Culturally Speaking

Culturally Speaking is a project delivered by Speakers Trust in partnership with cultural institutions across London, funded by The Kusuma Trust.

Currently recruiting for 2024-25

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What is Culturally Speaking? 

Culturally Speaking is delivered by Speakers Trust in partnership with cultural institutions across London, and funded by The Kusuma Trust. 

A programme for up to thirty 13-16 year old students from each school will get a guided and interactive tour of a cultural institution, which will lead to a full day oracy workshop exploring the findings from the visit and preparing a speech on themes relating to their experience. 

 

This year, participating schools can choose from one of the following cultural partners: 

Westminster Abbey 

Victoria & Albert Museum

The Design Museum

The Wallace Collection 

National Portrait Gallery 

Black Cultural Archives 

Saatchi Gallery 

London Transport Museum- Depot 

Imperial War Museum 

Charles Dickens Museum

 

The programme offers young people the opportunity to engage with cultural spaces and identify how they can be relevant to their lives.  Cultural institutions involved are able to see the spaces through fresh eyes, and understand the themes that are important to young people.  
 

Here is what teachers and students had to say about their experience in the programme last year: 

“Students really enjoyed both days and staff were really impressed with what they achieved in the speaking workshop” – Teacher  

“I am proud of myself for being able to speak in front of my peers and present a speech about a topic I care about” – Student 

HOW IT WORKS  

  • A group of 25-30 students, aged 13-16, visit a cultural institution in London. 
  • This visit is led by experts at the institution, who will guide young people to explore the venue and identify the themes of the space.  

After cultural visit: 

  • The young people will take part in a full day, in-school public speaking workshop helping them explore and ultimately deliver a speech on one of these themes. 
  • Young people are supported in both speaking and listening and develop their critical thinking skills and their resilience through trying something for the first time. 
  • Schools will then run their own internal competition to select a student to be put forward for an end of year showcase.
  • The winner will submit a video of their final speech, based on specific criteria, which will be go through to a judging panel who will select the final 15 young people to speak out at a TEDx style showcase in the Summer Term.  

For more information, email hello@speakerstrust.org or call us at 020 8146 6231.