Inclusive Practices Secondary School Workshops

This summer, I developed and facilitated art & design workshops for two secondary schools in South East England, as part of the Inclusive Practices project.

Inclusive Practices is led by John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton, with support from Freelands Foundation.

Inclusive Practices is a two-year project that aims to diversify the art and design curriculum. To shift the thinking around awareness of race, inclusion and racial literacy within the Art & Design curriculum. Working with the School of Education, and PGCE students alongside artists to develop a more inclusive, representational and varied curriculum for Year 7 & 8 students across nine majority white secondary schools.

Through their work with schools and teacher networks, John Hansard Gallery (JHG) identified that there is a need for greater representation within the arts curriculum. Inclusive Practices is an ambitious programme where all participants and stakeholders can talk about race, culture and inclusivity in art education to increase understanding of how to affect measurable change.

I developed workshops inspired by the Black Outdoor Art project, centred around antiracist learnings and expression for The Petersfield School in Hampshire, and Christ The King College on the Isle of Wight.

Following a brilliant workshop on antiracism delivered by Helena Boyce, students were encouraged to think about the world around them, and how art can play a vital role in exploring that world. We looked at the work of contemporary artists and creatives of colour, and discussed their approaches and the themes of their work. We looked at the Black Outdoor Art project, and discussed how art advocacy can be a powerful tool. We then talked about the students’ experiences of race and inclusion, and how those experiences shaped their understanding.

Finally, we asked the students to produce their own ‘billboard’ art, in response to the themes we covered with them. Working in groups, they were encouraged to work collaboratively and inclusively, giving consideration to their creative concept, their message, and medium. The resulting work was nothing short of impressive. Given how difficult and challenging some of this material was, the students responded brilliantly. Their work was engaging, vibrant, personal and positive.

At the end of the workshops, the student work was collected and presented as a group ‘billboard’, showing the range and diversity of their work.

Following the sessions, the response from the students and teaching staff was overwhelmingly positive. In time I will be able to share more specific data as to the findings of the project.

My thanks to Lynne, Florence and the team at JHG and Freelands Foundation for inviting me to be a part of the project, and their fantastic support throughout. My thanks to staff at both The Petersfield School and Christ The King for having me, and perhaps MOST importantly my thanks to the students. I appreciate you giving me your time, attention and energy, and well done on producing such considered and brilliant work.

Below are some images of the students work taken by myself.