Create a Space

We delivered the Create a Space project in 2021 and 2022 as the community dealt with the challenges of covid. The aim was to create space in school for carefully planned arts engagement so that children can be more resilient, develop self-esteem, confidence and equipped to cope better with anxiety.

We used an Artist-led and child-centred approach within the spaces we created online. The Artists shared their art-making and the children were empowered to become artists, to invent, explore and discuss their thinking with the artist.

Teachers are instrumental to the process and have opportunities to learn new skills or tools particularly in self-care. They play a critical role in session delivery and the Artist discusses plans with them in advance so both are prepared for the structure of the session whilst retaining space for things to pop up and change direction as the children work.

The beauty of the entire project as it unfolded was that each Child approached the project from their viewpoint allowing them to have space for their thoughts, skills and imaginings.

Activities ranged from book making, exploratory drawing, self-portraits and mood painting to discovery through photography, map making, sculpture and building sanctuaries.