Expressive Arts Teachers’ Working Group with Carmarthen Museum and Cragen Beca
I’m really excited that Carmarthenshire County Council’s Education Department has been developing a schools resource project with Carmarthenshire Museum funded by GEM (Group for Education in Museums).
In January 2023 I met with a group of teachers, along with Louise Morgan, the School Support Advisor from Carmarthenshire School Improvement and textile artist Louise Bird.
Louise (Bird) later went on to develop workshops with teachers from primary and secondary schools in the county to help develop skills for a resource that can be taken into schools. The project uses a museum object as a key for engagement in schools, and it’s such an honour that the Cragen Beca costume bought by the museum for their collection is the focus of the work.
“The group were able to meet with Cragen Beca artist Kathryn Campbell Dodd at the start of the project. This connection was invaluable, providing a wealth of additional information which the teachers were able to use to inform the development of the learning resource.
Following the introductory meeting the group developed their ideas, worked closely with textile artist Louise Bird, a contributing artist in the Cragen Beca Project. Two practical workshops with Louise were held at the museum. The group were able to use this time to explore the Cragen Beca costume in more depth and collate the textile processes they would include in the learning resource…The skills reference information included examples of natural dyeing processes, Sashiko stitching, applique and textile design. The group also researched the history of textile banners during the workshops, including the purpose of these banners from an historical context and contemporary perspective.
The Expressive Arts learning resource has been developed to support learners across Progression Steps three and four. It offers an opportunity to link across the primary and secondary phases and has potential for future development as a transition project across schools. The resource includes skills-based information on textiles processes and links to the visual arts elements of colour and pattern. It also provides opportunities for teachers to incorporate the Cragen Beca Project into their curriculum design with examples of cross cutting links included. The Curriculum for Wales places the needs and interests of each learner at the centre of curriculum design. It is anticipated that this resource will provide schools with an example of a learning experience which supports their learners to express their passion for change through a creative medium. Navigating change has become a familiar aspect of the school landscape and providing our future decision makers with a creative platform for expression and discussion is therefore essential.
The learning resource will form part of a pilot project across the three participating schools in the spring term (2023). This pilot will provide feedback from learners and final outcomes. This information will be shared across Carmarthenshire schools and form part of an on-going schools’ support programme within the Expressive Arts. The learning resource will be launched at a sharing event and exhibition of work which will take place at the museum in Spring 2023.”
Photographs courtesy of Louise Bird
cragenbeca.co.uk 