Tees Valley Arts is celebrating after being awarded a grant of £10,000 from The Ernest Cook Trust to support its work in environmental arts.
The Ernest Cook Trust is a charitable trust which was set up in 1952 by the late Ernest Cook, a grandson of Thomas Cook, the founder of Cook’s Travel Agency.
The grant will help fund the arts development agency’s Heritage and Environment programme; TVA’s Heritage & Environment Officer, Joe Dunne, commented
“we are delighted that The Ernest Cook Trust’s grant will support our work”.
Using a variety of different artforms, TVA works with schools and environmental organisations to increase awareness and understanding of environmental issues and to enhance the use of local green spaces.
The Heritage and Environment Programme has developed a programme of environmental learning sessions that introduce and explore key issues surrounding climate change and the environment through fun, interactive and creative art forms. These sessions are aimed at key stages 1 to 4 and are open to all Tees Valley schools. Topics include trees and deforestation, habitats and minibeasts, the carbon footprints of food and transport, biodiversity, recycling, and renewable energy. The workshops also provide an engaging means for learners to explore issues related to Sustainable Schools and Eco-schools. Leaflets outlining the sessions can be obtained from Tees Valley Arts.