Dowdales school is the venue for a celebration of work across Cumbria's schools later today (Thursday 15 November), including two exciting and innovative projects from the Dalton and Barrow areas.
'Changing Futures Creatively', between 4.30pm - 6.30pm this afternoon, will reflect the work that schools have been doing with Cumbria Arts In Education. This organisation provides support to enable artists and schools to work together to help children and young people develop their creative potential, self confidence, and raise their aspirations.
The Climate Change Explorer Programme:
New media artist Adam Clarke has worked with students at Dowdales School to explore climate change issues in imaginative and engaging ways in order to explore their views through film, animations and other new media art forms.
Jeremy Malcolm is Head of Art at Dowdales School. He said:
"Having Adam here has caused the whole school to talk about climate change. It's not just the students who are talking and thinking about it - teachers and other staff have been gripped by it as well."
In collaboration with Shoreline Films, young people from Dowdales and Drop Zone created ‘Cecil and the Penguins’, a film which uses a young boy’s fascination with penguins to exploring environmental concerns - and finding some solutions.
The project has been underpinned by the work of scientists from the Environmental Change Network (ECN) at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Lancaster.
Lorraine Berry, a creative practitioner also specialising in digital media, was commissioned by the project to develop a web based artwork using ECN’s long-term monitoring information. It aimed to capture the interest of a wide range of people and provide an artistic interpretation of climate change data as presented by environmental research.
Lorraine has created the ebook ‘as seasons change’, an interactive collection of images (known as ‘fractals’) and sound pieces from the data. These have already received international acclaim through the web site (www.climatechangeexplorer.co.uk (external link)).
Climate Change Explorer has gained the support of explorer and broadcaster Paul Rose, who made the recent BBC TV series about climate change.
Arts Extend Pilot Dance Programme:
Schools now have to provide more opportunities for their pupils to become involved with activities outside the main school day.
Through funding provided by Arts Council, England and the Museums, Libraries and Archives, North West, Dowdales School and its cluster of primary schools have been given the opportunity to run after-school dance clubs and develop more extensive links with community groups and the museums and archives services. Again, the project has been co-ordinated by Cumbria Arts in Education.
In the sessions led by LUDUS Dance, the teachers and children have learnt more about contemporary dance, and students at Dowdales School have developed their leadership skills to support the dance clubs in the future, as well as possibly gaining their own Young People’s Arts Award as a result of being involved in this programme.
Over seventy 7-11year old children from seven primary schools have attended the dance clubs.
Parents have remarked on the difference that this opportunity has made to their children. Here are some comments:
‘She is enjoying learning about dance at the clubs.. she says "Mum this is wonderful!" ’
‘My son loves dancing anyway but this experience has helped him to adapt to working with different people and he has become excited by different possibilities in the future.’
‘My son’s confidence has grown tremendously.. it is helping him to overcome his reluctance to join in with things’
Margaret Riches, Director of Cumbria Arts in Education said :
"The school curriculum can seem remote and irrelevant to young people if they do not feel fully engaged with the learning process.
"Learning through the arts can bring the curriculum ‘alive’. It helps young people to enjoy learning and, by making exciting discoveries about their own talents, develop the creative skills and attitudes that will positively shape and change their lives in the future.
"Cumbria Arts in Education plays a significant role in helping to bring artists and schools together to ensure that all young people across Cumbria have these opportunities It has been a great privilege to work with Dowdales School and see the high quality learning experiences that young people are being given through the outstanding commitment of their teachers and the inspirational work of the artists."
Further information about Cumbria Arts in Education can be found on the website: www.cumbriaarts.co.uk (external link)
End
Further information from Viv West, Cumbria Arts in Education, on 014394 30259
Ian Booth, Assistant Head Teacher, Dowdales School, is also available for interview on 01229 469808