On the 15th July to the 19th August a Digital Showcase celebrating the learning journey of Black Country & Telford art teachers and the young people they work with will be on display at The New Art Gallery Walsall. It includes a selection of the artwork of the 260 young people who took part in the programme and their responses to experiencing contemporary art, many for the first time.
Starting in 2023 and continuing until summer 2024, the programme focused on supporting art teachers to confidently explore race, heritage and identity in the classroom through contemporary visual art. We collaborated with 13 art teachers from local secondary schools and colleges.
‘The World That Belongs to Us’ exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall was used as inspiration to investigate artists representing the global majority and to consider the context of their work in relation to their identity and backgrounds.
The exhibition was a brilliant starting point to inspire discussions, ideas and activities as it brought together artists from the South Asian diasporas exploring many aspects of identity, relationships and society and features a varied range of visual art forms including painting, photography, installation, film and digital media.
As part of the programme teachers took part in exhibition tours, artist workshops, led by Artist and Educator Exodus Crooks and group sharing and reflection sessions to build knowledge and understanding of the artwork and themes of the exhibition.
This learning was then taken back to the classroom where it was used to explore new ideas, techniques and teaching strategies with students.
Students also visited the exhibition and took part in an artist led practical workshop.
The Contemporary Art in the Classroom CPDL Programme was developed from out of our work with The British Art Show 9 (BAS9) exhibition in Wolverhampton.
The 2023 -2024 programme has to date engaged 12 schools, 13 art teachers and 260 young people, predominantly in the Black Country.
“It’s fascinating how each art teacher has explored race, culture and identity in a unique way inspired by artist Exodus Crooks and The World That Belongs to Us exhibition. All of the teachers we have worked with have challenged themselves to test ideas and take risks, they have enhanced their skills and knowledge and inspired their students to think and work in new ways. Each year I’m amazed by the bold curriculum innovations that teachers design in response to the Contemporary Art in the Classroom CPDL programme!”
Becky Thompson, Education Producer, Arts Connect
“The art gallery inspired me to do whatever I wanted with my own art, and it made me feel so much more creative. Visiting the gallery also reminded me that art isn’t simply pencil or paint on paper, but it actually can be whatever your imagination takes you.”
Student from Ercall Wood Academy & participant in the programme
Partner Schools
- Charlton School, Telford
- City of Wolverhampton College
- Colton Hills Community School, Wolverhampton
- Ellowes Hall Sport College, Dudley
- Ercall Wood Academy, Telford
- Highfields School, Wolverhampton
- Joseph Leckie Academy, Walsall
- Pegasus Academy, Dudley
- Phoenix Collegiate, Sandwell
- St James Academy, Dudley
- St Matthias School, Wolverhampton
- Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School, Wednesbury, Sandwell
Making a Difference to Teachers
Hannah Willetts – Head of Art
Read the blog of CAIC Alumni and Secondary Art Teacher, Hannah Willetts and find out the difference our programme made to her practice and the very real impact it had on her students.
