Craftspace

This pilot project has addressed the issue that practical making skills should be a more valued part of school education. It also looked at whether practical learning has any effects on how pupils learn and if it has an influence on their attitude and achievement.

Workshops have just finished. Pupils worked in collaboration with Jeweller Will Evans, textile artist Jamie Lewis and ceramicist Andrew Tanner over nine sessions. Male artists were selected to act as role models for boys who formed the majority of participants.

The aims were to;

· Prove the importance and validity of strengthening the teaching of craft skills in our secondary schools and explore its potential to deliver learning across multiple subject platforms.

· Introduce pupils to a range of making skills and allow them to engage with materials. The intention was to ignite an interest in teenage pupils to learn a skill, inspiring a desire to produce quality and obtain the skills to deliver it.

· Develop a “product” or objects as a vehicle to explore enterprise and industry. By combining the creative process with the realities of the economy, the residencies offerd pupils access to different kinds of mechanisms for learning, creating and sharing.

· Discover if practical learning had any effects on how pupils learn and if it had an influence on their attitude and achievement.

All three groups began by taking part in a business enterprise workshop to help them gain an understanding of products, pricing and market forces. Each class then visited different cultural institutions for inspiration; the jewellery displays at the V&A, The Design Museum and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Pupils then went on to experience a number of technique workshops in their chosen craft before embarking on designing and making their “products”.

Pupils and staff from Braidwood School market tested their felt lighting range on members of the public as part of the Moseley Arts Market.

The project will be implemented nationally during 2009 and 10 and the results of the national project used to lobby goverment for a return to the teaching of contemporary crafts within the school curriculum.

Craft = Skills for Life Pilot Report

“Craft=Skills for Life has been a great success, it has proven that practical making sessions can be beneficial for all level of pupils. We have found that practical learning has helped gifted and talented pupils to understand and retain complex maths and science knowledge, while it has given disaffected pupils an opportunity to gain self worth and the confidence to achieve within their school.”

Stuart Shotton, Education & Community Co-ordinator

Artists

Jamie Lewis, textile artist.

Andrew Tanner, ceramicist.

Will Evans, jeweller.

Curation And Partners

This project was initiated by Craftsapce and funded by Birmingham City Council through its annual programme - Creative Futures Awards, this is Craftspace’s current major research project.

Schools:

Braidwood School for the Deaf

Wheelers Lane technology College

Ishango Science Club

Contact

If you would like to attend the exhibition launch please book your place with Emma Syer by calling 0121 608 6668.