We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with Edinburgh College of Art, marking a significant milestone as the first Saturday Club to open in Scotland as part of the charity’s expansion across all four nations of the UK. 

The Art&Design Saturday Club, launching at Edinburgh College of Art, is designed to give 13—16-year-olds in the local area a unique opportunity to study subjects they love for free, while building skills, developing confidence and discovering pathways to further study and careers in the creative industries and beyond.  

Working in partnership with a remarkable national network of further education, higher education, the cultural sector, and industry, the National Saturday Club has developed a transformative annual programme of weekly Clubs and national events that empower the next generation to pursue their passions and build lasting community connections. 

Edinburgh College of Art Saturday Club joins a growing network of 125 Clubs, attended by over 3,000 Club members across eight dynamic subjects including Performance&Theatre and Film&Screen.  

The launch of the Art&Design Saturday Club, which aims to engage young people from underrepresented backgrounds, saw huge interest from the local community. Juan Cruz, Edinburgh College of Art Principal said: 

“Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh is delighted to be facilitating the first National Saturday Club in Scotland. We will facilitate regular engagement with creative education for young people, and highlight the many opportunities that exist within the creative and cultural industries in Scotland, the UK and beyond.” 

The National Saturday Club, already established in England and Wales, has recently increased its presence in all four nations, introducing pivotal new Relationship Manager roles to support the establishment of partnerships with universities, further education colleges and cultural institutions in Scotland and Northern Ireland. After a successful launch in Edinburgh, the team are actively recruiting new partners to expand its footprint across Scotland.  

This strategic expansion, alongside key appointments to new roles in the senior leadership team, will enable the charity to significantly increase its geographical reach, removing barriers and broadening access to vital extracurricular learning opportunities, increasing access to enriching out-of-school learning experiences for underrepresented young people in Scotland, welcoming them to educational settings and cultural spaces they may otherwise not encounter.  

Lucy Kennedy, Chief Executive at National Saturday Club, said:  

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art to launch the first National Saturday Club in Scotland, a key step in our all-four nations strategy to expand access to high-quality extracurricular creative education for young people. This vision is made possible by dedicated Club partners, funders, and supporters, whose commitment enables us to break down barriers, open doors to further study and careers, and support young people to flourish. We look forward to growing the National Saturday Club’s reach in Scotland and collaborating with new partners to make creative education accessible to all, regardless of background.” 

National Saturday Club’s expansion comes at a time when access to diverse educational experiences is more crucial than ever. By offering weekly sessions, national events, and Masterclasses with industry leaders, the programme continues to bridge gaps in educational opportunities and inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators. 

To enquire about setting up a Saturday Club in Scotland, please email Richie, Relationship Manager (Scotland) on richie@saturday-club.org.