Nurturing Creativity in the

Early Years

Nurturing new seeds of creative engagement with children in their early years.

Coda wishes to nurture new seeds of creative engagement with children in their early years. Working with partners of international repute we aim to develop a centre of excellence for early years creativity here.  

Our Early Years project will provide

An inspirational new creative offer for local families - affordable culturally diverse & fun

Skills development for
local artists to support future employment opportunities

Increased engagement through digital marketing
& more cross sector partnerships 

Nurturing Creativity aims to

Summer Dean, Club Origami at The Palace (2021)

  • Address a gap in provision for children in their early years, identified locally through research undertaken by the Creative People and Places programme in the New Forest and nationally by ACE and De Montfort University’s Talent 25 research programme. 

  • Develop Coda’s expertise in creativity in the early years, increasing the range of people we engage, and broadening the types of cultural activity we deliver locally; 

  • Make a positive impact on the well being of local families and provide accessible and sustainable creative opportunities in our community. 

  • Forge new partnerships with new organisations, both cultural and cross sector, to increase collaboration and share learning and skills; 

  • Make a greater impact on the local freelance economy – providing opportunity for local artists and practitioners and enhancing their skills through professional development opportunities.

Nurturing Creativity objectives

A Programme of Cultural Activity

With a focus on creativity, play and wellbeing, our programme is designed for early years children, including those with disabilities, and their carers. Welcoming world leading practitioners in dance, immersive theatre and music to perform and inform, we will offer sustainable activity for local families. 

Skills Development Opportunities

Nurturing Creativity will offer development opportunities for both Coda, and our local artists and educators in partnership with Magic Acorns. We aim to create a centre of excellence for creativity in the early years here in the New Forest. 

Non-Arts Partnerships

This project will assist Coda in expanding our network of non-arts partners - health and social care professionals, schools and early years settings, local authorities, businesses and more.

Coda will bring some of the most exciting international artists to the New Forest to ignite interest and inspire.

Including: Takeshi Matsumoto, a dance artist specialising in making work for young audiences; Oily Cart, who have pioneered the art of sensory theatre; Leap then Look; And Magic Acorns with whom we will develop our skills and a new creative offer for local people. 

A taste of what’s to come…

Club Origami, with Takeshi Matsumoto
February 2026

Join Japanese dance artist Takeshi Matsumoto for this immersive experience, where dance and live music meet the magic of origami, taking us to a land of paper and play...

More details coming soon!