The Creative Ground programme will feature free workshops for school groups combining art, horticulture and nature in a new purpose-built garden classroom, opening in 2027.
In a landmark collaboration, Tate Britain and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have unveiled plans for a new learning programme, supported by ten years of funding from the Clore Duffield Foundation which supports UK charities working in the arts, education, social welfare and health.
Free term-time workshops suitable for primary, secondary and SEND groups will be held in a new purpose-built classroom in Tate Britain’s Clore Garden. It is expected that the workshops will reach over 600 young people per month once they launch in the spring.
Bookings for the workshops open in November for dates in the 2027 summer term. Learning resources to discover the new garden will also be available to support self-guided visits.
Connecting young people and nature
The programme, named Creative Ground, will explore what happens when art and horticulture come together in an inner London public garden. Hands-on activities, creative exploration and immersive experiences with plants and nature will aim to help young people connect with the environment. The garden will be used as a space to explore ideas around climate change, stewardship, wellbeing and community.
The workshops are still in development but will centre around nature, art and gardening. They will be based on discussions with local teachers and youth leaders who shared the challenges facing young people today: a lack of access to green spaces, a decline in creative subjects offered in schools, challenges around mental health, and concerns about the climate emergency.
“Bringing together art and nature in the heart of London, I’m sure that this beautiful new green space will provide an inspiring springboard for a host of hands-on activities and creative workshops.”
Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain
A study published by Springer Nature found that almost 400,000 children in Greater London attend schools with less than the recommended 10 square metres of open space per pupil and, according to Tate and RHS, 54% of young Londoners state that spending time in green spaces is “extremely important” to their mental health. The new learning programme held in the Clore Garden aims to address these issues and needs through hands-on, expert-led activities outside of the traditional classroom setting.
A new learning space
The Clore Garden, funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation and developed with the RHS, is being designed by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith. It will be open to visitors and local residents year-round and will feature drought-tolerant plants specifically chosen to withstand the UK’s changing climate.
Herbaceous planting, flowers and trees alongside a wildlife pond will boost biodiversity and the garden will be constructed from sustainable and recycled materials. The new single storey classroom will open out directly onto the garden to provide a flexible sheltered space for learning activities.
Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain, said: “The Clore Garden will be a truly transformational project for Tate Britain, and this programme will enable a whole new generation of schoolchildren to enjoy it.
“Bringing together art and nature in the heart of London, I’m sure that this beautiful new green space will provide an inspiring springboard for a host of hands-on activities and creative workshops.”
Nic Buckley, RHS head of learning, added: “The Clore Garden Classroom will be the RHS’ first horticultural learning outpost in the capital for more than 120 years, and will be home to the first ever programme designed specifically for children and young people.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Tate and the Clore Duffield Foundation to give thousands of children and young people opportunities to connect with nature and the arts, develop skills and confidence, and see how creativity, plants and gardening can be a force for good.”
Find out more about school visits to Tate Britain at tate.org.uk/schools/visit/tate-britain.
