13th March 2007, 07/88
Educational tours at Chapel Gallery
Pupils can experience artists' work and then develop their own
creative skills during Chapel Gallery's popular educational
workshops.
Each year the gallery produces an innovative exhibition programme.
To tie in with this the team organises educational tours,
discussions and 'hands on' workshops for schoolchildren around the
themes highlighted in the current exhibitions showing.
At the moment Craig Mitchell, formally from West Lancashire and a
nationally respected artist who makes hilarious ceramic characters,
is showing his works at the Chapel Gallery.
So young people from various schools across the district will be
visiting it over the next few weeks to see his work and take part
in design and making workshops.
They will spend time studying the exhibition, talking about his
work, sketching from first hand observation and then finishing off
the session with an activity based on Craig's ceramic figures. For
example, pupils will be designing and making their own shoe designs
as wild and wacky shoes feature in some of Craig's artwork in the
exhibition.
Cllr David Westley, Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said:
"Whenever we have an exhibition we always develop educational
programmes for the schools that are linked to the exhibition
programme. We do this by examining each artist's work and then see
how we can adapt the techniques and mediums used for the
children.
"It's a fantastic initiative because the children get to visit a
local art gallery displaying professional work, can study it in
detail and try to apply what they have seen by creating their own
pieces. We always get very positive feedback and the pupils really
enjoy themselves."
Professional artists facilitate the workshops and schools in West
Lancashire are regularly sent out details of the educational
workshops so they can sign up for them. To find out more, visit the
Chapel Gallery
section or ring 01695 571328.
Chapel Gallery, St Helens Road, is open from 10am to 4.30pm,
Tuesday to Saturday, as is the café and contemporary craft shop.
Entrance is free.
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