It was a joy to gather over the weekend for our annual iJADE Conference, Belonging: Dialogues for culturally responsive art and design education. Superbly curated by Dr Deborah Riding and the iJADE Editorial board, the conference explored how art and design education can be relevant to all learners, and asked:

‘What role can art and design education play in the genuine transformations of our institutions and pedagogies, creating a sense of belonging for all learners? How can we enlist our knowledge, practice and curricula in responding to these challenges?

These are questions that concern us all, whoever and wherever we teach.

We were treated to an international line-up of speakers who were inspiring and provocative, challenging assumptions and definitions of what it means to belong within art and design education. Delegates presented papers with a wide range of responses to these questions, and the debate and discussion across the weekend was rich in inspiration and exchange. 

NSEAD Associate Artist Liaqat Rasul, (who many members met during our summer events) led delegates in a meditative, restorative hour of collage and contemplation.

I would like to say a big thanks to all the delegates, speakers, the fabulous iJADE team, and of course the NSEAD officers who worked so hard to make #iJADE22 such a success.

Many of the papers presented will feature in the conference issue of the journal, and recordings of some of the keynote sessions will be available for members to view. To read more about #iJADE22 and to access the full iJADE library, visit our website.

Research and exchange of ideas are the foundation of everything that we do at NSEAD. We are all part of the iJADE ‘Tribe’, a vital, vibrant branch of the NSEAD family tree.

Michele Gregson

General Secretary

When and where: Tuesday 22 November, 18.00-19.00, online.

Members are contacting our trade union advisors with questions around industrial action and possible strikes at the moment. To share your concerns and enable us to answer your questions, please join us for an online meeting to discuss what strike action might mean for you, and for our subject. Help us harness the power of our creative community and work together to continue to make your voices heard. Please join us if you can.

Last weekend art educators, researchers and artists, took part in the iJADE22 Conference, joining us online from across the globe. The conference was an enriching three days, with inspirational keynotes speeches, presentations and discussions. The keynotes were recorded and will be available to watch on our YouTube channel over the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled!

Thank you to all delegates and presenters! If you attended, please nominate papers for our iJADE: ‘Belonging Conference edition’ 

When: Saturday 28 January 13.00 - 16.30

Where: The Whitworth, Manchester

It's not too early to book your ticket for the NSEAD Winter Social.

It can be hard to find creative zest in the midst of winter but we have the remedy! Get together with other art educators and join in with sessions from the Whitworth's fantastic learning team, local artists and guests.

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

NSEAD is delighted to offer our members' special discounted rates for the BEP National Seminars series for Primary Art, Design and Technology. Save up to £50 on tickets.

Featuring some of the most inspirational artists, practitioners and organisations from across the country, this series of online seminars starts this month and runs throughout the current academic year. 

Aimed at Primary Art and D&T Subject Leads, Curriculum Leads, Senior Leaders, NQT’s, students (ITT’s), artists, creative practitioners and cultural sector workers seeking to better understand and engage with the current primary education landscape.

First Session: Wed 30 Nov 13.00-16.30 Design, Make, Evaluate with Haidée Drew and guests Leigh Trust

We have developed a tailored series of subject-specific training to support your professional development as an art and design early career teacher (ECT).

The Mind the Art Gap programme will provide a safe community space for ECT teachers through a mixture of on-demand content, digital live events and a social network to share ideas, research and practice. It s not too late to register and catch up on this year's sessions to date, with more to come in 2023.

Join NSEAD's Gender, Art and Transformative Education (GATE) Research Group. 

GATE will explore how gender sensitive, responsive and transformative approaches, practice and pedagogies can rethink gender equity in art education.

Anyone with an interest in GATE, in any phase or setting can join! If you would like to attend our first meeting or sign up to news about this group, please email Suzy Tutchell.

We've opened up a great art education resource to help learners get the most out of writing in art and design. With 12 writing features to consider, this two-page pdf, created by Graham Hooper NSEAD, serves as a useful checklist for making writing in art and design integrated and meaningful. We hope you like it! 

When: Wed 16 Nov - Fri 16 Dec

Theme: Disability, Health and Well Being

Launch: Thursday 17 November 2022

Follow the conversation on twitter @UKDHM #UKDHM

NSEAD is proud to support UK Disability History Month, themed this year as 'Disability, Health and Well Being'.

From 16 November until 16 December we are opening up the latest issue of AD Magazine, which is the anti-ableist takeover edition, guest edited by Dr Claire Penketh. It features disabled and non-disabled artists, academics, teachers and pupils, and will act as an essential guide with practical advice and guidance for every educational phase and setting. 

Available as a downloadable pdf, we hope you will share and discuss this valuable anti-ableist resource with colleagues in the education community. 

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: 

Why has there been little engagement with Disability Arts (and disability more broadly) in the school curriculum?

And, how can we best engage with Disability Arts in our subject?

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

Cost: Free; Watch out for booking details in our next newsletter.

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.

Health and Safety in Art and Design expert, and NSEAD Council member Ged Gast has kindly created a new Risk Assessment template, tailored to our subject, along with a completed example for reference. Thank you Ged!

Sign into the website and click on the link below to view and download. 

