WELCOME TO ARTING AROUND
Empowering young and curious minds through creativity and imagination
About
Arting Around empowers children and young people by integrating creative and critical thinking into their educational journey through visual art practice and play. We are dedicated to fostering practical, imaginative and well-being approaches among those who face challenges with the rigidity of mainstream learning. This includes, but is not exclusive to those:
- With neurodiversity
- Who require additional well-being support both in and outside of school
- Who would benefit from developing creative and critical thinking skills.
- With little or no access to arts and culture
OUR BACKGROUND
Previous evidence based enquiries, conducted by our Director, through a unique 'Philosophy for Children' through Art initiative showed that participation by children and young people enhanced their communication, confidence, collaboration, problem-solving skills, classroom engagement, and their ability to question and think critically about their broader world. It also showed an improvement in wellbeing, relationships and attitude to personal lives. Post pandemic, these skills have become even more essential for CYP, particularly those who have been, or are, challenged by neurodiversity, mainstream education and difficult home lives.
We want to continue to develop this work by working with schools, community groups, home schoolers and artists to support Children and Young people with evidence-based impact.
OUR VISION
Arting Around will support creating a future where every child, regardless of their background or challenges, has access to enriching artistic experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning, curiosity, imagination and creativity. We envision a vibrant, inclusive educational environment where visual arts and critical thinking are integral to developing essential life skills, and where strong partnerships between artists, teachers, and the school community can foster holistic growth and engagement. Through this initiative, we aspire to cultivate a generation of confident, critical thinkers and creative problem solvers who are empowered to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
KEY OBJECTIVES
Skill Development
- Equip Children and Young people with: problem-solving, collaboration, confidence, critical thinking, and creative thinking skills through artistic activities and wider conversation.
- Ensure these skills are transferable to mainstream learning environments.
Supporting Diverse Learners
- Create an inclusive environment that addresses the unique needs of these groups.
- Target learners (but not exclusively) with neurodiversity, those who require additional wellbeing support at school and/or home, and with little or no exposure to arts, culture & critical thinking.
Teacher Collaboration and Training
- Provide CPD training sessions for teachers, TA's and support workers to support and sustain the art workshops.
- Enable teachers to integrate similar creative activities into their ongoing curriculum.
Community Engagement
- Foster strong relationships between pupils, teachers, artists, local cultural organisations and the wider school community.
- Support the organisation of exhibitions and showcases of pupils' work to engage parents, governors, and local residents.
- Offer opportunities for parents to participate in art workshops, strengthening community ties.
Long-term impact
- Establish a sustainable model for integrating visual arts and critical thinking into the wider educational system.
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of the programme on students' skills and overall well-being.
- Develop skills transferable and relevant for future employability and potential careers.
- Long-term improvement in transferable skills and personal development for participating CYP.
- Educate and up-skill teachers for long term facilitation in key thinking and artistic skills.
Accesibility & Inclusion
- All workshops are accessible to, and inclusive of all CYP regardless of ability, background and individual challenges.
- We promote equity in educational opportunities through consistent and supportive artistic engagement.
RESEARCH
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education Research Group (which includes Arting Around Advisory board member Susan Coles) recently published their report outlining a number of issues with art and design education in UK schools, despite the subject providing enormous value and benefits to CYP. The evidence showed teachers were lacking in adequate art training, the curriculum gave little time given to art (in primary settings), and CYP that participated in art lessons developed a multitude of transferrable skills (for learning and employability), as well as improved wellbeing, despite the infrastructure currenlty not being place to support the subject fully.
‘The Inquiry ran between Spring 2020 and Spring 2023 and this report includes a rapid evidence review of the benefits of art and design education, a literature review of art teaching and teacher education, a national survey of 1,860 art and design teachers and testimonies from two APPG evidence sessions.’
Art Now Report, 2024. P9 (https://www.accessart.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Art-Now-Report-V10-singles.pdf)
If you would like to hear more about our work, how we might deliver in your school or community group, you are interested in teacher CPD, of if you are an artist educator that would like to be actively, involved please complete the fields below to get in touch. We promise to get back to all enquiries as quickly as possible.
Jen@artingaround.co.uk
07812053110
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