Arts Volunteering

Coads Green Primary School Arts Project 2024 sponsored by LAS

The pupils of Coads Green Primary School, near Launceston, have just completed their project to create a mural on a wall in the playground near to where pupils, teachers and parents first enter that area.  It is something that can be viewed by the whole community.

Initially Lydia Christine, an artist and ex pupil of the school, worked with all the children to help them develop their ideas for the mural.  Together they came up with 6 different designs, all with nature themes, before the children voted on this one as the fun and eye catching design which they liked the best.

The project was led by Claire Bader, the school’s Headteacher.  The work to paint the mural was due to start in February / March 2024.  Unfortunately due to the very wet year 2024 turned out to be, the work kept getting postponed and by 2025, Lydia Christine had moved away.  This meant that the school had to source another artist who paints murals.  Fortunately, and with the aid of Facebook, they found Mrs Murals!  She was able to take on the work in the latter part of March this year and the weather held for the week put aside to complete the job!

Choosing the design and watching the artist at work links to the children’s studies in their PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) lessons as well as their environmental outdoor activities.  It has also helped them to appreciate the skills of the artist and how she went about painting the wall installation.

The children have been inspired and enthused by the project and from their faces it’s clear they really love their mural.  Here’s what some of them had to say:

“I like all of the colours and the contrast of colours.  I like the bird best and its colour”.  (Jessica, Yr.6)

“I like the owl as it’s very colourful and all the bees are perfect; what they’re like in real life.  Children might feel happy when they walk past it”.  (Charlie, Yr.5)

“I love it; so realistic.  It’s like a real meadow and doesn’t look like it’s been painted.  The bumblebee and the lily pads are fantabulous!”.  (Lily, Yr.5)

Liskeard Arts Society’s contribution towards the costs allowed the school to purchase the resources needed to paint the mural and then to varnish over it to help it survive the elements as well as paying the artist for her time.  A committee member thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school and seeing the work in progress before returning to see the installation on the wall.

This has clearly been a successful project (despite the delays) through which the children have had an opportunity not only to understand the work of an artist but also to talk about it through their PSHE, environmental and outdoor learning lessons.  It has also given parents and other members of the community a talking point.  The mural brightens up what was a very dull area within the playground.  There is still more for the school to do.  The parents have already donated money so that planters with seating around could be made and positioned in front of the mural.  The next step is for the children to pot up flowers and climbers in front so it becomes a ‘living’ mural.

You can watch it taking shape here.  

St Dominic Primary School Arts Project sponsored by LAS

The pupils of St Dominic Primary School, Saltash have just completed their project to create an exterior art installation for the school fence that can be viewed by the whole community.

Linked to their PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) as well as the art curriculum, every child from Early Years to Year 6 has been exploring what makes them unique as an individual and creating an image about themselves to reflect this.  Once the children had completed their designs they painted the image on a round piece of wood.  These ‘dots’ have been linked together to make a wave of personalities and hung on the school fence nearest the road.

The project was led by Shannon Angwin, the school’s Early Years teacher with the help of several parents.  One dad donated the round pieces of wood and one of the mothers worked with Shannon on the best medium for the children to use for an external installation.

The children were inspired and enthused by the project and from their faces it’s clear they’ve enjoyed themselves and had fun.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

'The story of the dot was inspiring'; 'I did mine in bright colours so it shows my bright personality'; It has been extremely fun to do the dots'; 'At first it was tricky to paint with acrylic but then with practise it got easier and easier'; 'I love seeing it on the way to the gate'; 'I like that we I get to look at them all together'; 'I think they look fantastic all together'; 'Can we do another project soon?'

As one teacher commented: 'I loved working with the younger children to help them to bring their drawings to life'.

Liskeard Arts Society’s contribution towards the costs allowed the school to purchase the resources needed to paint the ‘dots’, varnish them so they will survive the elements and attach them as a ‘wave’ on the fence.  A committee member thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school and seeing the work in progress before returning to see the installation on the fence.

This has clearly been a successful project through which the children have had an opportunity not only to develop further their artistic skills but also to reflect on who they are as a person.  They have had fun and will remember the work for a long time!  It has also given parents and other members of the community a talking point.  The ‘wave’ will be added to every year with the new intake as part of their PSHE lessons.

Photographs available to view in the Gallery Here

MENHENIOT PRIMARY SCHOOL ARTS PROJECT sponsored by LAS

The pupils of Menheniot Primary School have just completed a project with local artist Rachael Richardson who has run art workshops for each class during the school’s Art Week held in July.

The children created work linked to what they have been covering in the curriculum. The pupils have had the opportunity to work mainly with clay.  Year 6 took their inspiration from Barbara Hepworth sculptures.  Year 5 created frogs linked to the Amazon.  Year 4’s project led to a range of volcanoes being modelled whilst Year 3 made leaf mobiles.  For Year 2 it was sunflower bowls.  Finally, a mixed year group experimented not with clay but trying their hands at Chinese brush painting.

The children were inspired and enthused by working with Rachael.  This has helped to develop further their creativity and artistic skills.

Liskeard Arts Society’s contribution towards the costs allowed the school to fund Rachael to run the workshops.  A committee member thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school and seeing the work in progress before returning to see all the work on display in the exhibition open to parents and members of the community.

 Photographs available to view in the Gallery Here

Young Arts volunteers fundraise and give grants to arts projects for children and young people in their local area. In a time of cuts and changes to the national curriculum, this has never been more important. This group of volunteers aims to give more children and young people access to the arts.

Working with schools and local community groups, Young Arts volunteers support a wide range of projects.  They are passionate about the benefits that creativity and arts education can bring to children in early life and adolescence.

If anyone would like to suggest suitable Young Arts Projects, please contact the Young Arts Representative, Mary Utton, by email: liskeardarts@gmail.com

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