As the rolling soap opera that is Westminster politics continues, I find myself wondering if the whole world has become a gameshow. Some of you may have seen the recent Channel 4 show ‘Jimmy Carr Destroys Art’. Billed as a unique TV experiment where the audience decides whether to ‘cancel’ controversial artists and ‘offensive’ artworks. The programme certainly raised some big questions about the challenges that problematic art throws at us – but also about our relationship with art, artists and the authority (or wisdom?) of the crowd. 

So many questions, which inspired a lively debate on our NSEAD Online forum. 

The studio audience were directed to choose between works that had been purchased by Channel 4, selecting which to save and which to destroy. Jimmy Carr dismissed the obvious parallels with Nazi book burning, and destruction of so-called ‘Degenerate Art’, saying: 

‘I think that there is a very clear difference between what we are doing here and what Hitler did.’ 

What are we to make of the decisions made through this binary, performative decision-making process? Watching the show together, my daughter asked, ‘what gives the crowd the right to destroy anything?’ Some of the audience of ‘art lovers’ and presenters also found the central gimmick of the show extremely disturbing. Arguing for the preservation of work attributed to Adolf Hitler, the actor Jolyon Rubenstein said: 

‘When we destroy these things, there is a danger that we whitewash our own terrifying history.’ 

Unsuccessful in her argument to save a print of Marcus Harvey’s controversial work Myra, Janet Street-Porter was almost lost for words: 

‘I love art. To see a work of art destroyed like that – well, I’m not happy about it.’   

The works that were voted for destruction were burnt, shot and guillotined. For me this was a real shock. The ceremonial 'execution’ of things made by human hand made me shudder. The final showstopper was a nod to Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece – a performance work that is a far more disturbing and poetic exploration of the relationship between art, artist and crowd psychology. A reminder that there has always been a fine tension between creation and destruction, between the artist and the audience. 

The gamification of debate and shock gimmicks makes for provocative television, but, as one member of the studio audience asked, ‘where do we draw the line?’ Please share your views on this with us. NSEAD will be writing to Channel 4. The next time they want to stimulate debate about our complicated relationship with art, they may wish to test their ideas with NSEAD members first. 

Jimmy Carr commented, ‘we live in dark times.’ Perhaps we do, but does the answer lie in vengeful destruction? I prefer the hope of creation which drives the work of every NSEAD member.  

Michele Gregson

General Secretary

Two weeks to go for the iJADE 2022 conference! Anyone with an interest in art, craft and design education is welcome to attend one, two or all three days of the conference - book now or reach out to us if you have any queries.

On Saturday 12 November, we have a keynote presentation from Dr Belinda MacGill. Much of Dr MacGill’s work is focused on decolonisation through arts-based pedagogies and creative methodologies.

Dr MacGill’s research output includes numerous articles and book chapters but her contribution extends to non-traditional forms such as art exhibits and art magazines. She has published a broad range of articles concerned with postcolonial receptivity, teaching in the contact zone, critical pedagogy and feminist art theory.

We are honoured to host Dr MacGill and hope you can make it for one two or all three days of the conference.

When: Saturday 28 January 13.00 - 16.30

Where: The Whitworth, Manchester

Get something creative, positive and rewarding in the diary for the end of January 2023 – a lovely wellbeing boost for the new year! 

Spend the afternoon with us, as we host engaging sessions with the Whitworth's fantastic learning team, local artists and guests. Tickets cost just £14 for members and £20 for non-members, and include all activities and refreshments.

Details of the workshops and sessions will be released soon, but it's not too early to book your tickets now as places are limited! 

NSEAD is proud to be a member of the UK Council for Subject Associations – the latest directory is out now with listings for 31 subject associations!

Subject Associations have always been
important as curators and propagators of
teachers’ intellectual curiosity about the
interface between subject knowledge and
pedagogy. They have attracted committed and ever more successful teachers to their membership. Their contribution to the transformation of standards in schools is crucial.

Part of the Mind the Art Gap Programme 

Release date: 10 November

Managing behaviour in the classroom can be one of the biggest challenges for teachers, this part of the course will provide you with practical strategies and knowledge to develop your skills to feel confident managing a classroom.

This course will be led by Steve Rose, who started his career as a teacher, later becoming an education consultant and lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The Gender, Art and Transformative Education (GATE) Research Group will seek to consider how gender sensitive, responsive and essentially  transformative approaches, practice and pedagogies can 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 education across all phases.

Anyone with an interest in GATE can join!

If you would like to attend our first meeting or sign up to news about this group please email Suzy Tutchell.

Serial cuts in school funding over several years allied with an unfunded pay award this academic year, as well as significant financial pressures brought about by inflation and rising utility costs increase the risks of redundancy for teachers. However, it is crucial that, when handling cases of potential or actual redundancy, we do not accept that redundancies are inevitable. 

NSEAD aims to fight compulsory redundancies amongst Art, Craft & Design teachers, naturally because of the impact on jobs and workload but additionally because of the entitlement for all pupils to a demonstrably broad and balanced curriculum.

The publication of this NSEAD checklist does not constitute an acceptance that any potential or actual redundancy situation, when declared by an employer, is justified. Our checklist details elements of a redundancy policy and procedure which should be present in the policy and procedure within your school.

