Arts in Education

THE ARTS are an invaluable means of introducing young people to the excitement of creative work; they can help to deliver non-arts subjects in the school curriculum and can foster the development of lifeskills. To this end, the Arts Council is continually seeking the services of top-quality workshop leaders.

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LUKE WRIGHT POETRY WORKSHOPS - November 2008

Luke Wright

In November 2008 we brought the exceptional young poet Luke Wright back to the Island for a series of workshops with 360 pupils in the Island's primary and secondary schools.

Some feedback from the workshops - "We thought it was an excellent workshop. Luke engaged & excited the students, who thoroughly enjoyed hearing his poems. His rapport with them was wonderful & he coaxed some very interesting work from them, particularly those who had previously kept their poetic light firmly under a bushel as far as we teachers were concerned. What was particularly impressive was his ability to address them by name & also to quote back to them lines from their work that had caught his attention. In terms of suitability, the workshop was wholly appropriate." More feedback can be found here.

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MARACA 2 MUSIC WORKSHOPS - June 2008

The Arts Council provided music workshops for primary school pupils.

Sample feedback below. Click here for more feedback.

"Very positive comments from all the children, even those who wouldn’t normally participate in performing arts. Most of our children would be unable to access such a professional performance & enjoyed the day. A child in our class with a physical disability gained confidence & raised self esteem by being able to perform. We hope to develop our instrumental work as a result of the children being so enthusiastic. Thank you."

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BLOOD BROTHERS DRAMA WORKSHOPS - June 2008

	The Arts Council provided drama workshops for 265 secondary school pupils over two weeks. The workshops covered characterisation, audience reaction, comedy, lighting, delivery, and mood and were customised to suit each class. Feedback from the workshops can be viewed here. The workshops were led by the cast of the Blood Brothers production that had a very successful run in the Gaiety Theatre.

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HORRIBLE HISTORIES - April 2008

	The Arts Council provided two matinee performance from Horrible Histories. The first matinee, the "Terrible Tudors", was attended by 583 pupils from the local primary schools. The second show was "Vile Victorians" which was attended by 578 primary school pupils. The shows were performed by Birmingham Theatre Company at the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas.

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PUPPET LAB - March 2008

The Arts Council brought Puppet Lab and their latest production, Beauty and the Beast, to the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen High School for a week of free performances for primary school children. This was an original take on the classic fairytale; the performers combined beautifully handcrafted traditional marionettes for live puppetry with modern technology for on-screen animation. Linking visual narrative and video storytelling, this new style of string puppetry is a fascinating mix of old and new mediums working together to produce a sensory feast, while enthralling and inspiring both children and adults. www.puppet-lab.com/theatre/PuppetLab-BeautyandtheBeast.shtml

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COLIN SANGSTER: Primary Schools Residency - September 2007

	Colin Sangster has been delivering creative dance workshops for over fifteen years throughout the UK both as an independent artist and for companies such as Birmingham Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet and Rambert Dance Company. Over the years Colin has gained a vast experience in Dance Education, working with all ages and a wide range of dance abilities from the gifted and talented to people with disabilities and special needs.

In March 2007 Colin delivered dance workshops in conjuction with the Rambert Dance Company in the Island’s high schools, and it was felt that an independent return to the Isle of Man to deliver a primary school dance residency would be beneficial. Ten schools were selected, with students from years 4, 5 and 6 taking part as Colin was particularly keen for boys from these year groups to experience dance. The schools workshops were designed to enrich and challenge children, enabling them understand the benefits and fun that can be had from dance. Colin’s work in schools is highly rated and the evaluations show how much the schools, teachers and pupils benefited from his work. He endeavours to create an atmosphere that inspires and motivates the students, enabling him to get the most out of their individual talents.

Click here to read the feedback received following these workshops.

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LUKE WRIGHT: Poetry Workshops in Secondary Schools - October 2007


	“He’s young, talented and good looking. Naturally, I hate him.” John Cooper Clarke. "A very good poet indeed." The Guardian "The best young performance poet around." The Observer "Wright has wit and opinions, he can craft them into stanzas with rhyme and scan and make you laugh not just at his jokes but at the dexterity with which he puts together the nuts and bolts of the English language. His satire works because he also believes in things: justice; honesty; above all the power of the poem." The Scotsman

What was involved?

Luke Wright’s own work is based around themes such as Identity, Urban Life and Modern Culture. The students were asked to consider:

Improvisation
Brainstorming
Development of an idea
Drafting
Revising
Analysis of each other's ideas
Performing
Poetic techniques (cadence, rhythm, rhyme)

The tone was predominantly fun and energetic. Students were encouraged to consider how to tackle serious issues in ways that make other people pay attention. Students were also encouraged to spend time developing the 'performance' aspect of their final pieces.

Who was it aimed at?

A mix of English and Drama students.

What did the workshop consist of?

Each workshop lasted one school day. The final period was used for a performance of the students’ work. The first session featured a 30min performance by Luke, followed by a Q&A period and a group discussion with the students on their own ideas. At the end of the first session, students split into groups and had a brief one-on-one discussion with Luke on their idea. After a break, the students spent an hour working on their piece, with further one-on-one help. The session ended with a performance of the students' work (Luke offered to read their pieces for them if they wish not to perform) and a discussion on the results.

How was this relevant to the syllabus?

A visit from a writer fulfils many National Curriculum requirements, such as planning, drafting and revising; writing for different audiences; writing in a range of styles; and analysing critically their own and others' writing.

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