Visual Art Programme for Schools December/January 2008/2009

The Linenhall Arts Centre’s Visual Art Programme for Schools is designed specifically for primary schools, and is offered to 28 schools in the Linenhall’s locality. These tour and workshop events are specifically designed to focus on selected aspects of the exhibiting artist’s work. They include a gallery talk introducing the work of the exhibiting artist during which children are encouraged to engage in discussion about the work. Following the gallery talk the children are brought to the Linenhall’s community arts room where they create their own pieces exploring in a practical way the particular aspects of the artist’s work which are being examined. Support materials are provided for teachers should they wish to follow up on the workshop in the classroom setting.

In December 2008 and January 2009 the programme focused on the exhibition “Crickets Sing with their Legs” by artists Lucy Hill and Almha Roche. Aims and objectives as follows:

Aim 1: To introduce children to the work of Lucy Hill and Almha Roche

Objectives relating to this aim:
- To provide children with information about the artists
- To encourage children to explore the paintings and give their feed back on them
- To provide the children with information on the materials and techniques used by artists concentrating on themes, inspiration, application of paint, texture, colour and mood and composition.

Aim 2: To engage children in critical reflection on materials and techniques used by the artists

Objectives relating to this aim:
- To engage children in discussion about the materials used.
- To engage children in discussion about the processes used including comparing and contrasting the two artist’s application of paint, use of texture and materials used

Aim 3: To engage children in visual art activity based on the work in the exhibition

Objectives relating to this aim:
- To introduce the use of different materials on which the children paint (not just paper)
- To encourage the exploration of effects that different materials have when using paint
- To introduce the children to different mark making tools used for the creation of texture.