Nurturing Creativity in the
Early Years
Coda seeks to nurture new seeds of creative engagement with children in their early years. Working with partners of international repute we aim to develop a centre of excellence for early years creativity.
Our Early Years project will provide
An inspirational new creative offer for local families - culturally diverse, affordable & fun
Skills development for local artists to support future employment opportunities
Increased connections through online engagement
& cross sector partnerships
Nurturing Creativity aims to
Todd Clarke, Club Origami at Coda, February 2026
Address a gap in provision for children in their early years, identified locally through research undertaken by the Creative People and Places programme in the New Forest and nationally by ACE and De Montfort University’s Talent 25 research programme.
Develop Coda’s expertise in creativity in the early years, increasing the range of people we engage, and broadening the types of cultural activity we deliver locally;
Make a positive impact on the well being of local families and provide accessible and sustainable creative opportunities in our community.
Forge new partnerships with new organisations, both cultural and cross sector, to increase collaboration and share learning and skills.
Make a greater impact on the local freelance economy – providing opportunity for local artists and practitioners and enhancing their skills through professional development opportunities.
Nurturing Creativity objectives
A Programme of Cultural Activity
With a focus on creativity, play and wellbeing, our programme is designed for early years children, including those with disabilities, and their carers. Welcoming world leading practitioners in dance, immersive theatre and music to perform and inform, we will offer sustainable activity for local families.
Skills Development Opportunities
Nurturing Creativity will offer development opportunities for both Coda, and our local artists and educators in partnership with Magic Acorns. We aim to create a centre of excellence for creativity in the early years here in the New Forest.
Non-Arts Partnerships
This project will assist Coda in expanding our network of non-arts partners - health and social care professionals, schools and early years settings, local authorities, businesses and more.
Coda will bring some of the most exciting international artists to the New Forest to ignite interest and inspire.
Including: Takeshi Matsumoto, a dance artist specialising in making work for young audiences; Oily Cart, who have pioneered the art of sensory theatre; Leap then Look; And Magic Acorns with whom we will develop our skills and a new creative offer for local people.
Upcoming events
Magic Acorns, Early Years residency
April / May 2026
In Spring 2026, Magic Acorns will join us in our gallery space at Coda. Working with our resident Early Years artists / practitioners, the group will develop a creative space to trial and run immersive sessions and events with local Early Years families.
Past events
Great Big Tiny World, with Oily Cart
October 2025
Settle in amongst hundreds of real plants, to watch, hear and feel the world come to life all around you.
A unique immersive experience for babies and their parents / carers.
With theatre company Oily Cart parents with 0-12 m/o babies were invited into a world filled with sounds, scents, music, shadows and sensory objects - where even the tiniest things played an important part.
Families described the experience a magical, mesmerising and beautifully grounding.
Club Origami, with Ichi Ni San
February 2026
Dive into the magical world of paper and play.
In this immersive and interactive show, children aged 18 months - 4 y/o were invited to discover new ways of thinking, playing and moving.
With dance artists Ichi Ni San, Early Years families experienced spirited storytelling and dance, seeing shadows appear on walls, and hearing live music and sounds.
Families described the experience as captivating, mesmerising, joyful and freeing.