Access All Areas
Access All Areas is open to 12 young people aged 13-17 who are currently under the care of an inner-London Local Authority. It will introduce participants, and their key advisors, to the broad range of pathways, degrees and careers that are available in the arts, with a key focus on the performing arts.
Access All Areas - information
Find out who is eligible for Access All Areas, what the free project offers, a full schedule, and how to apply.
Access All Areas will take place from March 2026 - June 2026. Participants will join full day workshops, in-person at a range of cultural institutions including at Guildhall School. These workshops will introduce participants, and their key advisors, to the broad range of pathways, degrees and careers that are available in the arts, with a key focus on the performing arts including:
- Drama
- Dance
- Backstage Arts
- Classical and Contemporary Music
- Theatre
The full schedule can be found below. Sessions are designed with beginners in mind, and are available to young people of all abilities. We only ask that participants are willing to try everything on offer so that they make the most of the opportunity!
The project is free for participants, and lunch will be provided on each day. Travel support is also available, if needed.
Participants must:
- Be aged 13-17
- Be currently in the care of an inner-London local authority (Camden, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster)*
- Be available for all or the majority of the sessions
Any applicant who does not meet the eligibility criteria cannot be offered a place on Access All Areas. Please note that there are 12 places available on this project and applicants are not guaranteed a place. If you have any queries about the eligibility please contact access@gsmd.ac.uk.
*This can include foster care, kinship care or residential care.
The application form asks applicants to provide contact details for a social worker so that we can contact them to discuss and assess applicants' eligibility and suitability for this project.
Applications are now open for Access All Areas.
You can apply for the project here.
The deadline to apply is midday on 13th February 2026.
If you have any queries about the project, eligibility or applications, please contact the Access and Participation team on access@gsmd.ac.uk.
Access All Areas schedule
Take a look at the Access All Areas schedule for an idea of what the programme looks like. All of these sessions are suitable for people of all experience levels!
Introduction and Drama
On our first evening together we’ll spend some time getting to know one another and setting goals and our group manifesto. Then, you’ll join an interactive workshop that is based on drama techniques, encouraging us to be silly and have fun, and getting us to think about how we use our voice and move our bodies.
Visit to Central School of Ballet
In this visit to Central School of Ballet, you will get to join a unique (and fun!) dance and movement focused workshop, take a tour of the School, and then learn all about costume and wardrobe for productions, with the chance to design something special that you’ll take with you.
Technical Theatre Exploration
This day at Guildhall School will introduce you to the role of a Stage Manager, letting you try out some of the weird and wonderful tasks that they complete, and to Scenic Design, showing you some painting techniques that set designers might use when designing a set and creating a piece that you can take with you.
London Symphony Orchestra
Spend a day at LSO St Lukes with London Symphony Orchestra Discovery Department. We’ll create music together and learn about the music you’ll see the orchestra perform that evening, before heading down the road to the Barbican to experience a London Symphony Orchestra concert, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Wicked!
Everyone will go to see Wicked together at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and we’ll hear from some of the technical team after the show to learn about how the production works.
Celebrating you!
We’ll have a think about next steps and creative careers in this final session, and reflect on what you’ve learned during the project, before going for an early dinner together.
