House of Imagination (formerly 5x5x5=creativity) is an arts research charity that improves children’s life chances by helping them to explore and express their ideas and develop creative skills for life. House of Imagination creates places and spaces to research, share and celebrate the power of imagination in children’s lives. This is achieved through creative partnerships with artists, schools, cultural organisations, higher education institutions and creative industries. House of Imagination is a home for improvisation, creativity and innovation and a place to make those things visible to wider audiences through research, participation and collaboration.
The objects of the Charity are the advancement of education and in particular:
- working in partnership with educators and artists, and with museums, galleries, theatres and other artistic and cultural settings to support children in their exploration, communication and expression of creative ideas;
- producing and disseminating research and guidance on creative values, relationships, dispositions and environments in order to help develop children as confident, creative thinkers; and
- providing integrated training and mentoring for educators, artists and cultural centres.
During the year the charity continued to refine its strategic focus around imagination, creativity, nature connection and interdisciplinary learning, while operating within a challenging financial environment for the wider arts and charity sector.
House of Imagination continued to develop its role as a cultural and educational infrastructure organisation within Bath, Bristol and the South West, while also extending aspects of its work nationally through the Forest of Imagination programme and associated partnerships.
The charity continued to work alongside academics, artists, educators, landscape architects, cultural organisations and local authorities to create collaborative programmes and creative learning environments that support children, families and communities.
A significant strand of work during the year centred on the continued development of Forest of Imagination as both an annual programme and a longer-term research and partnership model exploring imagination, ecology, learning and wellbeing.
During 2024–25 House of Imagination continued work connected to:
- Forest of Imagination 2025 at Entry Hill, engaging 6,000 visitors (more info to follow);
- Forest of Imagination Wokingham, commissioned in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council using UK Shared Prosperity Funding;
- the continued development of the Entry Hill Art & Nature Park vision in Bath, in collaboration with partners including Grant Associates, Bath Spa University and cultural and environmental stakeholders;
- artist development, participatory learning and interdisciplinary collaboration through projects and partnership activity;
- ongoing dialogue with universities, councils and cultural partners regarding future place-based creative and ecological programmes.
The charity also continued to support wider cultural and educational networks and partnerships, helping to connect organisations and practitioners working across arts, education, creativity, research and community engagement.
House of Imagination remains committed to ensuring its activities are inclusive and accessible, and continues to explore how imagination and creativity can contribute positively to learning, wellbeing, social connection and environmental awareness.