British Art Show School’s Festival, Nottingham City Council
Case study
Project description with aims:
Between 23rd October 2010 and 9th January 2011, Nottingham schools were busy visiting
galleries, undertaking projects and producing artwork inspired by British Art Show 7. The
British Art Show was spread across three galleries – New Art Exchange, Nottingham
Contemporary and Nottingham Castle Museum and Gallery, and many schools visited one (if
not all three) of these venues.
The Nottingham Schools’ Festival of Art unites schools across the city in a celebration of its
students work, which this website is showcasing. Running from 29th January to 20th March
2011, all schools involved in the festival are showing and sharing the work they have created
with parents, other schools and the wider community.
Alongside the Nottingham Schools’ Festival of Art, all schools involved have had the chance
to exhibit a collaborative piece of artwork or an exhibition board detailing their journey
through British Arts Show 7, at Nottingham Castle. This work gives a taster of each school’s
project and is on display for all to enjoy until 20th March 2011.
Finally, some of the City’s best students in Art and Design from secondary schools came
together in October 2010 to undertake their Bronze Arts Award in a week inspired by British
Arts Show 7.
For more information visit www.nottinghamschoolsartfestival.org.uk
Partners: Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Castle, New Art
Exchange and various Primary and Secondary Schools within the City.
Activity: Gallery visits for around 30 Nottingham Schools, Teacher and Artist-led project in
schools, collaborative exhibition at Nottingham Castle with exhibitions of schools work in their
venues and a website documenting work and projects with a feedback facility.
Impact: These include encouraging children and young people to access and engage with
contemporary art, providing an opportunity for children and young people to learn outside of
the classroom, and broadening people’s view of what art can be.
"It was a great experience because I’ve never been to an art gallery before"
- Faith (Year 5), Southwark Primary School
"It was inspiring to see all these different types of artwork. Seeing the paint on the floor at the
Castle gallery gave me the idea of work of my work. It was interesting to see that Artwork can
be 3D instead of just flat. "
- Shirleace (Year 6), Southwark Primary School
"I loved having the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. The art gallery was really
interesting and I cannot wait to start our art after school club"
- Serena-Faith aged 11, St Marys Catholic Primary School
Achievements: The 29 schools that took part all created artwork inspired by the British Art
Show. This work was displayed in schools for pupils, parents teachers and governors to see.
The schools also produced work on an A1 board, which was shown at Nottingham Gallery,
so pupils got to see their work within a professional context. The website united all schools
across the city in a city-wide festival and enable them to see each others projects and leave
comments.
Scale of Funding: £4,000 funding with teachers and Arts Education Co-ordinator time in
kind
Images:
 Hempshill Hall Primary School
 Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
 Rosehill Special School – visiting the art show
 Southwark Primary School
 St Marys Catholic Primary School
 Trinity School – artwork by Ngoc Huynh