Enriching Cultural Settings through Creative Learning Partnerships

By Carys Barnes (Cuckoo)

At Artis Foundation, we are passionate about delivering captivating and enriching creative sessions for children and young people. We work in schools across the country, offering a year-long creative programme that integrates performing arts sessions into the curriculum. However, our impact extends far beyond the classroom through our innovative collaborations with cultural settings such as galleries, museums, and theatres. These partnerships have allowed us to create unique and immersive learning experiences that bring together arts and education in exciting new ways.

One of our proudest collaborations has been with the Guildhall Art Gallery. Working closely with the gallery, we have developed bespoke creative learning workshops that enhance children’s understanding of exhibitions and artworks, enriching their learning experiences. One standout project was Off the Canvas, a learning programme focused on James Webb’s Victorian-era painting of Mont St Michel. Through these workshops, we successfully engaged over 1,800 young people from across London by delving into the artwork’s intricate details and exploring its historical and cultural contexts. We also led school sessions as part of the Guildhall’s Sublime Symmetry exhibition, using the mathematical design in William de Morgan’s ceramic works as inspiration for performing arts workshops. These workshops not only supported children’s understanding of geometry but also developed their spatial awareness. The synergy between Artis and Guildhall Art Gallery has resulted in enriched educational experiences that have deeply resonated with young visitors, fostering a deeper appreciation across the visual and performing arts.

At Artis, our goal is to bring exhibitions and creative programmes to life by utilising music, drama, and movement. We work closely with curators and programmers to ensure that our educational activities seamlessly align with the artistic content whilst also linking back to the curriculum. These collaborations provide an immersive and holistic experience for schools and families.

Another partnership we are proud to have been part of is with Bloomberg SPACE, where we had the privilege of working with Korean visual artist Do Ho Suh’s thought-provoking installation, Proposal for Sach’ŏnwang-sa. Inspired by the resonance between the Roman Temple of Mithras and an ancient Korean temple, we developed a tailored workshop that immersed children and young people in Suh’s mesmerizing world. Through music, drama, and movement, participants had the opportunity to explore and interpret Suh’s art, igniting their imagination, encouraging critical thinking, and nurturing their creativity. You can learn more about this project here.

We invited primary schools across the country to submit a 10-word response to the question ‘What is art?’. To help children answer this philosophical question, Artis worked with Do Ho Suh to develop resources and activities for teachers to explore with their children. Resources are free to download and explore: https://oldsite.artisfoundation.org.uk/art-resources

With our 18 years of expertise, we are proud to deliver high-quality arts provision. Our professional arts educators bring their passion, curriculum knowledge, and creativity to our Artis sessions. They possess a deep understanding of arts education pedagogies and the ability to engage and inspire young learners using the performing arts.

At Artis Foundation, we are committed to a future where every child has the opportunity to connect with the arts. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can support the design of bespoke learning programmes to make them more accessible, engaging, and transformative for children, please get in touch with us.