This project/report worked with three early childhood education centres who have adopted the Reggio Emilia philosophy of educational practice. Each centre works with children and parents in close collaboration and all the staff and centre management are committed to the project. The aim of this project was to work with each centre in developing performing arts experiences devised by children with support from community artists specialising in dance, drama and music. In particular the project seeks to develop an understanding of: (1) the process whereby children's ideas can be developed through active engagement with centre staff and specialist community artists; (2) what particular pedagogical processes and outcomes can be identified through the Reggio approach in a community arts setting; and (3) what changes occur for staff involved in a project of this kind in relation to their teaching and approach to the performing arts. Reggio inspired centres have rapidly grown in number in New Zealand as parents and teachers have seen the advances made through adopting this pedagogical approach to learning. The research aims to examine how Reggio pedagogy might be adopted in a performing arts initiative. Currently there is little research on this work or how staff might benefit from working alongside community artists. The criteria for success in this project will be in tracking children's engagement in the making and performance of their ideas and the ability of the selected centres to create their own work and take that out into the community at large.