You already know this.
You see it in the way a child leans forward in their seat. In the giggles that ripple through a room. In the quiet moment when a child who usually struggles to engage suddenly locks eyes with you or your character.
What you do matters.
SIGN UP TO OUR WONDER-FILLED UPDATES
At Wide-Eyed Wonder, we have launched to make sure your work reaches children who would otherwise never experience live performing arts – children living with disadvantage, instability, trauma, or isolation.
And we pay artists. Always.
Why wonder matters for children
Research consistently shows that experiences of awe and wonder support:
- Social connection and empathy
- Creative thinking and problem-solving
- Curiosity and intrinsic motivation
- Emotional regulation and resilience
For children experiencing adversity, positive shared experiences — especially those involving play, storytelling, and performance — can help rebuild a sense of safety and belonging. Live performance offers something unique: real humans, real connection, and a moment of collective attention in a world that often feels overwhelming.
Studies in child development and trauma-informed practice highlight that joyful, relational experiences support healthy brain development and can buffer the impacts of stress. When children feel seen, engaged, and delighted, their nervous systems settle. Learning becomes possible. Hope sneaks back in.
Your performances create those moments.
A different model of access
Wide-Eyed Wonder works by securing funding so:
- Artists are paid fairly
- Vulnerable audiences don’t have to pay
- Community organisations don’t face complex grant applications
- Reporting focuses on storytelling, not spreadsheets
We curate performances that spark shared wonder then connect you directly with communities who need it most.
No laborious acquittals. No bureaucratic hoops. Just meaningful work, fairly paid.
This is an invitation
If you’re a children’s performer, puppeteer, storyteller, musician, theatre maker or entertainer who believes in the power of live experiences, we’d love you to join us.
Your art already creates wonder.
Let’s help it travel further.
Sign up to Wide-Eyed Wonder and help bring live performance to children who need it most.