Highlights of 2016 & Looking Ahead to 2017

Highlights for me during 2016 include:

• working with Art on the Underground and artist Jasleen Kaur on Crafting the line
• leading on the Community Consultation for the Fire Station Annexe at the SLG which fed into the gallery's HLF phase 2 bid, and has led onto setting up the SLG's new Community Forum
• being asked to stay on at the SLG as Head of Education (maternity) and having the opportunity to work with the Guggenheim on the exhibition Under the Same Sun

In 2017 I am looking forward to:

• the start of an exciting new project at the SLG which will include the move of The Shop of Possibilities into the newly reopened Lakanal building on Sceaux Gardens estate 
• going freelance again from April 2017 - watch this space!

Happy New Year everyone!

Community Forum for the SLG

Since carrying out the community consultation for the SLG and Fire Station development in January to April this year I have been keen to set up a Community Forum for the gallery to continue the conversations. A few weeks ago the first meeting of the Community Forum took place with a great turn out of 18 invited people representing various aspects of the local community such as businesses, the working fire station, schools, residents, artists, Camberwell College of Arts, Southwark Pensioners Centre, and also people interested in the heritage of Peckham and Camberwell. Forum meetings will take place three times a year with the Forum members also invited to exhibition previews at the SLG across each year, as well as the opening of the Fire Station Annexe in 2018. 

Crafting the Line with Jasleen Kaur

I am pleased to see that the schools project I worked on for Art on the Underground as Schools Project Manager with artist Jasleen Kaur, during January to March this year, is now on display. The pupils' work is being shown until the end of December, in the six underground stations along the Victoria Line located near to each of the six schools we worked with across six boroughs. The accompanying leaflet shows the objects as new and innovative products, as if presented as an imaginary shop stretching the length of the Victoria line. Crafting the Line is part of Underline: Art & Music for the Victoria Line. 

For more about the project take a look here, and to see Jasleen's film about the shop keepers and crafts people along the Victoria line visit here.

SLG's Garden Activity Box

I have created a garden activity box for the SLG's new garden. The garden has been designed by Gabriel Orozco with support from 6a architects and horticulturalists at Kew Gardens. The garden box contains watering cans, an explorer's hat, clipboards with question sheets and magnifying glasses, two books (The Secret Garden story book and a book about insects), along with colouring pencils and paper. The box is available from the new Fox reception at the back of the SLG, next to the garden. Many visitors are happy exploring the garden on their own but for others this provides tools for engagement, covering a range of learning styles.

For more information about the SLG's Orozco garden take a look here.

A New Garden for the SLG and Related Projects

In early October the SLG opened its new permanent garden designed by artist Gabriel Orozco, with support from 6a architects and horticulturists at Kew Gardens. The garden, which was an unattractive area of paved land at the back of the SLG, has been transformed into a unique sculptural work with a walkway and a reception area welcoming the residents from Sceaux Gardens housing estate during weekends and for special events.

For more information about the SLG's Orozco garden take a look here.

To celebrate the garden opening, we invited artist Emma Smith to bring her School for Tourists project to the SLG. Emma worked with members of the public at two events, along with residents from Sceaux Gardens housing estate - including the children at the Shop of Possibilities - and students from Camberwell College of Art to create a collaborative intervention exploring the roles of 'host' and 'guest'. The culmination of the project is a host/guest book available for the public to sign in the garden reception area, along with limited edition artworks created by Emma in the form of seed packets and host/guest badges, encouraging debate about what it means to be a host or a guest. In a particular context, such as the SLG garden, are you a host or are you a guest? For me this is particularly pertinent thinking about current issues around immigration and Brexit. 

School for Tourists was initiated by Emma Smith at Grizedale Arts in 2011, and has since toured internationally. For more information about Emma's project at the SLG take a look here, and about School for Tourists here.

Whose Art? Our Art! Engage Conference 2016

I have just returned from this years' engage conference in Liverpool, themed around access and activism. I also enjoyed visiting some of the Liverpool Biennial, in particular Marvin Gaye Chetwynd's project Dogsy Ma Bone where she worked with 78 children and young people from across the city to create a film and live performances. Sally Tallant, Director of the Liverpool Biennial, kicked off the engage conference in an inspiring way by saying: "We don't have an education programme. Everything we do is education."

