Who we are
Oxygen has been an established Oxfordshire Cultural Educational Partnership for over 5 years connecting art organisations and education providers to ensure all local young people in Oxfordshire, regardless of background, have access to and can engage with creative and cultural opportunities.
Our expertise lies in partnering together to support collaborative, impactful and meaningful creative practice that supports specific local needs. Our partnership includes practitioners across multiple artforms and expertise who have a shared belief in co-creating and collaboration with young people to shape sustainable, long-term opportunities for enjoyment, empowerment and careers.
What is a Cultural Education Partnership?
Find out more with this short video.
Our Aims
Our four strategic aims reflect our vision for Oxygen:
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To ensure all children and young people benefit from the opportunities provided by the Oxygen Network; ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion and the voice of young people is heard in the direction of our work.
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To ensure schools, youth groups and other agencies working with local young people are better connected to opportunities within the local cultural and creative sector. To continue to forge, grow and build new partnerships to deliver projects that bridge gaps in provision.
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To provide a hub which shares best practice, evaluation, learning and resources which advocates for the impact of arts and culture on local young people in building confidence, creativity, wellbeing and employability.
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To support Young People’s mental health and wellbeing through the arts, and signpost, share resources and expertise in this area.
What we do
We help young people to...
Access local arts and cultural activity.
Prepare for future jobs and opportunities.
Boost confidence, resilience and wellbeing through creativity.
We help education partners to...
Feel empowered and confident in navigating the cultural sector; co-designing programmes that build pupils' cultural capital.
Deliver a diverse and high-quality arts curriculum.
Collaborate and build their confidence with creativity.
Help art partners to...
Deliver a shared programme connecting children and young people to the local cultural and creative offer.
Have a better oversight and understanding of local schools and how best to respond creatively to the curriculum and school priorities.
Network, collaborate and share best practice to advocate for our collective impact of the arts.
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Oliver Cloke, SEN Teacher and Artist, Oxfordshire
“I enjoyed meeting new people. The project made me feel happy and I learnt I was good at painting.”
Young participant, Feeling Safe ‘Do you care?’ project, Oxfordshire