Forty years ago, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation published a very influential report about arts education. The Arts in Schools led to the funding which established education and outreach departments in arts organisations. Written long before devolution, The Arts in Schools was a vision for the four nations of what could be achieved if the arts and creativity had a central place in the education of children and young people.

The Arts in Schools report set the stage for the arc of my own experience as a learner and educator, from secondary school pupil, to NSEAD General Secretary today. During that time, we have seen the rise of the ‘core curriculum’, the demise of local authority management of schools, the emergence of academy rusts and national curricula that look very different in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Oh, and school inspection.

Much has changed, but some things remain. The 1982 report identified five core challenges for arts education:

1. Communicating the value of the arts in education
2. The need for a coherent vision for the arts in schools within an equal framework for all subjects
3. Linking what is taught, and how it is taught, to the needs of a changing society
4. The need for new modes of assessment and accountability
5. What we would now term addressing equity, diversity and inclusion

In a recently published think piece, The Arts in Schools, A new conversation on the value of the arts in and beyond schools, commissioned by Bridge organisation A New Direction, authors Pauline Tambling and Sally Bacon comment:

“For all the many reports, recommendations, and initiatives in the intervening 40 years, it is hard not to see these as being exactly the same challenges that confront us today.”

I have to agree – and to add – these challenges have been driving NSEAD members since 1888. They remain a call to action for all of us.

Michele Gregson

General Secretary

Tomorrow, Thursday 30 June, 1.30-5pm our President-Elect, Marlene Wylie will be delivering CPDL that unpicks what makes an effective leader of Anti-Racist Art Education. Building on the ARAE checklists, we will explore how they can be applied to your curriculum and for the needs of your learners. 

When: Thursday 7 July 17.30 - 18.00

For this session, Dr Emese Hall will be joined by Matthew Sanders, Director of Magic Lantern to discuss how using great works of art can help children observe and explore the world around them.

Imagine stepping into a painting and discovering what’s inside… Magic Lantern has been turning classrooms into pop-up art galleries since 1994 and is the only organisation of its type in the UK. They provide school workshops where children explore and engage with famous artworks and discover the world of art from cave paintings to Cubism, Gothic to Graffiti. 

This session is open to all Primary Art teachers, subject leaders and students.

When: Saturday 9 July, 13.30 - 17.00

We have had a request from a Chinese-speaking NSEAD member who asks if any participants coming to the Summer Social also speak Chinese.

If you do, and you are coming to the event please let us know, it would be great to put you in touch with one another!

If you haven't confirmed your attendance and dietary requirements please don't delay! Email Diane now.

When: Thursday 7 July, 18.00 - 20.00

Where: The Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge

Places are now limited for this teacher-only open-evening to refresh, relax and be inspired. Part of the NSEAD National Conference season of events.

This event is free for NSEAD members! 

Although the weather has cooled off of late, we have had days of sweltering heat, and trying to work in excessive temperatures is not easy. We have put together a useful guide for you with some practical advice on our Trade Union FAQs

Whether you're looking for your first teaching role or have a job lined-up but are nervous about your first few weeks in the classroom, our handy guides will help.

Tips for when you first begin your new role as an Early Career Teacher (ECT). Over 40 tips to help you start your new ECT position on the right track.

NSEAD top tips for securing your first job. We've put together some helpful advice and tips for writing a job application and attending interviews.

(Sign into the website then click through).

Ged's roles at NSEAD are as a Trade Union Case Worker and an observer of Council. Here he talks about his best moments with Art and Design.

'As I move closer to full retirement, visiting exhibitions that help me resolve my ideas and creative actions, stimulating the passion to get back into the studio, is all highly motivating. 

But my best day is always the time I can then spend in the studio playing with materials and these ideas, drawing, painting and sculpting – lost in the moment of making and creating. 

The hard part of such a time, is stepping back out of the creative moment to critique that day’s work. Then comes the reckoning. Although, as every art teacher knows, this is absolutely still the best time and so important to our wellbeing.'

We are in the process of developing a new NSEAD Membership Portal, which will make renewing your NSEAD membership and updating your personal details, quick and easy.

Please keep a look out for emails from us with details of how to access this new site, which will be launching in July.

This will not affect the current NSEAD website which will still house all of our content, resources and publications.

We have an amazing competition for our members. You could win a treasure trove of photography equipment for your school in our prize giveaway with our friends at The Photography Movement.

All you have to do is -
1. Register with The Photography Movement (all 100% free)
2. Complete a very short competition entry form.

THAT'S IT! GOOD LUCK!

Image credit: Ruth Paton and William Chan, Design Challenge ©2022 ROH. Photograph by Rachel Cherry

This nation-wide competition is open to students of Art and Design from GCSE to Foundation Degree level and provides them with invaluable, practical insight into technical and production practice. 

It asks students to create their own original set, costume, hair and makeup and marketing campaign designs. There are free online CPD sessions for tutors / teachers to inspire delivery of the programme with hints, tips and take away classroom activities from a professional stage designer. 

Have a look at last year's winners for inspiration here.

