As many schools in the UK were preparing to break for the Easter holidays, last week the UK Government published a long-awaited White paper setting out the DFE’s vision for education over the next decade. Pulling together the policy strands (or so called ‘golden threads’) of the last decade, this is a document that really brings the Gove-Gibb policy chickens home to roost. 

For all the talk of levelling up and opportunity for all, the vision set out in this White paper leads us towards a future where schools are centrally directed, organised according to cookie-cutter education models and delivered by curriculum operatives. 

I know that NSEAD members will resist any vision of education that doesn’t give them the space and time to deliver an art, craft and design curriculum with content and approaches that are relevant for thier learners. You are renowned for your independence, your professional confidence and your creative integrity. NSEAD members are not robots! 

Let’s work together to present a positive vision for education - bringing together the very best practice from across the four nations - where all learners can thrive and achieve their full creative potential. 

Michele Gregson 

General Secretary 

Engage Scotland and Queen Margaret University (QMU) Edinburgh have published a mapping research report and three case studies exploring engagement with visual art and design in Scottish secondary education.

The research describes the challenges that schools face in teaching art and design; and suggests ways for the visual arts and education sectors to partner to better support young people’s learning and access to careers in the creative sector.

Supporting your career, inspiring every learner, protecting our subject

Strategic, transformational, and visionary leadership – together we can lead change for our subject, our learners and each other.

Your conference pass will give you access to a flexible programme of tailored professional development, inspiring presentations and lively debate about the issues that matter to you.

• Afternoon and twilight sessions throughout the summer term
• Interactive and recorded sessions 
• A wealth of conference resources to fit in with your busy schedule

Registrations will open on Monday 11 April, with early bird and member rates.

The NFER and Nuffield Foundation have published their annual initial teacher education report: 'Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2022'.

The research warns of a substantial risk that a large range of secondary subjects will not meet recruitment targets for teacher supply in 2022. 

If current trends continue Art and Design is only 86 per cent likely to meet its target.

Given this predictive data and the downward trend for art and design recruitment, we urge the government to reintroduce bursaries for shortage subjects – this must include art, craft and design trainees.

Last month the government published its Living with COVID plan which set out new rules for living with and managing the virus, whilst removing the last set of legal domestic restrictions. 

We have summarised the most important need-to-knows for schools and educators here.

Next meeting: Assessment and opportunities for promoting anti-ableist frameworks for assessment.  All welcome.

When: 26 April from 17.00 to 18.30

Via Zoom (link here)
Meeting ID: 867 4971 2667
Password: 756923

The AaP SIG explores ableism in art education and promotes anti-ableist practice.

The group is currently working on an issue of AD dedicated to the application of this work.

Members of the group will share their insights into current assessment practices and we will discuss how these might be informed by an anti-ableist philosophy.

Our Trade Union FAQs section has some helpful guidance about maternity rights, from when maternity leave starts, the legislative protections and rules to be aware of, and how to claim maternity pay.

Every month we'll be asking an NSEAD member to tell us about something or someone special from the world of art, craft and design. 

Kicking us off is NSEAD President, Liz MacFarlane: 'My best loved artist is Anselm Kiefer. I first came across his work when I saw a couple of pieces in Art of our time: The Saatchi collection at the Royal Scottish Academy back in 1987.

Image:  Anselm Kiefer, Astrup Fearnley Museet, @nicknight via unsplash

I was blown away by the large, dark, brooding Germanic landscapes and use of mixed media. I admire the way that Kiefer confronts the uncomfortable, dark history of his native Germany’s Nazi rule and the Holocaust and has returned to these themes time and again.

Most recently, I really enjoyed seeing his solo exhibition at the White Cube in December 2019. A real gem of a show!'

Using Professor Carol Dweck’s theory of growth mindset, Beth Sims, head of art and design at The Red Maids’ School, embarked on a piece of subject-specific, micro-action research to build more independence and resilience in
our students, encouraging them to take risks and make mistakes with their work – with amazing results.

In this article, she describes the process and provides a helpful list of do's and don'ts.

Our simple Digital Art & Design Audit is designed to assist teachers or subject leaders in primary and secondary schools, to review their current provision and determine possible actions to improve or broaden their digital curriculum. 

Sign in to the NSEAD website first then click here to be taken to the audit.

We are thrilled that Paul Dash has allowed NSEAD the privilege of stocking his recently published auto-biography Foreday Morning.

This, the second and updated edition, is an account of his experiences as a child, an educator and artist of the Windrush generation. 

Always a pioneer and continually working to address issues of social justice in education, by the time Paul retired in 2013 he had helped to shape the lives and careers of hundreds of teachers and thousands of learners. Paul continues to work as educator, writer and celebrated painter.

'Foreday Morning is a compelling cultural argument for social justice in the arts and education that offers readers the rounded worldview of artist and academic Paul Dash.’ Dr Miranda Matthews.

Price: £15.99 (incl. postage & packaging)

Interventions and possibilities in Higher Education in Art, Design and Communication

A series of discussions convened by David Cross and Rahul Patel.