For me the best part of the engage conference was the plenary session chaired by Dr Henry Ward, Head of Education at the Freelands Foundation, which focused on the relationship between art and creativity and art's purpose within the school curriculum. I was blown away by Mike Fairclough's vision as headteacher at West Rise Junior School in Eastbourne where creativity is right across the curriculum. Here the children take part in Forest School lessons, including looking after water buffalo and building a roundhouse in the marsh land leased by the school. If I had taught at a school like this maybe I wouldn't have left teaching in primary schools twenty years ago!

Watch a short film West Rise: School by the Marsh here

The Source of Art is in the Life of a People

I have been very fortunate to work with artist Roman Ondak during the installation of his exhibition Roman Ondak: The Source of Art is in the Life of a People at the SLG. The title of his exhibition is taken from the inscription on the nineteenth century marquetry floor designed by Walter Crane, which is usually hidden under the wooden floorboards in the main gallery. Roman Ondak has chosen to expose the floor piece alongside three of his artworks. One of these is a series of blown up pages from a 1960s text book outlining social codes of behaviour, relocated high up on the gallery walls. After employing sign writers to paint the original text the artist invited young people aged 12-18 (the ages of his two children) to add interventions. The young people came as groups from local schools, as part of the gallery's Art Assassins youth collective and other gallery youth forums, as well as individuals from the local area. They were elevated by scaffolding towers and skyjack machinery to just below the gallery ceiling, donning hard hats and high vis jackets whilst they worked. There were no limitations on what they could write or draw, as long as the material they used was graphite.

For more information about the exhibition take a look here

We are no longer Under the Same Sun

I am sad to say farewell to an inspiring exhibition and over three months of related community engagement with the closure of Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today at the SLG. 

Check out my blog written for the SLG: "Workshops, Artist Projects, and Outreach Help Build Community Engagement" here

Plaza Latina & the Latin American Community

During the exhibition Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today we have been focusing on engaging with the Latin American community located in the nearby Elephant and Castle Area. In particular we have been supported by Latin Elephant in our community outreach. They are a charity that promotes alternative and innovative ways of engaging and incorporating migrant and ethnic groups in urban regeneration processes in London, particularly relevant at present with the redevelopment of the shopping centre at Elephant and Castle.

One example of us working with a Latin American audience was at Plaza Latina a Latin American festival at the end of July, based in Nursery Row Park near Elephant and Castle. Here we worked with Argentinean artist Laura X Carle and over 100 participants to create a wooden structure covered in brightly coloured tissue paper. At the end of the day we culminated with a grand finale where the families burst through the paper, representing the breaking down of borders.

Former Peckham Road Fire Station Update

It's so exciting to see Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today on the ground floor of the former Peckham Road Fire Station building which was given to the South London Gallery by an anonymous donor and for which I did the Community Consultation during January to April this year. You can glimpse the potential of the building being transformed into a new cultural centre for the community in Autumn 2018. After Under the Same Sun closes in early September building work will begin and we will be focusing on raising the final amount for the project to be able to be completed. Exciting times!

To find out more about the Fire Station building take a look here

Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today

I am lucky to be working with such a fantastic exhibition at The South London Gallery. Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today is the second exhibition of the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative. Curated by Pablo León de la Barra, Guggenheim UBS MAP Curator, Latin America, in collaboration with the South London Gallery, the exhibition displays recently acquired works by more than 20 artists including installation, painting, performance, photography, sculpture, and video.

As part of the programme there has been an education exchange with staff at the three institutions displaying the show: The South London Gallery, Museo Jumex in Mexico and the Guggenheim in  New York. It was a pleasure to host staff from the Guggenheim during the opening week of the exhibition in London. Two particular highlights for me so far have been Federico Herrero's residency on the Pelican Housing estate creating a colourful floor mural amongst the play equipment, and Amalia Pica's Asamble participatory performance on Sat 11 June where 40 local residents carried chairs to Peckham Square, then almost formed a seated circle before the first person stood up and started to form another circle (repeating three times in total).

