In 2014, the first Shakespeare Week celebration saw 3,142 schools and 470,000 children take part and 62,000 Passports to Shakespeare distributed.

To develop the celebration with families, SCL and ASCEL are encouraging library services to offer family/group activities during Shakespeare Week and are producing resources to support activities.  Partners involved in 2015 are the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Society of Chief Librarians, the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians, The Reading Agency and CILIP.

The nationally renowned and award winning Buxton Festival features an impressive programme of opera, music and literature during July 2015 in the attractive Peak District Spa Town.

Opera performances in the stunning Opera House include Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and a concert performance of Chapentier’s Louise. Elijah Moshinsky the prolific director and three times Laurence Olivier Award winner for Opera will be directing the much anticipated performance of Giovanna d’Arco.

Sinfonia Viva is a virtuoso ensemble delivering original and extraordinary creative musical experiences. Founded in 1982, Sinfonia Viva has a national reputation as a leader in creative music activity in the UK. They are proud to announce two concerts in March 2015.

Organisers of Derby Festé 2015 are offering Derbyshire based artists the exciting opportunity to perform during the festival weekend in September. 

Derby Cathedral have announced their exhibition programme for the year in the Sir Richard Morris Lounge at Derby Cathedral Centre.  

The programme starts with Derby's Jacobean House in 1852, which is on loan from Derby Museums and with whom the Cathedral enjoy a close relationship.

The Jacobean Exhibition will continue until Friday 30th January 2015, 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, Closed Sundays, Bank Holidays. 

The headline act for the 2015 Derby Comedy Festival has been announced as stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr, who will perform his hit show, Funny Business, at the new Derby Arena on Friday 10 July, 2015.

Derby Theatre’s big production for spring 2015 will be Olivier Award-winning Mike Kenny’s adaptation of Carnegie award-winning Siobhan Dowd’s novel Solace of the Road, on from Fri 27 February until Sat 14 March.