School Brochure 2016/17

About aspexaspex has a 35-year track record of supporting emerging artists and engaging audiences, through the delivery of a programme of exhibitions, off-site projects and participatory opportunities.

Artists such as Mona Hatoum, Richard Wilson and Susan Collis, all internationally acclaimed, received support from aspex at an early point in their careers. This work has continued with projects including ‘Emergency’, an open submission biennial exhibition, offering key opportunities for artist exposure and professional development.

Since relocating to the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth in 2006, the gallery has focused on finding ways to meaningfully engage its visitors by facilitating connections with artists and revealing the creative process.

The participation programme provides activities for toddlers through to over 60’s, and its work with children with Special Educational Needs and those on the autistic spectrum, has been described as exemplary.

Ongoing projects have included ‘Family Saturdays’, free drop-in workshops for all of the family as well as ‘Mini Makers’, early years art activities for children and their parent/guardians.

In early 2016 aspex received a small Capital grant from Arts Council England that supported the development of a new Learning Space, an open environment with improved access and facilities.

Please direct any queries to Participation & Learning Manager Vicky Chapter:

E: vicky@aspex.org.ukT: 023 9277 8080

Image: aspex’s new Learning Space

Past ProjectsCase Study 1: Arundel Court Arts Week

Arundel Court School worked in partnership with aspex to deliver their Arts Week to pupils across the whole school. This was the fifth year that Arundel Court has worked with the gallery.

Children from Nursery to KS2 all took part in workshops and visits around the exhibition ‘Carousel’, a group show of printmakers curated by artist Adam Bridgland.

KS2The workshops begin with a week of KS2 ‘whistlestop tours’. Each KS2 class visited the gallery for an exhibition tour and short group activity, led by our Participation team. These visits are to provide the pupils with knowledge and understanding of the exhibition, ready for their artist workshop and to apply within the classroom. These sessions were also designed to increase the pupil’s confidence in the gallery and develop and encourage teamwork skills, one of the key elements of the following workshop.

The following week each class returned to the gallery for a half-day workshop with artist Lynn Weddle. Each group explored one of the artworks in more detail. Through group discussion the class explored ‘imagination’ and designed their own imaginary worlds. They then created their imaginary world collaboratively through drawing, painting and collage.

KS1 The second phase of Arts Weeks worked with classes from KS1. Each class visited the gallery for a half-day workshop and took part in a similar workshop with Lynn Weddle around ‘Imaginary Worlds’.

“I have learnt to discover new worlds” - Pupil, Arundel Court School

Nursery and Foundation The final phase of Arts Weeks worked with Nursery and Foundation classes at Arundel Court School. aspex took images of the artworks to the school to use as inspiration and imagined animals that might live within the landscapes. Each pupil then created a mask of their imaginary creature.

Teachers All of Arundel Court School’s Arts Weeks began with working with the teaching staff throughout the whole school.

Artist Lynn Weddle visited the school in the summer of 2013 to meet the teaching staff and run a Photography CPD session. The session provided teachers with a range of new skills and cross curriculum ideas to use within the classroom.

For Arts Week we began with a teachers twilight meeting at the gallery to explore the exhibition ‘Carousel’, which Arts Weeks will be based around.

Our Participation & Learning Manager introduced the exhibition and the programme for the workshops. The teachers then worked to form lesson ideas inspired by the exhibition to deliver back at school.

Images: Arundel Court School KS2

Image: Art Installation at PGS

Past ProjectsCase Study 2: Portsmouth Grammar School KS1 Arts Week

aspex and artist Eileen White worked with 8 infant classes at Portsmouth Grammar School to produce a collaborative installation as part of the National Gallery’s Take One Picture project. Taking inspiration from the portrait ‘Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil’ by Bartolome Bermejo, classes worked with Eileen to each create their own elements of the installation. The pupils were drawn to the ‘creature’ in the portrait and this led to the creation of a mystical, magical woodland scene.

