This week I joined a debate held by the Westminster Forum Group exploring the role of arts and culture in levelling up regions and communities. There is so much excellent work and intelligent thinking around investment in local delivery infrastructure and joined-up policy making, and some amazing stories of the difference that the arts make to our local communities and national economy. But we will only achieve a compelling, long-term vision for arts and culture if we place education – at all phases and stages – at the very heart of any growth strategy. 

The importance of arts education as the foundation of our creative economy success story can be seen in the concentration of skills and innovation of its highly skilled workforce – nearly three quarters of whom hold a qualification to degree level or higher compared to 44% of the wider workforce. If we really want to build the sustainable and diverse workforce that we need, to support local cultural economies, education is critical. 

Investing in arts education is an investment in the creative workforce of the future: it is also about the intrinsic value to civic society of a well-educated, culturally engaged population. It bolsters health and wellbeing, strengthens communities and nurtures future audiences and discerning consumers. 

And, as Sir Ken Robinson said, in a quote that we have chosen for our advocacy series this week: 

'There is no system in the world or any school in the country that is better than its teachers. Teachers are the lifeblood of the success of schools.' 

To all of us working in education, this is blindingly obvious! Frustratingly, less so for policy makers at the DfE (Department for Education) and elsewhere. But that is the work we do. Making the case for our profession. Because it is you, the art educators who truly drive the UK cultural industries success story and all the economic and social rewards that the arts can bring.  

Michele Gregson, General Secretary 

Join us for an afternoon of creativity, sharing and connection.

What to expect from the programme:

Liaqat Rasul, NSEAD’s first artist in residence, will lead a workshop exploring intersectionality and identity. This practical session will provide an open and safe space to create an ongoing piece of art together.

Luke Adamson, a local Manchester artist will run a creative workshop. Watch Luke at work here.

Rose Sinclair, NSEAD member and co-curator of Althea McNish, Colour is Mine will lead a guided tour of the exhibition.

Tickets: £14 members / £20 non-members including all activities and refreshments

Video above: Artist Luke Adamson teams up with The Whitworth to create a challenge inspired by their collection of artworks featuring clouds.

When: Saturday 28 January 13.00 - 16.30

Where: The Whitworth, Manchester

A-level art and design specifications reinforce the value of drawing. For photography teachers this might seem a challenge, but with careful planning and preparation the inclusion of drawing can be of great value and provide immense enjoyment.

In this resource, first published in AD 15, Graham Hooper explores how to apply drawing in photography.

Children can get very excited at the thought of using clay and when they do, the experience doesn’t disappoint. They have a fascination with this soft tactile material that is open to endless possibilities. This short user’s guide, by Victoria Houghton, provides a few tips to help you get the best possible results.

Join us for an AD Q&A with Colin Hambrook, founding editor of Disability Arts Online; artist Tony Heaton OBE; and Dr Claire Penketh, chair of the anti-ableist pedagogy special interest group and AD #35 guest editor.

When and Where: Monday 12 December, 16.00 - 17.00; Online

Image: OUT OF ORDER, an intervention in lift 1, The Baltic, Gateshead, Tony Heaton & Terry Smith © Terry Smith

The panel will be exploring issues raised in the most recently published AD. Questions will include: 

Historically disabled people have been excluded from an art education that would inform a potential career as an artist. There is a lack of role models, for example. What steps are needed to both unpack why this continues to happen and what steps are needed to break this cycle?

And, how can we best engage with Disability Arts in art, craft and design?

Who can join? Anyone with an interest in anti-ableism in art, craft and design education.

Cost: Free

Upcoming AAP meetings:

Monday 12th December - 4.00pm - 5pm; With Tony Heaton OBE and Colin Hambrook AD Q&A

Tuesday 17 January - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 21 February - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 21 March - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 9 May - 4.30pm - 6pm

When and Where: 6 December, 16.30 - 18.30; Online

In this meeting we will hear from David Blunkett, Joe Halgarten (Centre for Education and Youth) and Daniel Carpenter (Heritage Crafts) plus other guests.

If you are interested in finding out more about the APPG, please contact the coordinator Susan Coles, NSEAD.

This flow chart is to assist members if you ever require support understanding the redundancy process. Our thanks to Sean Taylor, NSEAD case worker extraordinaire, for putting this together for our members!

When: On-demand, e-learning

Price: £65 Members (£110 Non-Members)

Register for this NSEAD course if you want to:

• Develop a better understanding of GCSE examinations in art & design
• Understand the expectations of senior leadership
• Explore the documentation, regulations and prohibited actions when teaching and preparing students for examination and marking
• Address what is best practice and how should you plan your KS3 and 4 curriculum to ensure you are GCSE ready.

