Welcome to AccessArt Art Week 2026 for ages 5 to 11!
Join the AccessArt Art Week!
Our chosen theme for AccessArt Art Week 2026 is “Curiosity and Kindness.” This Art Week is an opportunity for learners to be curious about the world and their own creative discovery. Through looking at and making art, they will explore new materials and ideas in ways that can make the world a better place, by delving into what matters to them, sharing and connecting with others, and developing a sense of belonging. By seeking out hope and joy, they will also learn how art can help spread kindness.
The Art Week is designed for ages 5 to 11. It’s fully flexible meaning you can choose activities which will suit your school or setting, and fit in with your timetable.
The AccessArt Art Week is free for all AccessArt members, and can be used across educational settings.
Find out more about the AccessArt “Curiosity and Kindness” Art week
browse the art week activities
The First Step! Plan Your Art Week…
When choosing your activities, think carefully about how you can adapt the resources to best suit your teachers, learners, and school or educational setting, as well as your curriculum. Be inventive and creative, and keep energy and aspiration high!
Browse the activities!
Brief Teachers, Learners and Parents/Carers, and Collect Materials…
As soon as you have dates for your Art Week and have chosen your activities, build excitement by informing learners and parents/carers.
We know budgets for art materials can be tight, so we have selected activities with cost and sustainability in mind. Start collecting recycled materials as far in advance as possible (scrap paper, card, found objects, textiles, etc.), and make a list of other materials that parents might be able to contribute. Use scrap stores and explore this list of budget art materials for inspiration.
You may like to run a short CPD session for teachers, taking inspiration from the Acts of Kindness Workshop, to help them connect kindness and creativity.
We have also created an assembly presentation that you can share with learners to help them get excited about Art Week and build understanding of the theme of curiosity and kindness.
If your school/educational setting allows, create a rota for parents/carers to come in and help as Art Weeks always need as many hands on deck as possible!
Enjoy the Art Week & Celebrate Outcomes!
Art Week will generate lots of creative mess and energy, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you can clear the space you have been working in and display the work. When creating your pop-up galleries, be inventive and resourceful, and embrace all stages of the journey, displaying sketchbooks alongside finished pieces. Try to capture the energy of the week in your exhibition.
Invite parents, carers, and even the local community, as celebrating enthusiasm as well as outcomes is really important and helps demonstrate the value of art in schools.
Finally, before you send the work home, make sure you document everything. As the educator, you can take photos of work in progress (including lots of hands making and smiling faces), as well as finished artwork. Don’t forget that learners can be tasked with taking photos too — it’s a great skill for them to practise.
Please remember to tag @accessart (Facebook) and @accessart.org.uk (Instagram) so we can share your work!
taking photos of 3d artwork
displaying sketchbooks
Download a Certificate
