One of the wonderful things about NSEAD is that it is home to art educators from all over the UK (and beyond), across all sectors, phases and stages. Our combined expertise comes from a wide range of age and experience – from those who are retired but are still active advocates for art education, to those who are in the very first years of their careers in education. 

Many of our members working in schools will only have experienced industrial action as a pupil, not as a professional in dispute with Government. In 2023 we have an unprecedented situation, with a wave of action from public and private sector workers taking action over pay – but also fighting for the survival of vital services.  

Currently the EIS, UCU and NEU have declared strike action. NSEAD fully supports those trade unions who have called for strike action and action short of strike – and those that haven’t. The lack of funding for any pay increases, presents a particular threat to our members. The failure of Government to invest in our schools, colleges and universities and to adequately reward the education workforce continues to have a devastating effect on the profession, and the learners that we all work for. 

In every workplace there will be many, many staff who are not part of official strike action, but support the cause. You may be working in a school, college or university where colleagues are striking. 

If that is the case, please make sure that you read carefully the advice and guidance that we have put together (see below).

By knowing what your rights and responsibilities are, you can support local and national action taken by the EIS, UCU and NEU and be part of the fight for a fully-funded pay increase. When you refuse to cover work that would normally done by those taking action you are playing your part to help achieve the aims of the action.

Strike or no strike, let’s continue to stand together. 

Michele Gregson

General Secretary

Thanks to everyone that joined us on Monday evening at the Trade Union meeting. Participants fed back that it was a very informative and helpful session, that put minds at rest.

If you missed it, you can watch the first part of the meeting here and access some useful documents on our support pack pages (please first sign into the NSEAD website). As ever, if you have specific concerns then do get in touch with us.

This guidance, written by Ged Gast, NSEAD past-president, provides strategies and examples of good practice for marking and feedback in sketchbooks.

Making a Difference by Melanie Cox and Mandy Barrett.

In this resource, Melanie and Mandy share the process of setting up an arts council at Gomersal Primary School, and talk about how it became a strong, informing and school-changing voice for the arts.

We have gathered our collection of Primary Facebook Live videos together and placed them on our website in a free-to-access library. These 30-minute videos share knowledge, strategies and practical exercises, aimed at empowering primary subject leaders in an accessible way.

From drawing with Paul Carney, to cultural capital with Emily Gopaul, there is something to inspire and support every primary art teacher in leading their curriculum. 

Let's talk about biodiversity with The Wild Escape

When: 22 February at 17.30-18.00

This 30-minute session will include a make-along creative workshop supporting primary teachers to use The Wild Escape resources and will discuss how primary art teachers can get involved with this new project that links museums and schools in a celebration of UK wildlife and creativity.

This is a free session for primary art subject leaders, teachers and trainees. 

The NSEAD Winter Social

When: Saturday 28 January 12.30 - 17.00

Where: The Whitworth, Manchester

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

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

We are very much looking forward to greeting artists and art educators on Saturday in the beautiful surroundings of the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. 

Meet up with the NSEAD professional learning community, hear from the Whitworth's learning team and get involved with the sessions on offer from artists Liaqat Rasul and Luke Adamson, plus a guided tour of the Althea McNish exhibition by co-curator and NSEAD member Rose Sinclair.

Thankfully, no strikes are affecting train travel this weekend, so we wishing our participants stress-free journeys.

Image: Police © Yinka Shonibare CBE

Huge thanks to Yinka Shonibare CBE for selecting and donating the image called Police for AD 36's poster. This poster will not be available online – only as an A2-hard copy for members. We hope you like it as much as we do!

Look out for the launch of our new ARAEA resources coming soon! We have updated the checklists, made new anti-racist art education webpages, and created more accessible downloads and tools, including special engagement cards – just for members. 

We fear some members have not received their copies of the anti-racist special issue of AD magazine (Issue 36) yet, due to postal service strikes and disruption. Please contact us if you still have not received your copy by 1 February.

For secondary teachers looking to explore the gender balance in art and design, develop professionally and learn useful strategies to take back to the classroom.

When: Tuesday 25 April, 9:30 – 12:30

Where: Online

What can I expect?

Through structured discussion and collaborative working this half-day course will:

• Investigate how gender norms manifest themselves in the classroom.
• Explore unconscious bias and how to identify it.
• Provide Ideas to identify and analyse unconscious gender bias in the classroom.
• Examine how societal stereotypes have historically impacted education and teachers’ expectations of students.
• Develop strategies to address unconscious bias and create a gender inclusive classroom to foster creativity for all.

We are delighted to share with members a recording of the AD Q&A panel discussion 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.

The panel explore the importance of embedding disability arts in education.

This film will be helpful for any members involved in planning their art and design curricula and who are seeking to embed anti-ableist practice and pedagogies.

The panel discussion took place12 Dec 2022, during Disability History Month.

When and where: 25 March 2023, online

Price: Free

In partnership with Norwich University of the Arts and hosted by Abbie Cairns, NSEAD invites you to the first Artist-Teacher in Adult Community Learning Conference.

Share good practices, research, ideas, and experiences. All welcome, from established adult community educators to those curious about working in the sector.

