising and dance)
  • Production for Stage and Screen (sound, lighting and camera)
  • Singing Together (confidence building and vocal leadership)
  • Community Arts (leading creative projects with communities)

These free weekly part-time sessions will be a great opportunity for you to:

  • Build your confidence
  • Develop your skills in your chosen field
  • Meet others who love the same thing as you

*Sign Ups are now closed*

Please note: Fair Access will prioritise those aged 16-19 facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Get In Touch 

If you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Come and Try: CLPL Sessions for Teachers

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Come and Try: 

 CLPL Sessions for Teachers 

Wednesday Evenings in May 2024

Two people discussing a script onset A conductor practicing his score with an ensemble Dancer in a studio practicing

WACI are delighted to be offering three new Career-Long Professional Learning (CLPL) sessions for secondary teachers this coming May:

All sessions are free and take place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Aimed primarily at secondary teachers who work in schools with large catchments of SIMD1 areas, you can find out more and sign up by clicking the links above. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities, please email: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Trip: Inter/Sections

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Performance Trip: Inter/Sections at RCS 

Wednesday 13 March, 7pm – 9pm

RCS, 100 Renfrew St, Glasgow G2 3DB

Join us at RCS to watch the multi-artform production of Inter/Sections. This production is a fantastic opportunity to experience an array of different artistic practices.

Words: Performance Trip Intersections. Two dancers on a darkened stage with string running through their fingers

Not only does Inter/Sections promise to feature great performances but is also a celebration of the many Fair Access alumni involved. Come along for a preview of what some of our previous Fair Access students are doing now as this show brings together RCS students in Music, Music Composition, 3rd year students in Contemporary Performance Practice and Production Technology and Management programmes. 

Click on the button to apply for free tickets via our form.

* Applications now closed *

Deadline: 6 March, 12 noon

Please note: Fair Access works with young people facing barriers in accessing the arts, such as those who are:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

Contact Us

You can contact the team at fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access Ambassadors At A School Near You!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Ambassadors 

 At A School Near You 

Visiting Schools Across Scotland

Two senior pupils holding RCS leaflets

Our Fair Access Ambassadors are an energetic posse of young people. Already part of Transitions or Widening Access to the Creative Industries, they are helping us spread the word about Fair Access in their schools and communities.

Our Ambassadors have a love and passion for the production or performing arts and are determined that other young people from Fair Access backgrounds have the same opportunity to get involved. Ambassadors meet several times over the year to plan campaigns in partnership with Fair Access and then put these into action with our support.

This year the Ambassadors are teamed up with Guides who were themselves part of Transitions and are now undergraduate students at RCS.

Look out for a Fair Access Ambassador speaking about Fair Access opportunities at a school near you, particularly if you live in Ayrshire, Inverclyde or Glasgow. 

Between them, Thomas in Port Glasgow High, Angie in Robert Burns Academy and Erin in Castlemilk High school have spoken to a whopping 496 pupils and 50 teachers. The next stop on the Fair Access roadshow is at Auchenharvie Academy with Ambassadors Emma and Lucy. Watch out for them! 
 
Why is it worth being part of Fair Access? According to our Ambassadors… 

‘You can find your own creative expression through Fair Access. Give it a go – nothing to lose!’ 

‘It’s a top rated place and you could get these opportunities for free!’ 

‘RCS is a safe space and discrimination isn’t tolerated’ 

‘Everyone has been lovely and I’ve made so many friends’