This course is led by NSEAD experts Liz McFarlane and Ged Gast.

When: On-demand, e-learning

Price: £30 Members (£55 Non members)

Managing behaviour in the classroom can be one of the biggest challenges for teachers, but sadly most guidance in this area is not specific to the art and design classroom! This NSEAD short webinar course, led by former teacher, lecturer and consultant Steve Rose, will provide you with practical strategies and knowledge to feel confident when dealing with challenging behaviour. Topics covered:

• Introduction (free to view)
• Strategies at school level
• Strategies at class level
• Strategies for you as the teacher
• Strategies and responses for children and young people 
• You also get access to the workshop slides

Now open for booking!

When and where: Anytime, online with a live Q&A session

Price: £65 for members

Led by Primary expert, consultant, author and trainer Susan Ogier, this NSEAD course is delivered through a series of videos and resources, available to study at your own pace, at a time that works for you.

Covered by this course:

• Subject leadership 
• Essential subject knowledge
• Progressions and assessment
• Working with colleagues

Take a look at the course overview here.

We are re/launching online directories for Artist Educators and Consultant / Advisor members!

If you are an Artist Educator or Consultant/Advisor, and you haven't received an email about featuring in our new directories and would like to be, please contact us ASAP so that we can include you!

This is a fantastic opportunity to advertise your work and is a free benefit for members!

When and where: Sunday 4 December, 10.30-12.30, online

Everyone is invited to this FREE session from NEATEN North East Art Teacher Educator Network and NEAAT Norfolk and East Anglia Art Teachers. Join them for a two hour session, celebrating great ideas and practice, along with lots of end of term positivity, from some of your favourite art educators! Hosted by Norwich University of the Arts.

Where: University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, UK

When: 21-23 June 2023

The conference theme of nature & nurture concerns sustainability from ecological and social angles in art education for children aged 0-7 years.

To submit a paper, click here. There are two deadlines for these 9 December 2022 and 19 January 2023. 

NSEAD members will receive a 10% discount on the three-day conference fee or 5% discount on the day rate. 

Visit the facebook page here. Booking will open soon.

NSEAD is proud to be a partner of Sky Arts ‘Access All Arts’ week, which is back 19-23 June 2023. Last year, over 6,000 primary teachers took their pupils on an epic journey of discovery through the arts, and by using free classroom resources, they got involved in painting, sculpting, storytelling, rapping, dancing, and so much more.

For now, all you need to do is sign up and save the date in your calendar!

Next month we will be bringing you daily doses of art education advocacy in the form of snippets of research and evidence.

We will be posting slides every day in December across our social media channels with the hashtag #EntitlementToArts. Each one will highlight research and evidence in support of art education and its place in the curriculum.

Please like and share these posts if you are on social media. The entire series will be available in January to download from our website.

In the last newsletter we were giving away a copy of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers, Art by Adele Darlington.

We're delighted to announce that NSEAD member Renae Barron Jones is our winner!

Thank you to everyone who emailed in.

You are invited to take part in a face-to-face general twilight time discussion around the forthcoming 2023 Externally Set Task starting points, no matter which Exam Board/Awarding Body that you use. Bring your exam board's GCSE Unit 2 paper, lots of ideas and a selection of leftover Xmas nibbles and biscuits to Framwellgate School, Durham on Wednesday 11 January 2023 starting at 16:30. 

The Classical Association has launched a free photography competition for people of all ages, with £1100 in prizes to be won. The competition seeks responses to the following themes:

• Shadows in the Cave
• Living Well
• Being Wrong
• Democracy

The deadline for entries is 4 January 2023 and shortlisted entries will be exhibited at the Faculty of Classics, Cambridge during the CA Conference in April alongside a prizegiving ceremony with our judges, the Philosopher  Professor MM McCabe, professional photographer Max Barstow and Sonita Alleyne OBE, Master of Jesus College Cambridge.

Don't forget that the deadline for the global David Shepherd Foundation Art competition is Friday 10 February. Entry is free in all age categories.

Arts University Plymouth

Arts University Plymouth is seeking expressions of interest for external examiners for its BA (Hons) Fashion Communication

Manchester Metropolitan University

The School of Teacher Education and Professional Development is seeking to appoint External Examiners for PGCE Secondary Education for Art & Design

This week's quote is taken from one of Sir Ken Robinson's famous TED talks, 'How to escape education's death valley'.

We'll be taking a break from our uplifting #ArtEdAdvocacy quotes next month, and making space for Art and Design Education research quotes, which we hope you will find both interesting and useful when talking about the importance of our subject.

Follow the hashtag on social media  #EntitlementToArts