Climate Justice is the point where the movements for decolonisation and decarbonisation converge. Climate Justice offers a coherent and fair alternative to corporate-technocratic “climate solutions” which are transgressing planetary boundaries and compounding the injustices of colonialism.

When: Thursdays, 10.00 — 12.00
28 April, 26 May, 23 June 2022

Cost: Free

To complement the series, CHEAD and UAL are producing a zine as a space for experimental and creative responses to the aim of decolonising decarbonisation. We welcome different perspectives and ideas for the convergence between restorative justice and ecological regeneration.

The zine will be in printed and digital versions, and they are inviting submissions as:

• Written pieces (50 – 300 words) of poetry, creative writing, journalism and reviews
• Photographs
• Drawings, paintings, sketches
• Images of artworks, drama, performance, fashion, film, video

Please share details of this open call with anyone who might be interested in submitting to the zine.

Submit online: info@chead.ac.uk
Deadline: 17.00 Friday 30 June 2022

The Fitzwilliam Museum is running some new sessions designed to help primary teachers to discuss, question and explore historical and contemporary issues and to diversify their curriculum to include artists, makers and designers from a range of ethnically diverse communities. 

When: Sat 23 April 2022 14.00

Where: The Fitzwilliam Museum

AND

When: Tues 26 April 2022 16.30

Where: Online

#MyPhotoMyFeeling

Creative wellbeing programme Show and Tell is honoured to present the second exhibition that asked young people to express their emotions through an image.

Click here to be taken to the online exhibition where you will find a unique collection of extraordinary words and photographs by 10-18 year olds.

Fifteen judges were each invited to select one photo and emotion that resonated with them the most, from 34,531 submissions (incl. UK, US, Russia, Singapore, Nigeria).

The Judge's Choice images are being used for a national billboard campaign, live from the 5- 11 April (with a few sites extended until the 18th). 

Show and Tell has some fantastic free resources and workshops for schools, featuring legends like Rankin and Jane Stockdale. Schools, teachers and educators can register on the website here to unlock free classroom resources and mindful photography masterclasses.

The public are being invited to cast their vote in the dot-art Schools 10^th annual art competition to find the Liverpool City Region’s best young artists. Anyone can cast their vote online from 1 April to 1 May.

The competition itself is an inter-school, interactive, online art competition for Year 5 and Year 9. Eighty schools have signed up for the 2022 competition and over 1200 stunning artworks have been submitted, including some entries responding to the optional 10th birthday theme of ‘protecting our environment’.

View the shortlisted works here and vote online for your favourite artwork.

Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 1 May 2022.

Young Animator of the Year UK (YAY UK) aims to help, share and celebrate all of the work that talented young animators are making in the UK.

@YoungAnimatorUK is running free student events over the next six months:

• afterschool online 3D animation clubs from April
• a two-week 3D animation summer camp in the school holidays
• a national competition looking for the best stop motion, 2D and 3D artists
• mini animation challenges from industry professionals

They are also recruiting for an after-school 3D animation group for any aspiring 13-18 year olds. Deadline is 15 April!

The production company behind Sky Arts Landcsape Artist of the Year are looking for entrants for the new series. The prize on offer is a £10,000 commission for a major British institution plus £500 worth of art materials from Cass Art.

Artists enter the competition with a landscape artwork created within the last five years, submitted as an image via the website. 

In case you are unfamiliar with the programme, you can watch an episode of from last year’s competition here. (Password is st0ryvault).

Deadline for applications: 12.00, 14 April 2022.

Following on from the NSEAD/Adobe Digital Art Will Save Us summer school in 2021, Adobe are running more FREE professional development courses on Teaching Animation, Design, Digital Graphics and Video and Audio as part of the Adobe Spring Camp 2022 suite of training for teachers.

These courses aim to provide teachers with high-quality professional development designed to build confidence when teaching digital skills and projects in their classrooms.

Each course consists of three online sessions that run on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 17.00-18.30. 

Once you have completed the course you will receive a digital certificate and badge for 10 hours of professional development.

External Examiners

Barking and Dagenham College: CertHE/DipHE Photography & Moving Image programme to commence from September 2022.

Sheffield Hallam University: Departmental Apprenticeship External Examiner for the Art and Design Department at Sheffield Hallam University

Futureworks Manchester / University of Central Lancashire: BA (Hons) Visual Effects.

Pearl Academy, India: Undergraduate program in Fashion Communication

Leeds City College: 

• FD Concept Art
• FD Animation (tenure to start ASAP)

Teaching Vacancy

Trainee Teacher of Art at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School currently has a position open for someone who wants to train to teach art starting in September 2022.

Deadline: 31 May. More details.

This week's Art Ed Advocacy quote is taken from the InSEA (International Society for Education through Art) manifesto, which is available in 13 languages. 

The manifesto is a great resource and a reminder of why access to art and arts education is not a luxury, it is a human right.