Artist Class Name

Why not name your class after a famous artist - so instead of Year 5 it could be Class Degas! The class can then research their namesake and present the biog and career of the artist to the rest of the school.

Schools resource directory

Arts Council England has commissioned CapeUK to lead on the research for a directory of resources for teachers and schools in the arts, cultural and creative subjects.

More information

School project with Whitechapel Gallery

This is a really interesting project where a school in London worked with artists, Simon & Tom Bloor over a whole year.

Photo by Dan Weill

Taking inspiration from mid 20th Century educational books such as ‘Working Big’ by John Lidstone and ‘Learning to See’ by Kurt Rowland, Simon and Tom Bloor set out to work with children and teaching staff to experiment with production and develop new ideas for playful, useful art.

Follow this link to watch a video of this project.
Whitechapel Gallery, London

Why visit a contemporary art gallery?

Next forum meeting

The next Primary School Teachers Art Forum is at Grundy Art Gallery on Thursday 11th July from 4-5pm.


This will be a hands on practical activity looking at how to use film, image, sound and text to get across a message or idea. This will be useful as a presentation format on any subject or as an art project in itself.

Grundy is thinking about some exciting future projects with schools and would like to get your thoughts, opinions and ideas at this forum.

If you would like to book onto this forum please let either email kerry.vasiliou@blackpool.gov.uk or phone 01253 478170.

Forum 16th May

The forum this Thursday will give you an insight into the forthcoming exhibition by Serena Korda of the Beast and much more!

We will also be thinking about how to showcase artistic talent in school. We will be looking at artists work and how to create an exciting project for the class room based around their work and asking for teachers input on the Grundy's future schools programme.

If you would like to attend, please email Kerry Vasiliou on kerry.vasiliou@blackpool.gov.uk

The next two art forums

The next two art forums for Primary School Teachers and Assistants are on Thursday 16th May and Thursday the 4th July from 4-5pm at the Grundy Art Gallery.

Thursday 16th May

• We will be discussing creativity and how to harnass artisitc talent in class.
• We  will look at contemporary artists and how you could build a class project around their work.
• We will consult the teachers on the future of the schools exhibition at Grundy.

Thursday 11th July

• We will be planning a teachers inset day for Autumn 2013.
• We look at contemporary artists and how you could build a class project around their work.
• We will inform teachers of the Grundy's future programme.

Each forum also gives teachers the opportunity to bring with them any issues they need ideas for or assistance with and discuss them as a group.

If you would like to come along to the next forums please contact Kerry Vasiliou on 01253 478170 or kerry.vasiliou@blackpool.gov.uk 

Drawing show at Grundy

All That Comes Between Us by Andrew McDonald is the first comprehensive North West showing of his work to date. This solo exhibition includes a number of new sculptures and hand drawn animations made specifically for the Grundy.

Here is Andrew (pictured right) installing one of his sculptures at Grundy last week.

School Visits:

Tour of the exhibition

This will be lead by Grundy’s Education Officer, Kerry Vasiliou and will explore the drawings, animations and sculptures in detail. It will include engaging tasks to help children and young people understand the art, techniques and ideas behind his work. It will also include a look at some famous artists from Post War Modernism, a period of Art History which has influenced McDonald’s work.

Creative workshop

The workshop will consist of three experimental drawing exercises:

1. Imaginary landscapes

2. Still Life

3. People

Each element will be drawn separately using different styles and mediums which will then be brought together to create one piece of artwork.

Dates for visits:
Thursday 18th April – Morning session 10-11.30am
Friday 19th April - Morning session 10-11.30am
Tuesday 30th April – Morning session 10-11.30am
Tuesday 30th April – Afternoon session 1-2.30pm
Thursday 2nd May - Morning session 10-11.30am

Thursday 2nd May - Afternoon session 1-2.30pm

Friday 3rd May - Morning session 10-11.30am

Friday 3rd May - Afternoon session 1-2.30pm

Tuesday 7th May - Morning session 10-11.30am

Tuesday 7th May - Afternoon session 1-2.30pm

These visits and workshops are free and tailored to each key stage. To book or for more information please contact: Kerry Vasiliou, Education Officer on either 01253 478170 or kerry.vasiliou@blackpool.gov.uk

In November and December last year, four Blackpool schools visited the Grundy Art Gallery's exhibition Kelly Richardson: Legion and took part in a wonderful project with Liverpool based artist Robyn Woolston. They explored the exhibition with Robyn and learnt all about Kelly's films; how they were made and what they were about. Robyn then helped them create atwork in response to the exhibition.

This film, by Robyn Woolston, tells the children's story of a fictional landscape which is both familiar and from far away.


'Legion (after Richardson)' is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

The film has been made possible thanks to the vision and drawings of the pupils and staff at the following schools:

Mereside Primary School
Holy Family Primary School
St. Kentigerns Primary School
Montgomery High School

Wednesday 6th Feb Forum

We will be looking around the current exhibition by Kai-Oi Jay Yung, exploring all the interactive elements of the exhibition and looking at the contributions from schools and the public.

We will also explore how to use public art as a classroom project. Thinking through how to devise a project around Blackpool and the World's public art and a lesson plan to get the class designing their own.

We also encourage teachers to share project ideas and help others come up with new ways of being creative. If you would like to book a place please contact Kerry Vasiliou, Education Officer on kerry.vasiliou@blackpool.gov.uk or 01253 478170.