Our HIF+ education and outreach programmes provide high quality free to access arts opportunities for young people and adults as we believe that the arts can change lives. We offer the opportunity for participants to engage with top class professionals, published authors and passionate musicians enabling them to learn about and to participate in the vital role of the arts in the world and the role that the arts can play in improving their own lives.

Harrogate is often perceived as a very wealthy town but this perception hides much deprivation with areas of poverty often masked in general statistics by the apparent wealth of the district.  However over 1,500 households in the town are considered as within the 10% most deprived in England. We provide arts for all ensuring no-one is forgotten, or left behind.

Statistics show that schools are increasingly unable to supply high quality arts provision, with a 15% reduction in the number of hours taught for arts subjects and in addition to this 30% fewer under 10s are participating in out of schools arts activities. This illustrates the worrying trend that the arts is on the decline in the national curriculum.

Our vision is to help create a brighter, healthier, happier future for the local communities through the power of an inclusive arts programme. The arts can provide a path of social inclusion, and by providing a more fulfilling, creative and exciting education, whilst raising confidence, educational attainment and aspirations we engage and motivate participants preparing young people for a productive future; facilitating their growth as an individual.enjoyment and aspiration of the arts to raise confidence and success through experiences that leave a lasting impact on their lives.

  • We create programmes to engage vulnerable young people in music, science and literacy.
  • We attract over 90k people to our portfolio of live and digital activity.
  • We offer over 100 learning and participation events for young people throughout the year.
  • We deliver music participation events across rural areas.
  • We have supported over 30 emerging musicians and 50 emerging writers.

Musical Mums

The key role of our sessions is to provide a time, place and environment in which mothers and babies can bond and develop their relationship through music and play.

The Big Read

The benefits of reading for adults includes increased empathy, improved sleep levels, improved relationships with others, reductions in the symptoms of depression and dementia and improved well-being.

The Big Write

In 2016 43% of children in England left primary school without adequate reading and writing skills.  There are a great many benefits of reading and writing for children including; neurological, educational, psychological and linguistic.

Global Villages

Reaches rural villages who suffer from location based disadvantage,  bringing high quality world music workshops to these vastly mono-cultural areas.

Kids, Spies & PI's

Creative writing is an accessible art form, developing reluctant readers into active ones. This programme successfully targets boys, who consistently underachieve at reading and writing in schools.

Author School Visits

Meeting an author in person can reach children, even those who are ‘non readers’ by making meaningful connections between the children and the wider world, reading takes on an entirely new dimension.

Library of Live

Free and reduced price tickets for children and young people, growing future audiences and allowing access to all irrespective of financial standing.

The Big Screen

We are passionate about reaching the local community where they are, providing free to access opportunities to signpost future audiences to the wonders of arts. 

Family Events

We are passionate about ensuring families access the arts, this is vital for the next generation and children who see their parents engaging with the arts are much more likely to engage in their own adulthood. 

You're Booked

Creates  to interactive literary conversations, encouraging reading for pleasure and engagement with authors for those who live in areas of low arts provision. 

Live Streaming

Bringing live digital high quality performances into the homes and classrooms of those unable to attend our performances.

Young Musicians Series

Since our inception in 1966 we have always believed in nurturing young and emerging talent and providing them performance opportunities, supportive platforms and audiences to hone their skills.

Experience The Festival

Watch our films and discover some of what the Festivals has to offer.

Pre-Concert Talks

Creating greater access to the artists for the audience. Providing a greater understanding of the artist, the skills and the music played, developing the audiences all round experience. 

Subsidised Tickets

As an arts charity all of our tickets are subsided to allow the greatest access for all to the arts. 

Yorkshire Life Articles

Our Chief Executive Sharon Canavar has a monthly column in Yorkshire Life Magazine, spreading the joy of the arts through Yorkshire.