Creative Partner, 2006 – 08
Creative Partnerships Sheffield
Spring Lane College Inclusion Support Unit

Gillian was Creative Partner at Spring Lane College, a Key Stage 4 pupil referral unit between 2006 - 2008 and has undertaken three projects with the service.

The first project, ‘Gateways’, was intended to promote an exploration of physical and behavioural boundaries by engaging students through the creative use of metal. Issues of trust, behaviour and safety working with a new material in a new environment were an important factor.

Six Y10 students worked in Gillian’s studio, designing and making a sculptural gateway with integral seating in the corner of the yard, used by students as a quick escape route out of school.

• The artwork changed how people use and move through the space.

• It fulfilled its original purpose but in different ways than imagined. It also opened up new possibilities with the students, including those not included in this project, talking about other ways they would like to improve the school environment.

• It affected the behaviour of the students directly involved, showing their teachers qualities they hadn’t seen before.

For the second project, ‘I think, you think, we think’, Gillian was one of five artists of different disciplines, bringing different perceptual positions to ways of delivering aspects of the curriculum. She introduced Y10 students to the practical applications of the materials science they were learning and worked with Rukus, a rapper to develop a school slogan with them. They constructed with her a sculpture with the slogan ‘Young standing proud’ which is sited outside the school entrance.

The third project, ‘Upping the creative ante’ was to increase the use of creative ways of delivering the curriculum within the school, particularly in English and Science. After delivering some professional development sessions to staff, Gillian turned an underused DT block into a creative space where all young people in Y10 and Y11 made sculpture out of various media that explored elements of their curriculum in a hands-on and visual way. Some students also visited her studio and made sculpture in steel.

Staff comments:
“I’ve been highly motivated because the students have been highly motivated” – Ally, ASDAN teacher

“Kids have been more willing to take something on that they are not used to, more willing to try something new”, - Steve, Deputy Head

 

All images © Gillian Brent