Well, another eventful year is nearly over! It has been one packed with art, activism and advocacy – all linked by the golden threads of best practice, professional learning and vital research. 

Last week, David Blunkett joined the last meeting of the year of The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education. Lord Blunkett shared key recommendations from the Skills Council report, Learning and skills for economic recovery, social cohesion and a more equal Britain. The Council recommends that: 

‘A broad-based National Curriculum Authority, or Agency, should be established which draws in broad expertise for reshaping the curriculum and providing a modernised syllabus which is free from Party Political interference’ 

After 12 years of hostile education policies this is something to hope for. We can take inspiration and evidence from the work to develop forward-facing, creative education in Wales and Scotland in recent years. Because of course, all learners, wherever they are educated, deserve to benefit from a high-quality specialist art and design education; economic and civic society depend upon it.  

However, in her reply to my letter of 18 October, asking what the Government was going to do to retain and reward our highly qualified, experienced subject specialists, the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP, insists that there isn’t a problem, saying: 

‘Teaching remains an attractive and fulfilling profession’  

Whilst the Government is in denial about the impact of a decade of neglect, NSEAD members are clear about the change they want to see and are making the case with more confidence than ever. Last December we put together an ‘Advocacy Advent’ all about the good that you do as art educators, with an uplifting quote each day to see you through to the end of the year. This year, our December gift is a powerful package of research and evidence shining a light on the impact of art, craft and design education, arming you with a wealth of references. The combination of compelling narrative and robust research is vital as we continue to make the case for our subject. Follow the daily posts on social media, #ArtResearchForTeaching (ART). In the new year we will be packaging these up ready for you to use as we stand up together, for our subject in 2023. 

Wishing you all a restful seasonal break, see you next year, refreshed and ready for change. 

Michele Gregson,

General Secretary 

Andy Ash, NSEAD member, associate professor and artist, proposes that far more people are ‘form-blind’ than ‘colour-blind’. Quoting from Joseph Beuys, Andy proposes that 'Thinking is sculpting' and that in some schools working in three-dimensions is neglected. Here he shares potential ways to plan, practise and develop a curriculum for sculpture.

Creative woodworking offers children a rich and natural medium with which to develop their creativity, imagination and sense of aesthetics, as well as practical skills in planning, problem solving and design. Pete Moorhouse, artist educator and an early years creative consultant, explores how.

When: Tomorrow, Thursday 15 December, 17.30 - 18.00

Where: Primary Art: Ask NSEAD Live

In this 30-minute making session, Adele  (who is a teacher, consultant and author), will talk about how primary teachers can provide practical, easy-to-implement strategies and activities in the classroom.

There will also be a creative make-a-long with Adele, so have some paper, pens and scissors to hand. 

We hope to see you there!

The NSEAD Winter Social

When: Saturday 28 January 13.00 - 16.30

Where: The Whitworth, Manchester

Who is this for: We welcome art and design educators of all phases and settings, both NSEAD members and non-members.

Expect a warm welcome and plenty of support and inspiration throughout the afternoon, in the wonderful surroundings of one of the North West's finest art galleries. 

Meet up with the NSEAD professional learning community, hear from the Whitworth's learning team and get involved with the sessions on offer:

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

Leading Examinations

Price: £65 for members

Managing Behaviour

Price: £30 for members 

Leading Primary Art & Design

Price: £65 for members

Leading Health & Safety

Price: £30 for members

When: Tuesday 24 January, 17.00 – 18.00

Where: Online

Who: GATE's first meeting is for members with an interest in gender art, and transformative education.

The GATE research group's long-term aim is to publish examples of gender transformative approaches, practice and policies which place ALL learners as a compass point – at the centre of art education. GATE seeks to consider a gender sensitive, responsive and essentially transformative approach to rethink gender equity in art education.

GATE will explore how to raise an active and critical consciousness to broaden a spectrum of possibilities for experienced, felt, embodied, performed, and conceptual gender-related art practices across all phases of education.

We hope you have found the Anti-ableist takeover issue of AD, Issue 35, insightful and useful. If you would like to take that learning further, please consider getting involved with the Anti-Ableist Pedagogies special interest and research group. The upcoming AAP meetings are:

Tuesday 17 January - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 21 February - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 21 March - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tuesday 9 May - 4.30pm - 6pm

Tributes from across education and contemporary craft sectors have been shared for Professor Simon Golding who, following a short illness, passed away on 19 November 2022.

Simon was a passionate advocate of NSEAD, and supported our mission to see craft and making in every school and every phase.

In 2011, Simon introduced Dame Magdalene Odundo to the Society, and was instrumental in her becoming a patron of NSEAD. He also wrote a beautiful article about Magdalene's work in AD Issue 3. 

Simon will be missed by so many – his shaping of contemporary craft and passion for craft education will continue for generations. Read our full tribute here.

Strep A and scarlet fever – what are they and what are the symptoms? Visit the Department for Education (DfE) hub for information for parents, schools, colleges and early years providers.

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, workshops and expertise – and is a FREE benefit for members!

The annual self-portrait project introduces young people nationwide to ideas of self-expression and explores themes such as identity, gender, race and representation.

Collectively these powerful statements celebrate young people’s individuality and represent the next generation of creatives, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Teachers and students are being asked by Runnymede Trust and Freelands Foundation, for their input for the Visualise project on race & inclusion in visual arts education in the UK.

Please complete the teacher survey here and ask your students to complete the student survey here and assist this groundbreaking research.

Sketchbook Circle will be establishing a new circle in January, so if you want to be a part of it, join now!

What is Sketchbook Circle? Each artist makes work in a book of their choice, and post their books to the person next to them in the circle by the end of January. Then every artist makes work in response to the work they have received and posts the book back to where it came from. It is a demanding project as it is stretching to respond to someone else's artwork, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

Flying cars, zero emission hoverboards, space buggies for moons and planets…who knows what the future of mobility will look like? So, Toyota is inviting children across the UK to share their wildest and most imaginative car design, as entries open for the 2023 Dream Car Art Contest.

Who Can Enter?

Anyone who is under 15 years old, who lives in the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands, can enter the Dream Car Art Competition, with entries split into three categories:

(1) Category 1: Under 8 years old

(2) Category 2: 8-11 years old

(3) Category 3: 12-15 years old

There are lots of great prizes up for grabs, just make sure designs are submitted by 23 December 2022.

Nick Sharratt is BookTrust's writer-illustrator in residence and he is running a competition for primary school children to create their own animal. Entries should take the form of a picture – a drawing, a painting, a collage... any kind of artwork. Finally the animal should have an original name.

Submit the work to BookTrust via email by 11pm on Friday 30 December, 2022.

Nick Sharratt, BookTrust Writer-Illustrator in Residence

The Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art is looking to engage an external moderator to act as a critical friend for a College-wide unit
AcrossRCA which is a 30-credit compulsory unit for all MA students at the Royal College of Art.

NSEAD members can advertise vacancies free of charge. If you have an art and design-related job role to fill, let us know and we will publicise it on our channels.

NSEAD’s work is firmly underpinned by research, so this year’s NSEAD art advent advocacy campaign, running from 1 to 24 December, will focus on credible research findings from the arts and cultural sector.

And, join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@nsead1) and follow the hashtags #EvidenceForArts and #ArtResearchForTeaching (ART) to like and share these valuable snippets of art education advocacy.