At the beginning of the week Year 2 classes were set the task of making trees for their scene. The children had been on woodland walks over the weekend and had collected an array of twigs and leaves to inspire their artwork.

Through studying the twigs and leaves the children drew their own imaginary trees and worked in groups to create four trees per class. When it came to painting the trees we focused on pattern and mark making, looking at the textures on the twigs and trying to recreate them using different printing materials.

Once the woodlands were created the Year 1 and Reception classes worked on the creatures. Using their imagination they had to devise a creature, thinking about shape, colour and emotion.

Following all of the workshops the work has come together to create a wonderful installation in the school hall

“Our projects allow all students to collaborate, developing skills and relationships” - Vicky Chapter, aspex’s Participation & Learning Manager

Past ProjectsCase Study 3: Redlands Primary School INSET day

In February 2015, twenty teachers from Redlands Primary School took part in workshops for their INSET day.

The group worked with artist Melanie Rose to develop skills in relation to drawing and 3D materials.

Melanie led masterclasses in using materials and delivered activities to free up thinking at get the group creating. We even had a competition for best sculpture created!

The staff ranged from Reception class to Year 6, so it was important that the skills could be applied to both KS1 & KS2. Melanie led a plenary session following each masterclass which focused on how the skills and activities can be translated into the classroom, how activities can be built on to show progress and stretch & challenge options for high achievers.

Teachers CPD sessions can be delivered in a range of areas including but not limited to: drawing, 3D, painting, photography, animation & film, art & technology, art & literacy, art & numeracy, arts award, art & the outdoors, art & play, idea generation, team building.

DrawingActivities included: How to use drawing materials; pencil, charcoal, graphite & ink, making marks to sound, self portraits through touch, description drawings, continuous line drawings & still life.

3D Materials Activities included: How to use 3D materials; clay, modrock & wire and how these can be used within the classroom.

Arts AwardArts Award supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through setting personal challenges in an art form of their choice.

Arts Award offers national qualifications that enable young people to progress into further education and employment. Young people not only gain art form knowledge and understanding but also develop leadership, creativity and communication skills.

aspex provides opportunities for young people to complete their Arts Award through our projects and workshop programmes. The Aspex team of artist educators are trained to deliver Arts Award at all levels and can embed Arts Award into the delivery of our schools programme.

New for 2017, aspex will be running an Arts Award Club, for young people undertaking their Arts Award to gain extra support and guidance. Please see the website for further details.

You can find out more at: artsaward.org.uk

Image: Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline

Self Directed VisitYou are welcome to bring your students to aspex for a self-directed visit. Please arrange this in advance by contacting Vicky Chapter, Participation & Learning Manager by email, vicky@aspex.org.uk or phone 02392 778080.

Practical Workshopsaspex are able to provide your students with artist led practical workshops to explore the exhibitions and develop artistic skills and understanding. All of our workshops are bespoke and the Participation & Learning Manager will devise the workshop in consultation with the lead teacher, to enhance curriculum learning.

Workshops will be tailored to the age and specific requirements of the group. Maximum group size of 30.

Visiting aspex

“We had such a wonderful time, the children AND adults loved it! I have already told Portsmouth City Council SEN team how fantastic it was. We plan to recommend aspex to the other SEN units in the city.” - Assistant Headteacher, Victory Primary School

2 hour workshops (9.30 - 11.30am or 1 - 3pm) £150

Full Day Workshops (9.30am -2.30pm, with half an hour lunch) £300

All workshops must be booked in advance.

To book please contact Vicky Chapter, Participation & Learning Manager, by email vicky@aspex.org.uk or phone 0239277 8080.

“aspex is an invaluable resource for the city. The work it does within the local community is amazing and provides excellent learning opportunities. Thank you so much for organising today. I am thrilled with that the pupils have achieved” - Sam Hardcastle, Teacher, Mayville High School

Image: New Educators 2015

www.aspex.org.uk