But most interesting for me, as a member of staff, has been taking part in Amalia Pica's A ∩ B ∩ C, 2013 where I have performed with her colourful acrylic shapes, creating unexpected combinations that intersected with my colleagues' choices, as a comment on collaboration and community. (Amalia was at school in the 1970's when the Argentinian dictators incredibly banned Venn Diagrams and set theory, viewing them as potentially subversive at a time when public gatherings were taking place.)

For more information about Under the Same Sun: Art from Latin America Today at The South London Gallery (until 4 September) take a look here

Head of Education (maternity) role

I am excited to be covering the Head of Education (maternity) role at the South London Gallery (SLG) for the next twelve months. The education programme is run by a fantastic team of  staff, covering audiences of schools & community, young people, and children & families. For example, as part of the children & families programme staff work closely with the local residents on Sceaux Gardens estate, at the back of the SLG, where since May 2012  they have run The Shop of Possibilities in a former retail outlet in the middle of the estate. Open after school and on Saturdays, children can attend unaccompanied or with their families with a focus on bringing together children's play and contemporary art practices. On Sunday afternoons the back gate from the SLG's garden to the estate is also open and children can join in the family session Sunday Spot  at the SLG which I attend regularly with my four year old. I am looking forward to finding out more about the  SLG's programmes as I get involved in my new role.

For further information about the SLG's Education Programme take a look here

Have Your Say

The online survey for gathering thoughts about the South London Gallery's transformation of the former Peckham Road Fire Station is now up. I am also running a drop-in open event weekend on Sat 19 and Sun 20 March, 11am - 5pm, at the South London Gallery as an opportunity for people to find out more and share their ideas. A big thank you to Katie Reynolds, Community Consultation Assistant.

For further information and for the online survey take a look here

Fashion at the National Portrait Gallery

I've been back again working as a freelancer at the National Portrait Gallery focusing on two projects both inspired by the exhibition Vogue 100: A Century of Style.

Firstly Pick up a Pencil: Drop-in drawing for Ages 14-21 co-hosted by fashion illustrator Miss Led and the Gallery's fabulous Youth Forum members. Participants created their own Vogue covers from drawings of portraits in the Gallery and cut up magazines, as well as having their photographs taken against a floor backdrop each thinking about their made-up 'in front of the camera' self.

Check out images on the Youth Forum's Facebook here

I also worked with two designers, Lily Arnold and Elly Strigner, and an amazing group of young people aged 14-21 on a three-day half-term holiday project, Strike a Pose, culminating in a public showcase in the Victorian Galleries. Participants constructed paper contemporary garments to create an ‘alter ego’. For the showcase the young people had make-up done by students from London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) - thanks to Eleanor Holbrook and her team!

"I really liked the three-day project as there was enough time to make something you are proud of and to meet new people."

"I have discovered that my alter ego is more colourful than I thought it would be and that I am more creative than I thought."

Check out images on the Youth Forum's Facebook here

South London Gallery Fire Station Development

I am excited to be working as the Community Consultation Manager (freelance post) at the South London Gallery,  focusing on the development of the former Peckham Road Fire Station. This will include consulting the public via an online survey and at various events.

For updates and how you can comment on the plans, keep an eye out on the Gallery's website here

Pick up a Pencil: Drop-in Drawing for ages 14-21

I'm back at the National Portrait Gallery working on a few events as a freelancer starting with Pick up a Pencil: Drop-in Drawing for Ages 14-21 which took place yesterday in the display Exposed: The Naked Portrait. Pick up a Pencil is co-hosted by the Gallery's Youth Forum with a guest artist, on the third Saturday of each month. These drop in sessions take place in the gallery spaces so often attract young people we've not worked with before. All you have to do is pick up a pencil! One of the Youth Forum members described yesterday's event as follows:  Exploring the subtleties between the nude and the naked body, we experimented with collage and new media.

