This programme explores West Cork Arts Centre and its exhibition, education and community programmes as resources to the teacher and the child in the classroom. Through classroom-based projects, gallery visits, practical workshops, and talks and discussions for teachers, it aims to develop the teacher’s understanding and experience of contemporary visual art and its connection to Visual Arts Education and delivery of the Primary Curriculum.
The Programme for Primary Schools seeks to create an atmosphere of genuine exploration, encouraging freedom to respond, interpret, experience, react, perceive and express, therefore coming to a greater knowledge of oneself and one’s place in the world. The programme is designed to be open, explorative and child-centred, to create space for each child’s vision and to use the visual arts as a conduit to explore a child’s view of the world.
The Annual Primary Schools’ Classroom-based Programme (including Special Needs Groups) comprises a series of workshops for Primary School teachers at WCAC; practical exploration workshops for the children in the classroom and the gallery; support for the implementation of the Visual Art Curriculum in the classroom; development of summer-in-career, and professional development courses for teachers with the West Cork Education Centre; and opportunities for mentoring and peer support for teachers.
In January and February 2010, workshops took place in primary schools throughout West Cork with artists Tess Leak and Ann Marie McInerney exploring the work of Anita Groener and the concept of Lost.
The Primary School Tours Programme is a tours package for schools visiting Skibbereen in partnership with Skibbereen Library, Skibbereen Heritage Centre and Skibbereen Sports Centre. Each year, the tour focuses on the current exhibition at WCAC.
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 2010
West Cork Arts Centre works with both primary and second level schools to support teachers in the delivery of the visual arts curriculum and provide access to professional artists and artwork.
Programme for Primary Schools
Week beginning 4 October through to week beginning 15 November excluding the half term week beginning 25 October.
€ 50 per group (classes can be combined, maximum group size is 30)
The primary schools classroom based programme begins in the autumn term and includes: a preparatory workshop for teachers; a class visit to the gallery for a guided tour of an exhibition; a practical 2 to 3 hour workshop at WCAC; a follow up 2 to 3 hour workshop in the classroom; an online guide to the exhibition designed for participating schools to access in the classroom; a personal project plan developed with each teacher to help integrate the programme to their own needs and interests whilst fulfilling the curriculum and an exhibition featuring artwork developed during the programme in the main gallery at WCAC.
An artist delivers a cohesive visual arts project that aims to encourage an imaginative response, develop practical visual arts skills and enable confidence in appreciating art for both pupils and teachers. The artist will develop an individual project plan with each teacher to enable teachers to continue delivery of the project in the classroom and maximise opportunities for cross curricular links relevant to the group.
The programme is aimed at all levels of primary inclusive of special needs groups. Special needs groups will be catered for with shorter more frequent sessions to accommodate shorter attention spans and the need for the facilitating artist to develop a relationship with the group.
This year’s programme will be based on the exhibition fastforwardfossil (part 3) by Ellen Driscoll and will be delivered by artists Alison Cronin and Tess Leak. Project Assistant Caoimhe Pendred will support artist in delivering the programme on site.
Teachers that cannot be accommodated on the programme this year will be offered a short series of in-career development workshops supported by the West Cork Education Centre, in which artist Alison Cronin will work with teachers, using two exhibitions at West Cork Arts Centre as examples, to develop participants ability to use an exhibition as a resource for the classroom, build cross curricular links and fulfil curriculum objectives. A further session will take place at WCEC, guiding teachers towards contemporary art websites that can be used as classroom resources for looking and responding.
Programme for Second Level Schools
The second level schools programme focuses on drawing, a core skill in both the junior and senior cycle curricula. The programme aims to stretch participants concept of what drawing can be, exposing students to contemporary drawing practice through a gallery visit to the exhibition Fastforwardfossil (part 3) by Ellen Driscoll, and supporting development through an artist’s visit to the classroom. This programme begins in the autumn term, culminating in an exhibition of work produced as part of the Youth Exhibition in Spring 2011. This yea's programme will focus on the theme Order and Chaos, and will be delivered by artist Alison Cronin. Schools interested in participating should contact WCAC at the beginning of the Autumn term.
Fee € 25. All materials are provided.
Transition Year programme
The Transition Year programme will deliver a 12 week course in animation to two consecutive groups of transition year students from St Fachtna’s De La Salle Secondary School in Skibbereen. The course will focus on the visual skills needed to produce a successful moving image, through both drawn and modelled stop frame animation, as well as introducing the digital skills which will result in finished short films developed in small groups.
The programme will be delivered by artist Alison Cronin, with Project Assistant Caoimhe Pendred. The artists fees and materials costs will be covered by the school. WCAC will provide the venue and assistant.
WCAC welcomes Second Level students and their teachers to visit the Centre and explore contemporary visual art through the exhibitions and related artists’ gallery talks.
The Programme for Transition Year Students develops practical visual art modules for Transition Year students linking to the Exhibition Programme.