#SophiesPostcard is an auction set up in memory of teenage art lover Sophie Maria Taylor, who passed away from cancer in 2017. Since the first auction in 2018, St Richard’s Catholic College, has used these auctions to raise over £46,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

There are 1584 mini masterpieces donated by artists, friends and pupils of the school. All of the artwork from this and previous auctions can be found here. 

Some of the most famous contributors in this summer's secret art auction include Turner prize winners Gilbert & George, winner of the BP portrait prize Susanne du Toit, street artist Pure Evil, many well known painters Michael Riddle, Conrad Crispin Jones, Jen Orpin and Alex Callaway, Sarah Graham, Carne Griffiths, Illustrators Alex Scheffler, Thomas Taylor, Emma Dibben and Korky Paul, Private Eye cartoonist Jonesy, Lorraine Kelly and Victoria Coren Mitchell.

All artists involved have submitted their original art anonymously to be auctioned on eBay, the postcards are signed on the back. Only when the auction closes will the winning bidders find out who the postcards have been created by. Bidding on all postcards starts at just £1.
 

Althea McNish: Colour is Mine is a landmark retrospective at the William Morris Gallery (untill 11 Sep 2022) exploring one of the UK’s most innovative textile artists and the first designer of Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition.

1. Curatorial Talk - Thurs 30 June This hybrid talk (both in-person and online) will showcase extensive new research, and discuss McNish's extraordinary career.
2. CPD – Teachers Event - Tues 5 July Discuss creativity and wellbeing; try an activity which you can replicate in the classroom.
3. In focus: Symposium – Sat 16 July This is a special ‘In Focus’ series of talks by experts, discussing the legacy and impact of Althea McNish and her place in the history of British fashion, textiles and interior design

On Wednesday 6 July 2022, join over 1,300 schools as they take part in a range of inventive and inspiring creative activities for Day to Create to celebrate 20 years of Artsmark.

As a special birthday gift, Artsmark has a bunch of free online resources for schools to participate in on the day, to help children express themselves, discover their creative potential, and have fun! Day to Create is open to school and education settings in England, and it’s a great way to see Artsmark in action.

You can follow the action and share what you're up to by tagging Artsmark on Twitter and Facebook using #DaytoCreate and #Artsmark20.

When: 9 July 2022

Where: University of Brighton Falmer  Campus

University of Brighton Art Teacher Organisation (UBATO) in association with the South East Art Teachers and Educators Network (SEATEN) is delighted to offer a full-day art workshop with renowned visual artist, curator, lecturer and arts consultant Michael Brennand-Wood. The workshop will combine using constructed textiles and other media. You can absorb yourself as an artist for the day, as well as consider new ways you can bring these techniques into your own teaching.

Art Matters is the East London schools’ annual art exhibition which explores the power of art and creativity across the curriculum. 

Join NSEAD members at the exhibition opening:

When: Tuesday 5 July 16.00-18.00

Where: University of East London Docklands Campus
School of Arts and Digital Industries 4-6 University Way
London E16 2PD

RSVP to
Catherine Mcgill and Rachana Vaja 

The exhibition opens from the 5 to 15 July 10.00-18.00 (Closed at weekends).

When: 13 July, 09.00 - 17.00 

Where: Goldsmiths University of London

Cost: Free

This symposium will reflect on how we build sustainable processes, concepts, and communities in our practice research. Hear from artist educators who work in a range of media, in the UK and internationally.

As the Earth crisis is so urgent, it is fully present, even when we are thinking about how ecologies assemble sustainable practices that relate to how learning takes place. Some of the symposium speakers will be discussing their praxis of environmentally friendly arts activism, and cultural reparation. Some have taken an ecological lens to their existing practices, to locate a specifically relevant aspect for discussion. 

Speakers include: Andy Ash, UCL; Ben Parry, Bath Spa; Miranda Matthews, Dennis Atkinson, Henrietta Patience, Kimberley Foster, Clare Stanhope, Terri Newman, Ben Dixon, Molly Pardoe and Ben McDonnell, Goldsmiths UoL.

Craft School: A summer of playful making, is a chance for children and young people to visit, get making and be inspired by the Crafts Council Collection and brilliant creations made by school students from across the UK. 

This summer the Crafts Council Gallery will become a hive of activity where visitors can create, play, and experiment with clays, textiles, paper, and card at a ‘making table’ and meet others who also love craft. There will be handling sessions, and a free weekly workshop held every Wednesday in August, led by our friendly staff and skilled craft educators.

Where: Crafts Council Gallery, 44a Pentonville Road, London

1-3 Day Professional Development by Teachers, for Teachers

Use discount code NSEADAD22

These digital creativity bootcamps will:

• Inspire you with tried and tested projects 

• Give you practical lesson ideas

• Help you prepare students for an increasingly digital landscape 

• Prepare your classroom for Adobe Certification (Applies to Deep Dive CC Bootcamps)

A date for your diaries! Dr Emese Hall, University of Exeter, is coordinating this international conference.

If you would be interested in volunteering your time and expertise or promoting the event, please contact Emese.

This week's quote is from Dr Miranda Matthews, Head of the Centre for Arts and Learning at Goldsmiths, University of London. 

Miranda is a contributing editor to the International Journal of Art and Design Education (iJADE). Every one of our members has access to the entire back catalogue of issues via our website here.