Check out images from the event posted on 16 January here

#pickupapencil

Leaving the National Portrait Gallery

After nearly 9 years, I have left the National Portrait Gallery as the Young People's Programmes Manager. It's a great place to work, with great people and great portraits! I've been reflecting on my time there and have three particular highlights:

• Firstly the Youth Forum who are truly the voice of the Young People's Programme. I've been lucky to work with some of them for 3 or more years. Recently I emailed all past members to find out what they've been up to since leaving the Gallery. I've had some fantastic responses and one of the first members Sam said "Replacing Rachel will be some task as she was very passionate and cool!" I am very flattered.
• Secondly interventions into the Gallery spaces to showcase young people's talents resulting from projects at the Gallery. These have included dance, fashion shows, spoken word, vjing and music performances. My favourites were the dance projects with amazing organisations like Union Dance, Dance Physics and Siobhan Davies where the culminations brought the Gallery spaces alive.
• Thirdly and most importantly to me have been the projects carried out with hard to reach young people, or those not in education employment or training (NEET). When I first started at the Gallery I carried out outreach work in youth centres consulting young people who wouldn't usually visit the Gallery to find out what might interest them to come. This led to working with a number of youth organisations within an easy travel distance to the Gallery to pilot some sessions, both outreach and onsite, with the aim to then apply for external funding. Following this pilot I ran four annual projects, with photographer Marysa Dowling, for Teenage Mums based in Westminster to attend. I worked closely with Westminster Youth Service and their Children's Centres, and the last two years of the project were funded by Westminster City Council. Around the Gallery's Gay Icons exhibition I also worked with artists Sadie Lee and Tim Redfern with 3 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth groups across London leading to a celebratory event at the Gallery, My Icons. The learning from all of these projects fed into a funding bid resulting in the Gallery obtaining 3 years of money from the Dorset Foundation for a project called Domino Effect. This project was managed and delivered by my colleagues and resulted in a useful online toolkit (take a look here). I hope to work with hard to reach young people again in the future as these projects have led to my own professional learning developments as well as benefiting the participants greatly.

Van Dyck Youth Insight Tours

In my role as the Young People's Programmes Manager I have recently been managing the training of a group of eight Youth Forum members leading to them delivering public talks giving a 'Youth Insight' into Van Dyck: Transforming British Art at the National Portrait Gallery (display on until 3 January 2016). There were five training sessions with myself, an art historian, other learning staff and visitor services staff. The young people decided to work in pairs to deliver the talks.  After the first set of talks on Saturday 21 November, the Forum members said that they felt the talks flowed more than they had expected, that they were good at answering questions, and that they enjoyed the audience support. To improve they would use the props more, refer to the paintings more and try to be less nervous. We asked the audience: "Pick one thing that the Youth Forum told you today that made you look at Van Dyck in a different way." Responses included: "I learnt that Van Dyck had a star status and introduced a new style of portrait paintings showing brush strokes and more dynamic poses." The second set of talks takes place on Saturday 19 December featuring different Youth Forum members, again in pairs. The first set of talks was part of Museum Takeover Day run by Kids in Museums.

Visit the National Portrait Gallery's Van Dyck website here

A Different Game: Young people working with art and artists

I enjoyed attending the engage International Conference in Glasgow last week and meeting lots of other gallery educators and artists working with young people. The best part for me was the breakout session Geographies of Collaboration: Decoding the Hyperlocal . This was led by Andrew Vaughan, Learning Manager from from The Whitworth in Manchester, and Nicola Sim, Doctoral Researcher from Tate/The University of Nottingham, along with two young artists Jamil Keating and Patrick Farrell (aka Cave Man). Jamil and Patrick had been recruited by Andrew to map the area local to the Gallery from a young person's perspective, thinking about young people's use of public and private space. "How much do you know about the people, organisations and places on your professional doorstep? How might young, locally based artists help to sensitise us to our neighbouring environments and overlooked communities?" Their responses and the group discussion have made me rethink my local area and the people I work with, in terms of the hyperlocal. This project is part of Circuit, a National Programme for 15 - 25 year olds led by Tate and funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Check out Nicola Sim's storify here and take a look at the conference website here.

Art on The Underground Schools Project

I'm excited to be recruited by Art on the Underground as the Schools Project Manager (freelance post) for the Crafting the Line Schools Project with artist Jasleen Kaur, in relation to Underline: Art & Music for the Victoria Line. Applications are coming in from schools and we will be working with six of them across the six boroughs (Camden, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Waltham Forest and Westminster) along the Victoria line. The project will include liaising with the artist, the teachers and staff in the schools' local underground stations. The pupils' final objects will contribute towards an imaginary shop stretching the length of the Victoria line. Partners for the project are ReachOutRCA and A New Direction. 

Check out the Crafting the Line project here