Please sign into the website first and then click the link below to view the checklist.

This is an NSEAD e-learning course, delivered through a series of videos and resources available to study at your own pace at a time that works for you. 

The course is for primary subject leaders who are looking to develop the Art and Design curriculum area in their schools. It will offer strategies for building 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. 

The course includes downloadable resources and is supported by digital live sessions (through Zoom) hosted by the course facilitator. The live sessions will provide participants a chance to take part in workshops, share ideas and ask for advice. 

Read the full programme here.

When: A two-day FREE online pass is available for 8 and 9 November. 

The Design Council festival is currently running and this year the theme is ACTION.

Explore how design is responding to the climate emergency and what we can do today, together. 

The diverse programme will feature online keynote talks and discussions, and over 20 practical 'how to' sessions to help businesses and designers change the way they work. 

When: 9 November 2022, 17.00-19.00 and 22 February 2023, 17.00-19.00

Come and join a growing community of teachers exploring how educational disadvantage can be addressed through a decolonising lens. Facilitated by Dr Clare Stanhope, Head of Art in a south-east London school, and founder of the Centre for Creative Explorations. This two-part workshop is directed at secondary teachers of all subjects.

The two workshops offer:

• An opportunity to reflect on your practice, share experiences and learn from others in a relaxed and supportive environment  
• Tools that will help to build confidence to explore anti-racism and decolonisation in your schemes of work
• The chance to be a part of co-creating a new teaching resource, as part of the South London Gallery’s Making Sense programme

When: 17 November at 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: 19 to 22 of November 

Entry: Free

Artist and NSEAD friend Liaqat Rasul is taking part in a group exhibition of contemporary south Asian art at Bonhams. He will be exhibiting two pieces named envelop and bloom and has also created a collaged-on print work for the  Friendship Charity in Bangladesh.

You can also catch Laiqat at this year's iJADE conference on Friday at 5pm where he will be running an online workshop. 

Calling all Leeds and West Yorkshire teachers - LEEDS 2023's Creative Learning Programme is now live! 2023 will see an unmissable Year of Culture across Leeds, and everybody is invited to take part!

The Creative Learning team have launched the first details about the schools programme for Leeds 2023 which is now live on the website. Let culture loose in your school, excite learners and support the development of cultural capital through inspirational learning experiences in the Year of Culture.  

Resources are available for every key stage 1-5, and there are resources specifically designed for SEND learners.  The team will also be developing resources for EYFS throughout the year.

The Research Science Institute (RSI) ART AWARD launched in 2021 is a new global initiative with a mission to inspire young artists from around the world to express their creative talents.

The competition is open to schools only, for students aged 9 to 18 years old and there are are three categories for entries:

• Drawing and Painting
• Digital Art
• Photography

Entries can be submitted now until February 2023. 

The Art Bytes art competition is back for 2023. If you are interested in participating, join the Art Bytes Online Information Session on Tuesday 15 November 2022, 16.00 - 1630.

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. 

Just in case you missed it! There is just one month left for young people to submit their entry for the QEPrize Create the Trophy competition 2023 with the chance to win a laptop and a trip to London to meet the winning engineers/innovators of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.

This is a great competition (and prize!) for young people aged between 14 and 24, worldwide.  Download the QE Prize 3D Design Studio free app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, to create a trophy for the world’s greatest engineers. The winner will receive a state-of-the-art laptop!

Entries must be received by 4 December 2022. 

Deadline for applications: Sunday 20 November

Hauser & Wirth Somerset opened in July 2014 and has welcomed over 900,000 visitors. The Hauser & Wirth ethos sits at the very heart of the gallery - it is a place where art can successfully merge with architecture, craft, learning, community, landscape, food and farming - opening the door for creative ideas and collaborations.

Based in Somerset, this full-time position will provide support to the development and delivery learning initiatives.

The success of the previous three residences have created interesting opportunities for pushing the boundaries of art education, helping CCE to develop innovative creative research practices, and support the empowerment of our young people.

An Artist in Residence studio space is now on offer which is based in the midst of the exciting space that is Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich Art department, and as always the chance to work with the incredible young people who drive all of the CCE projects.

Manchester Metropolitan University

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

Birmingham City University: External Examiner Vacancy

We are seeking to appoint a Subject External Examiner for our BA (Hons) Fashion Design course. This course is based within the Institute of Jewelry, Fashion and Textiles, Faculty of ADM. 

The University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria is seeking to appoint an External Examiner for BA (Hons) Fine Art with effect from 1 October 2023.  

Buckinghamshire New University

Buckinghamshire New University have a vacancy for an experienced External Examiner to be responsible for modules on the following programmes:

• BA (Hons) Fashion Design
• BA (Hons) Fashion Business

This week's quote came through our Twitter feed and we knew it had to feature in our Art Ed Advocacy Series. 

NSEAD fights on a daily basis for the sustainability of teaching art, craft and design as a profession. We fight for equality of opportunity for learners and the quality of their education. We fight for school funding that supports fair pay, sustainable workload and a broad and balanced curriculum offer. Unless we reward and retain our specialist workforce in our schools, it is not just children that lose, but society as a whole.