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Sarah Williamson, tutor for the art and design subject group on our full-time initial teacher training course for the lifelong learning sector (Further Education, adult and work-based education, Higher Education) was inspired by ‘pop-up’ groups, such as Gucci who had a pop-up shop in Paris for two weeks.
Photo taken by Ben Walmsley
She organised a one-day event on Monday 12 April 2010 where many art and craft based activities took place, including jewellery, clothing and knitting.
Sarah explained that ‘the aim for the event was to engage people in informal and community learning through art, design and craft. Our teacher training students planned and delivered a large scale collaborative teaching and learning event which explored collaborative creativity and design. Our aim was also to incorporate sustainability, so wherever possible recycled or found materials were used.
Photo taken by Ben Walmsley
Our initial teacher training students have to undertake a project to develop their teaching in a creative and innovative way towards the end of the one-year course. The pop-up art school provided an excellent way to explore creativity theory, to make links between theory and practice and to study the difference between ‘teaching creatively’ and ‘teaching for creativity’.
Our students generally undertake teaching practice placements in Further Education colleges and so the event gave them the experience of informal and community teaching. They had to plan learning activities which were suitable for a drop-in event and would appeal to different age groups. The activities had to be achievable so learners would gain new skills and experience success on the day. We have recently studied sustainability and how education can be sustainable, and our commitment to this resulted in some very creative and innovative ideas. Some fabulous art was created from recycled and found materials.
Teachers often work with limited budgets, so the event provided valuable experience of how to teach large numbers of people with limited resources.
The trainees also developed marketing and publicity skills, important when they start to work as teachers with responsibility for course promotion and recruitment. Employers also look for teachers who can work well as a member of team and have gained transferable skills, of which this is an excellent example. The course has a very good reputation and is highly regarded in the sector already and this helps to highlight it’.
Photo taken by Ben Walmsley
Sarah says that all the objectives were realised from the event.
As she says, the objectives were ‘more than realised! It surpassed our expectations, the feedback was hugely positive. The comments on the feedback wall were lovely – it was written onto pieces of wallpaper and stitched together on the day. Nearly 200 people attended. The great thing was that people from different age groups participated. We had school children, college students from Further Education, University staff and students and members of the public from 8 to over 80! Two people who travelled from Doncaster said how refreshing it was to be learning alongside younger people.
Groups of people who attended included a year 10 students from Brooksbank School in Elland and a group of students from Kirklees College.
Of the events on the day, two things will stick in my mind. Firstly the newspaper couture and cellophane outfits which were a hit. Two students returned to their school still wearing them! National Diploma Fashion and Textiles students from Kirklees College (Dewsbury campus) made wonderful paper couture-style dresses from road atlases, maps, doilies and wallpaper. They were the talk of the event. Their course leader, Jane Tweddle, who completed the teacher training qualification here at Huddersfield 4 years ago, was delighted with the response. It’s also good for young people to visit the University and see that it has a warm and welcoming environment. One male pupil said ‘It’s really nice here. I might try and come now.’ The college tutor felt that attending events like this where students have a positive experience helps to build the aspiration to study at university.
Other teachers who completed the Huddersfield teacher training qualification attended and networked at the event. Previous students were seen networking in the ‘teachers’ corner’! They left with lots of new teaching ideas and many of them said they were inspired to run a similar event in their own colleges.
‘Knitting with Auntie Barbara’ was also very popular! She had a steady stream of people learning to knit all day. A lot of craft and traditional ‘making’ skills are being lost as they are not passed down from generation to generation as they used to be.’
The students planned the event down to the finest detail, including 1950’s music from the ‘age of couture’ and vintage china for the tea and cakes – all collected from car boot sales and charity shops. This came about because of the sustainable approach – better to wash and re-use, rather than throw away plastic cups. And everyone knows that tea tastes better in a china cup! The day ended on a high with live music from a jazz funk band.
The Head of Art from Brooksbank, Rachel Lumb, said that the pupils had a great time and begged to stop longer when it was time to go!
One member of University staff, said ‘It was a fantastic event. I had a go at a few activities and the facilitators were really friendly, informative and encouraging. They spoke really eloquently and passionately about their art. I loved the small community feel the event had that was very welcoming.’
As a result of the event, a potential student wrote to Sarah Williamson, who was the inspiration behind the pop-up art event, saying that they had seen the event and was therefore ‘very interested to find out some more information about the … course and entry requirements’.
Photo taken by Ben Walmsley
"Very creative ideas. Good fun! The dresses looked wicked!"
"What an amazing idea. The organisation is second to none, and has paid off tremendously well done! Really enjoyed it."
"Really good, some fab ideas."
"Truly inspirational! Had a go at everything and didn’t want to leave, thank you."
"A fantastic day, lots to do, lots to see! Met some wonderful PGCE teachers!"
"Very inspirational. I didn’t realise it was so easy to create a piece of artwork from everyday items!"
