Who are TIN Arts?

Activity includes programmes like BOUNCE and dance activities for children and young people aged 4 – 24. Over 200 young people take part in dance activities in schools or at the TIN Dance Space each week.  

TIN Arts works in partnership to promote, support and develop inclusive arts practice locally, regionally and nationally.

In 2017, TIN Arts worked with People Dancing and other organisations across England to bring ‘11 Million Reasons to Dance'. An inspiring photography exhibition and series of short films commissioned by People Dancing was brought to Durham.

The company produces and presents artistic programmes and talent development opportunities that support disabled and non-disabled artists to create new work that challenges expectations, shifts attitudes and inspires audiences.

Emerging Young Dancers (EYD) is one such programme that put in place regular high-level training for young dance artists aged 11-18 with a learning disability or who are autistic living in the North East of England.

Additionally, Associate Artists have been present since 2012. George Williams, who has a learning disability, has been supported to create his own work for national touring alongside performing in ensemble work at various festivals across the UK.

The final outcome is focused on increasing representation and creating pathways for people with lived experience to develop their learning, employment-related and leadership skills in the sector.  

The programme aims to remove the barriers people with a learning disability face when gaining work, as there are very few chances to train for a job in the arts. Making and generating new pathways and progression routes for disabled people is vital.