Pupils Give Arts Programme In Swansea Schools A Glowing Report

An exciting and varied arts programme run for schools across Swansea has received a glowing end of year report from pupils and teachers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 20 schools have taken part in the Artistic Partnerships programme run by Swansea Council’s Arts in Education team during the summer and autumn terms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Projects have included a music, art and literacy event celebrating the work and life of Roald Dahl as part of the Swansea International Festival. With funding from Literature Wales, schools worked with composer Stacey Blythe to create a scene or a song based on what they had learned about the children’s author. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Then, in front of an audience of more than 150 relatives and friends, they performed their creations at the National Waterfront Museum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks to an Arts Council of Wales grant the same classes worked with artist Keith Bayliss to create large scale prints inspired by Dahl and these were exhibited at Brangwyn Hall and are now on show in the Civic Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Earlier this year four top West End professionals came to Swansea to deliver a week-long musical theatre workshop at the Grand Theatre for seven to 16-year-olds and on the last day performed for friends and family on the big stage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eight classes from five primary schools have worked with environmental artist Sara Holden on a three-day project where they explored Brynmill Park and used objects they found, including recycled materials, to create permanent pieces of art and culture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other pupils were helped to draw inspiration from a temporary piece of artwork that was sited outside the National Waterfront Museum to create their own artwork as part of project between Locws International and the council’s arts team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some children had their first experience of live theatre when the arts team worked with the Grand Theatre to bring theatre company Bombastic for two performances for four to seven year olds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jen Raynor, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The feedback from teachers, pupils, their families and friends who took part one of these projects has been overwhelmingly positive. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many of the youngsters said they had never realised art could be so much fun while teachers have said they have been inspired to take what they have learned from the projects and continue the work in the classroom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are very grateful to all our partners who made these projects possible.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​