Promoting creative partnerships at the Bowes Museum

At Novus we are always looking for new and innovative ways to provide opportunities to learners. One of the key ways we do this is through creative partnerships. Recently, Novus staff across the North-East as well as staff from HMPPS and the Bowes Museum attended a CPD day at the Bowes Museum to explore the potential of creative partnerships. 

CPD day to promote creative partnerships 

The day opened with a warm welcome from Simon Lee, the Director of Commercial and Operations at the museum, followed by an inspiring overview of the museum’s history and future direction from the Collections Manager, Jane Whittaker. 

A guided tour invited participants to engage with key collection areas, including the Curiosity Space, HIVE, Fashion and Textiles, and the Picture Galleries, whilst reflecting on how these resources could be used to inspire and support learner engagement. 

The afternoon sessions focused on creative collaboration, with workshops exploring Unheard Voices, a collaborative project between Novus and the Bowes Museum where staff unpicked the model and reflected on what worked and what is being developed for future work. 

Design thinking to innovate and ensure quality teaching and learning opportunities 

During the event at the Bowes Museum, discussions around shared values and design thinking encouraged reflection on purpose, audience and ways of working together. It was a valuable opportunity to connect across organisations, share insights and begin shaping meaningful, learner-focused initiatives.   

Design thinking is one of the key ways we innovate at Novus and helps us to provide new creative opportunities for learners that meet their individual needs and abilities. It is especially powerful in creating educational opportunities because it ensures that learning experiences are relevant, engaging, and effective.

Design thinking is valuable in education for a variety of ways: 

Focuses on Learner Needs - Design thinking starts with understanding what learners truly need, what motivates them, and what challenges they face.

Encourages Innovation - Pushes educators to rethink traditional approaches, experiment with new formats, and incorporate creative methods. Great for developing engaging content that goes beyond textbooks like project-based learning, digital tools, or real-world challenges.

Promotes Collaboration - Design thinking brings together teachers, learners and community partners to co-create solutions. This results in opportunities that are better aligned with the needs of everyone involved.

The event was a huge success, with Novus colleagues commenting positively on the day:

I enjoyed the museum tour, the chance to meet new people in the wider sector, the chance to listen to other people's ideas

 

I enjoyed learning about the history of Bowes and having the opportunity to explore the museum.  I also enjoyed the activities in the afternoon, I always enjoy working with new, innovative tools we could use in our teaching

To find out more about our creative enrichment provision and how you can get involved, take a look at our creative enrichment strategy or contact us!