Creative learning: arts-led heritage projects
This page is under development
Many commissions and projects I have worked on connect aspects of arts and heritage. Projects like Vibe Cube and A Kind of Vanishing involved collaboration with archives and museums, and learning from these processes has also fed into creative learning projects. Some examples are listed below.
Our Map: Commission at Harbinger Primary (for Bow Arts, 2016)
In this project I worked with two Year 6 classes and their teachers at Harbinger Primary, exploring the history and identity of the Isle of Dogs, with the aim of creating a permanent work for the school. Using explorations built around different aspects of mapping; exploratory walks, drawing, cut-ups and collage, stories and poetry, the project gave students the opportunity contribute to a collective artwork leaving a visual legacy as they make the transition to secondary school.
“I have learnt and realised that there are small things on the Isle of Dogs that we see every day but we don't realise how special they actually are until we leave them”
The map incorporates layers – of history, children’s personal journeys, of contemporary life on the island, text and image. Now installed in the school's dining hall, it provides new pupils with an opportunity to explore their environment through former pupil's experiences. The project was featured in the article The Art of the Island on the Bow Arts website. You can see the final version of the work by clicking on the second image below.
“I have learnt and realised that there are small things on the Isle of Dogs that we see every day but we don't realise how special they actually are until we leave them”
The map incorporates layers – of history, children’s personal journeys, of contemporary life on the island, text and image. Now installed in the school's dining hall, it provides new pupils with an opportunity to explore their environment through former pupil's experiences. The project was featured in the article The Art of the Island on the Bow Arts website. You can see the final version of the work by clicking on the second image below.
Open Estate: 2015-16
Open Estate was an 18-month arts-led heritage programme, documenting the memories of residents of the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, a large housing estate being redeveloped to make way for new housing. My role was to contribute to a wide-ranging programme of exploration and activity, developing and delivering community activities to stimulate engagement and memory development, including creative learning with schools and young people; you can find out more about the project here.
Open Estate was an 18-month arts-led heritage programme, documenting the memories of residents of the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, a large housing estate being redeveloped to make way for new housing. My role was to contribute to a wide-ranging programme of exploration and activity, developing and delivering community activities to stimulate engagement and memory development, including creative learning with schools and young people; you can find out more about the project here.
River Crouch Festival: 2015
Rochford District Council developed the festival to celebrate the river communities. As one of the project's commissioned artists I worked with year 5 students at Riverside School, Hullbridge, and at Collingwood Primary, South Woodham Ferrers. Using information from Essex Archives, we uncovered hidden water distribution systems linking the two communities and developed a collaborative map showcasing the engineering achievement of the 1926-built Hullbridge Tunnel, running 17 metres below the River Crouch. The map shows where we literally walk on and over our water supplies, alongside our talismans and lucky charms that protect our communities and water supplies. You can find more information about the project here.
Project 2013 (2011)
As part of Southend High School for Girls 'Project 2013' centenary, I worked with students over three days to develop and record interviews with old girls, culminating in the creation of the Locker Listening Post, a prototype installation to stimulate project development. The installation contained extracts from the interviews focusing on social and attitudinal changes which paralleled uniform change, and was decorated by SHFG students.
"…Although it never happened to me it was rumoured that Mr Senger would measure the length of your skirt when you were kneeling down, it had to be so many inches above the ground or something…they had to be long enough, there were no short skirts...
"...I used to have to wear a green and white stripy shirt, and the students next door used to call us 'Pacers', because you used to get these green and white stripy spearmint sweets that looked the same in those days..."
The installation was exhibited at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff and also at Essex Record Office.
"…Although it never happened to me it was rumoured that Mr Senger would measure the length of your skirt when you were kneeling down, it had to be so many inches above the ground or something…they had to be long enough, there were no short skirts...
"...I used to have to wear a green and white stripy shirt, and the students next door used to call us 'Pacers', because you used to get these green and white stripy spearmint sweets that looked the same in those days..."
The installation was exhibited at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff and also at Essex Record Office.