The conference will include a keynote address from Professor Samantha Broadhead, participant contributions, and interactive art activities.

Contribute to this conference by submitting a proposal (deadline extended to 8 February): This conference welcomes contributions from artist-teachers in ACL at all stages of their careers, on their experience of being an artist-teacher in ACL.

UBAE is a new self-organised network group for Black educators, students and individuals from the wider NSEAD membership and community.

UBAE use the term Black in a political context to encompass 'all members who self-identify as Black, Asian and any other minoritised groups who do not identify themselves as ‘white'.

Twilight meetings take place the first Thursday in every month, on Zoom, with the next meeting scheduled for Thursday 2 February.

UBAE is committed to five aims:

• Creating a network to support the emotional wellbeing and resilience of Black Art Educators, celebrating their cultures and experiences
• Promoting greater understanding of racism in education spaces, and challenging racism from within the system
• Building an education system based on equity, respect and love (Ubuntu)
• Challenging Eurocentric understandings of art, pedagogy and activism through Black perspectives
• Connecting, enabling, and showcasing the talent of diverse educators, with the aim of inspiring future generations and opening up new possibilities within education and careers

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 and where: Saturday 4 March 2023, 11.00 - 15.30 at the Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ

Cost: Free

We are delighted to be able to reinstate these network meetings following the pandemic.

Hosted by NSEAD members Professor Andy Ash and Ged Gast, participants will hear from the Horniman learning team, engage in discussions and presentations around sustainability, decolonisation, and the curriculum, and have the chance to  network with other art educators.

When and where: Fri 3 March, 17.45 - 20.30, at the V&A Learning Centre AND Thurs 16 March, 17.30 - 18.00 online.

Cost: £10 (in person) £5 (online)

Join the learning team at the V&A to hear from the curators of Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance, before seeing the exhibition.

This is the first major UK exhibition to explore the exceptional talents of the Renaissance master, Donatello. Hear about this show, learn about the V&A schools programme and enjoy a glass of wine with peers.

Note: The in-person twilight event ticket includes entry to the exhibition.

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!

When: Thurs 9 Feb, 14.00 - 17.00

Where: The Northern Film Studios Lynn Street North Hartlepool TS24 7AF

Cost: Free

Do your students know that working in the screen industries is an achievable career route for them?

The Screen Industries in Tees Valley and the wider North East is a growth sector. With increased regional investment and production companies expected to deliver more out-of-London, it is an exciting time to consider a career in the screen industries in the Tees Valley.

This event, aimed at school and college careers leaders, governors, and subject-specific staff, will deepen understanding of the screen industries sector and provide you with information about the sector locally, insights and pathways to the wide range of career options in this sector, help to explore the opportunities and barriers young people face and signpost you to resources to help advise and guide your students to enter into a career in this sector.

An investigation of the experiences of educators teaching visual art within a special education context throughout Ireland and the UK. 

This survey, conducted by Maria Crean (a special education teacher and professional artist currently conducting Masters (MSEN) research with Dublin City University), will ask teachers to reflect on their professional art education practice in order to investigate common experiences, difficulties and strategies; something which has never previously been researched in the UK or Ireland. 

This study aims to highlight the particular nuances that art education has within a special education context, and to provide some new insights and guidance. 

Click the link below to read further clarifying details about the survey, provide informed consent, and fill out the online questionnaire here.

The survey will close on the 31st January 2023

Applications are now open for the new series of Portrait and Landscape Artist of the Year.

The competition is open to amateur and professional painters, collage artists, drawers, printers, and everything in-between (except sculpture and digital art).

Deadline Portrait Artist of the Year 2023: Friday 24th Feb 2023

Deadline Landscape Artist of the Year 2023: Friday 28th April 2023

Prize: a £10,000 commission to paint a portrait or landscape for a major British institution

Switchbook Get Together

Sat 11 February 2023, 10.00 – 12.00 (Optional ‘Landscape Resonances’ talk 13:30-17.00) Hestercombe House, Taunton, TA2 8LG

Primary Arts Network

Tues 28 February 2023
16:15 – 18:30
 

Creative Leaders Network

Wed 22 February 2023
16:15 – 18:30
Online

The London College of Communication (part of the University of the Arts London) requires one external examiner for the MA Design for Art Direction for a five year tenure to commence in March 2023 - February 2028.

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is seeking an External Examiner for a Partner institution in Wales for its BA (Hons)/Cert HE in Jewellery Design and BA (Hons)/Cert HE in Ceramics.

Northumbria University is looking to appoint an External Examiner for the International Foundation Programme, covering the Digital Design Skills and Practice, Introduction to Theory and Practices and Art, Design and Media Specialism Development modules.

Blackpool and The Fylde Colleg require an External Examiner (commencing October 2023) for BA (Hons) Photography.

Blackpool and The Fylde Colleg require an External Examiner (commencing October 2023) for BA (Hons) Photography.

St George's International School, Luxembourg is seeking a Teacher of Art and Design / Head of Faculty. This is a temporary role as Maternity Cover for 1-year, full time. Required for April 2023

Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich is currently looking to appoint an Art Technician to provide technical support for teachers. 

Closing date: 02/02/23