In Practice: Case study: Collaboration with local artists

Jo Stephenson looks at the work of two artists involved with one extended schools cluster.

Objectives: Pear Tree extended schools cluster in Derby comprises Pear Tree Infant School, Pear Tree Community Junior School and Harrington Nursery School. The schools were already working with two local artists in residence, but full service extended schools co-ordinator Victoria Asprey wanted to develop that partnership. She saw art as a way of developing children's skills, confidence and self-esteem as well as bringing together families from different backgrounds.

What was done: Artists Steve Coley and Di Shepherd formed a community arts organisation, Artblock, with arts co-ordinator Catherine Harris to allow them to apply for funding for more creative work with pupils.

The artists had their own workspace at the junior school but the schools used extended schools cash to refurbish an art studio so children could use it. Artblock went on to do a whole series of projects including holiday and after-school sessions for those with a particular gift for art.

The artists also ran workshops based around healthy living as part of a wider schools arts scheme and, most recently, they've been decorating a new mobile classroom with murals inspired by children's designs.

The issues: "The artists were used to working alone so trying to integrate them was difficult to begin with," says Asprey. "We have structures and procedures as a school and have to ensure things like monitoring and evaluation are in place."

Coley says Harris played a hugely valuable role in setting up Artblock, including devising a constitution and tackling other paperwork. The organisation has successfully applied for about £30,000 from different sources, including the lottery's Awards for All programme and Derby City Partnership's Small Change fund. However, Coley says that finding funding is a big issue.

Outcomes: Children have flourished through the arts projects and the school has benefited from the artists' expertise and knowledge, says Asprey.

"I think there's a real buzz about the projects we run," adds Coley. "If we walk across the playground we get children running up to ask when we're doing classes, which is great."

The artists run classes during school hours, but workshops after school and in the holidays give them more time to work with individual children. Coley admits they have been less successful in getting parents involved but that's something they want to develop. The pair also hope to start training teachers on how to offer stimulating art sessions.

TOP TIPS

DO

- Get more involved with community and voluntary organisations - Integrate organisations within your school - it extends their ability to work with the community and raises their profile.

- Tap into their expertise and encourage them to come to you with ideas

DON'T

- Do anything without consulting children, parents and the local community on the projects they'd like

- Forget the organisation is there. Look for new ways to work in partnership.