City's flagship learning initiative presented at PASCAL Observatory Conference in Hungary, highlighting collaborative success.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Children and young people engaged in creative activities at Derby's Dream Fest.
A team representing Derby's Dream Fest initiative presented the city's successful learning festival at the international PASCAL Observatory Conference in Pécs, Hungary.
A delegation from Derby, representing the city's Derby Promise initiative, has shared the success of its flagship event, Dream Fest, at the international PASCAL Observatory Conference. The conference, held in Pécs, Hungary, brought together scholars, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss learning and community development.
A key theme of this year's conference was the power of partnership and cross-sector collaboration in creating learning opportunities for all ages, fostering vibrant and inclusive cities. Dream Fest, a collaboration between Derby City Council and local business, culture, and education partners, aims to connect children and young people with new experiences and career pathways.
This year's Dream Fest saw over 600 children participate in workshops, careers sessions, and performances, including renditions of hits from popular musicals like Matilda and Wicked. The event's success was highlighted in a dedicated session at the conference, emphasising the role of creativity and culture in learning and community engagement.
Representatives from UNESCO Learning Cities worldwide shared their approaches to lifelong learning. Derby, recognised as part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022, was presented alongside examples from Australia, Ireland, the Philippines, and South Korea. Professor Rhiannon Jones of the University of Derby, a partner in Dream Fest, leads the UK's branch of the network.
Discussions at the conference also focused on how cities use partnerships to enhance social inclusion, skills development, wellbeing, and community participation, aligning with the core priorities of the Derby Promise. The importance of citizen voice and community-led initiatives was also explored.
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"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."
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"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."
Further information about the opportunities offered by the Derby Promise can be found on its website.
Based on information from the official source: Derby City Council (09/10/2026)
