Opening Times

8.30am - 11pm Monday - Saturday

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

Darlington Arts Centre and Civic Theatre provides an opportunity to view, explore and experience a whole host of creative and cultural activities; from being a part of an audience to engagement through participation.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

Darlington Arts Centre and Civic Theatre are both building of heritage significance and as such the architecture and historical value are intrinsic to students researching the local history of Darlington.

The programme of children’s and young people’s professional performance art is often directed to meet the curricular requirement; performance and visitor attendance plus participatory engagement increases the opportunity for students to aspire to and achieve creative thought and process.

What are the activities?

Per annum
20 post show talks – a chance to ‘meet the cast’ in many of the performances at Darlington Arts Centre & Civic Theatre
Participatory workshops – dependant on the
13 weeks of term time performance and arts after school courses;
28 weeks of a variety of participatory performance (drama, dance and vocal) plus arts and crafts - half day, full day and week long creative activities;
20 education participatory gallery inspired workshops offered to schools, colleges, universities and community groups
24 family workshops for development of whole family learning and inclusion in creativity and lifelong learning.

What is the age range of the activities?

Foundation to HE plus community and family groups.

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

All materials are provided but advance information of required outcomes would be helpful in order to meet the needs of the nursery, school, college, university or community group

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

Each group is individual in its requirements and as such a personal discussion with the E&O Officer is recommended.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

For audience attendance a full and comprehensive RA is available by hard or soft copy prior to visit to each of the venues. Participatory workshops and events require artists to provide appropriate RA, Enhanced CRB and PLA documentation which is relevant to the activity.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

Not formally but often teachers and tutors take time to visit outside working hours to engage with the cultural arts. The E&O Officer is keen to encourage formal and informal contact with educational providers.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

Full and comprehensive catering facilities are available at Darlington Arts Centre & Civic Theatre. Spaces are made available to accommodate students and groups who choose to bring their own lunches.

Is specific clothing required?

Not unless the participatory workshop requires this – information would be in advance of attendance.

Do you have first aid on site?

The Arts Centre Duty Manager and Civic Theatre House Manager are the designated first aid contacts for each venue.

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

Media release signatures are the responsibility of the organising group (school, college and/or community); when a group is booked to attend a show or workshop, clarification is declared about photos being taken and used.

If only one person in the group is outside the media release, no photographs or film is taken throughout the workshop or attendance. It is seen at Darlington Arts Centre and Civic Theatre that privacy is respected and no difference is made for one pupil over another. No total media release = no pictures at all.

Copyright is mainly the domain of the general press. All authorised press photo-journalists in the area are Enhanced CRB cleared and must be approached for permission to submit their photographs in any other context. Most are agreeable for non-profit making duplication but as a matter of protocol this should be adhered to.