Registration opens on Monday 21 November

This NSEAD on-demand, blended learning course is for primary subject leaders who are looking to develop the Art and Design curriculum area in their schools. It will offer strategies to build the foundations for developing confidence, enthusiasm, and key knowledge in this subject, as well as an understanding of how to plan for progression across the primary years.  

We are re/launching online directories Artist Educator and Consultants / Advisor members!

We have contacted all our members that fall into Artist Educator or Advisor / Consultant membership categories to alert them to this opportunity to advertise their services through the NSEAD website. If you are an Artist Educator or Consultant/Advisor, and you haven't received an email about this and would like to be featured, please contact us ASAP so that we can include you in the directories! This is a fantastic opportunity to advertise your work and is for members only!

When: 17 November from 16.40 onwards

Where: Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle

All dates for 2022 and 2023 are now online.

All welcome.

All events are FREE.

When: Wednesday 23 November, 16.00 - 17.30

Where: Online, FREE

Join the Crafts Council for an online teacher CPD event for Black History Month. This session is being run by Crafts Council's Young Craft Citizens, a network of young people passionate about craft and making.

In this session participants will explore the need for structural change in the crafts sector and in craft, art and design curriculums. This is part of a CPD series in support of Craft School: Yinka’s Challenge and is under-pinned by NSEAD’s Anti-Racist checklist.

Discussions will focus on how teachers can create a more inclusive learning environment for Black students and opportunities to decolonize the curriculum. There will be guest speakers and a craft activity to get involved in.  

Where: Mangotsfield school, Rodway Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS16 9LH

When: Sunday 27 November, 11.00 - 16.00

Mangotsfield School in Bristol are celebrating the arts on Sunday 27 November and are inviting the public to join in. 

There will be a crafts market with local makers, craft activities, drams and dance performances, workshops and an exhibition. At 2.15pm there will be a talk on Black Presence in Bristol Art with art historian and art critic Michael Ohajuru. What a fabulous day!

All welcome, free entry. 

The Art Matters online exhibition 2022 – partner of the physical exhibition of July 2022 – is now open!

It features stunning work from 3000 young people from 46 schools and colleges from primary, secondary and tertiary phases across East London.

100 Ideas for Primary Teachers is a new publication, written by NSEAD member Adele Darlington. The book contains creative and innovative ideas to engage pupils in all areas of the primary National Curriculum for art.

'This pocket-sized book punches way above its size! Adele’s 100 IDEAS FOR Primary Teachers is filled with creativity and inventiveness – all shared in a very accessible way. Each idea can be easily adapted for different year groups and schools. Lots of Adele's ideas use sustainable materials too. We especially love the ‘I am a…’ which signposts – in fun and accessible ways – art, craft and design-related careers.100 IDEAS is a little gem!'. Sophie Leach, Deputy General Secretary.

We have one copy of the book to giveaway to an NSEAD member! To enter, simply email us by midday on Wednesday 23 November, with the subject heading: 100 Ideas Book Giveaway, stating your name, full address and school (if relevant). A winner will be drawn at random and announced by Friday 25 November. Good luck!

NSEAD Associate Artist, Liaqat Rasul, is asking if any of our members know of studio spaces available with natural light in London. Liaqat is looking for 350sq ft/450sqft, London, zone 1-3; For up to £500- £600 a month.

Please contact him if you have any leads: liaqatrasul@gmail.com

Catch Liaqat's work at  Bonhams London, New Bond Street on 19-21 Nov as part of an auction of modern and contemporary South Asian art. Viewing details here.

Dr. Benjamin Bolden, UNESCO Chair in Arts and Learning at Queen’s University, Canada, has asked us to share details of a UNESCO survey. If you teach the arts, please click here to complete the 15-minute survey to help UNESCO understand how arts education can support UNESCO goals for education. 

• All arts educators are welcome including generalist teachers who sometimes teach the arts. 
• Survey results will inform the training and support of teachers.
• You may access the survey in English, French, or Spanish.
• If you know of educators who may be interested, please pass this along.

The Art Bytes art competition is back for 2023. 

Last year 100 schools and close to 1300 pupils from Primary (Year 5), Secondary (Year 9) and SEND schools in England took part!

Registration is open until Christmas, then artworks are submitted by February half term. 

The University of Wolverhampton 

External examiner sought for Secondary PGCE Art & Design and Design Technology. The post is for an initial period of 4 years, starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2026.

Buckinghamshire New University

The School of Creative and Digital Industries is seeking to appoint External Examiners for its Undergraduate programmes in Animation, Visual FX and Game Art.

Solent University

Solent University is seeking a candidate to act as a Module External Examiner for the Illustration course.

Falmouth University

Falmouth University is seeking an external examiner for its BA(Hons) Textile Design.

This week's quote is taken from an interview with Sonia Boué in AD 35, which is currently open access for Disability History Month. 

We were delighted to have Sonia deliver a keynote speech last weekend at iJADE22. In her talk Sonia spoke of her experience of neurodivergence, masking, and exclusion, and how it has informed her work as an artist and practice researcher. Our thanks to Sonia for contributing so generously to NSEAD's work on anti-ableism.