A team representing the Derby Promise have shared the success of city’s Dream Fest at an international conference.
The PASCAL Observatory Conference brings together scholars, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to explore ideas around learning and community.
One of the key themes at this year’s event was the power of partnership, and the ways different sectors can work together to create learning opportunities for residents of all ages, building vibrant and inclusive cities.
Dream Fest is the flagship event of the city’s Derby Promise programme, a collaboration between Derby City Council and local business, culture and education partners across the city. The initiative links children and young people with new experiences and opportunities, encouraging them to dream big and find their way to rewarding careers.
Over 600 children took part in Dream Fest this year, enjoying workshops, careers sessions and performances from West End Stars. They then took to the stage in front of a sold-out theatre, performing rousing renditions of hits from Matilda, Wicked and other popular musicals in a joyous and memorable finale.
The success of Dream Fest 2026 was shared during a dedicated conference session at PASCAL, highlighting the role of creativity and culture in supporting learning and community engagement.
The conference, which takes place in Pécs, Hungary, brought together representatives from UNESCO Learning Cities from across the world, presenting their own approaches to lifelong learning and community development. Examples were shared from Australia, Ireland, the Philippines, South Korea and others on how their programmes are structured and delivered, giving plenty of inspiration for future work.
Derby was recognised as part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022, due to the city’s outstanding efforts in promoting lifelong learning. The UK’s branch of the network is currently led by Professor Rhiannon Jones of the University of Derby – another dedicated Dream Fest partner.
Attendees also explored in depth how cities are using partnerships to improve social inclusion, skills development, wellbeing and community participation – all priorities at the heart of the Derby Promise. There were also discussions around the importance of citizen voice and community-led activity, making sure opportunities meet local needs.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills , said:
Dream Fest celebrates creative careers and possibilities open to Derby’s children in their own city. As the flagship event of the Derby Promise, it embodies the ideals of collaboration, inclusion, imagination and ambition that we want to foster within our young people.
Seeing this shared at an international level, with a view to inspiring other cities, is fantastic recognition of the impact initiatives like Dream Fest can have on a city.
He was joined by other Derby Promise and Dream Fest collaborators including Derby Theatre and Culture Derby. Alix Manning-Jones, Director of Culture Derby, said:
It was a privilege to present Derby Promise’s Dream Fest at the PASCAL UNESCO Learning Cities Conference and share how Derby has developed a city-wide learning festival that puts children and young people at its heart.
Dream Fest demonstrates the power of culture to inspire lifelong learning, bringing together innovative partnerships across education, culture, business and communities to transform the city into a classroom and provide pathways and career opportunities for the next generation of creatives in our city.
You can find out more about the opportunities offered by the Derby Promise on its website.