Each year Artworks offers the opportunity for local schools to apply for one of four fully-funded one-day artist workshops, with the schools selecting an artist of their choice from the Artworks exhibition. The four workshops are then planned, organised and run by the selected artists.

Schools are encouraged to visit the annual Artworks exhibition in September, and this is often the time when teachers (or the children!) decide on which artist they would like to work with later in the school year.

In 2011, Artworks artist Valerie Armstrong was selected to run a one day workshop with Great Whelnetham Primary School:

This year I was invited to Great Whelnetham primary school to run a printmaking workshop with eight and nine year old children.


Realising I would need considerable time to turn an organized multi purpose classroom into a printmaking studio, it was agreed that I should run the workshop in two sessions; an afternoon workshop followed up by a workshop the very next morning, giving me time to set up and clear up in the two lunch breaks.

I planned several ambitious techniques for the children to explore. To my delight they had just begun a classroom project on India, a country I have a deep involvement with, so I was able to provide lots of images and material to work from.

The children embraced the experience with focus, joy and enthusiasm and produced some vibrant and thoughtful pieces of art. The results of the two half day workshops will be on exhibition in the schools section of the next Artworks exhibition in September 2012.

Visit Valerie Armstrong‘s website.

www.valeriearmstrong.com

More information about planning school visits and applications for artist workshops is available on the Artworks Schools page. While some school groups simply enjoy looking at the exhibition, other groups come to sketch, paint and draw. There is always someone from Artworks on hand to offer more information on the art, encouraging the children to study, enjoy and absorb all the art in the exhibition.

N.b. To avoid possible clashes with other school visits please contact our Schools Coordinator who will assist you in planning your visit to the Artworks exhibition.

The Artworks exhibition this year runs from the 8th to 30th September 2012 at Blackthorpe Barn, open daily 10am to 5pm.