Our creative learning sessions offer a range of artist-led activities for different age groups inlcuding children and young people. We build activities around our exhibitions, projects and events in order to engage people and offer access to a new and engaging experience of contemporary art. Our activities link children, young people and adults to different creative processes, practices, ideas and technology. Our workshops encourage self-expression enabling a feeling of empowerment, self-worth and identity. Everyone achieves something within a session, experiences art practice and ways of seeing and making. Sessions can build social networks and a knowledge of the development of the Art Station as a resource and asset for the local community.
We are working with local schools, colleges and the University of Suffolk to engage students in creative thinking and to increase skills and ways of communicating visually. Our activities for children and young people also offer transferable skills which help in other subjects and career pathways: visualisation, communication, team-working, presentation. Seeing an idea through from its conception to designing, making and presenting an art/tech work enables decision-making, learning to take creative risks and teaches students how to use initiative and be innovative – all skills that are needed in order to progress in higher education and in any job sector.
Art Station is working in partnership with Britten Pears Art to lead on the creation of a new East Suffolk Local Education Partnership which will bring together schools and colleges with all the cultural organisations and practitioners in East Suffolk to ensure that all children and young people have access to high quality cultural and creative learning.
We’re currently offering enrichment sessions to SET Saxmundham students and also working with Saxmundham Primary School. For Connection Points, University of Suffolk students recently formed a team of assistants working with artist Fiona Grady to install a large scale art work across our panorama of windows – offering them useful professional experience in design, installation, and working as a creative team.
We regularly offer workshops and talks for sixth form students studying art, design or photography so that they can meet professional artists and learn about their work and what career paths the students themselves can take into the creative industries.
Each year we aim to provide 6 work experience places for students for either 2 weeks or 1 month. Students are asked to respond to a brief and structure their own project to a successful outcome. In 2020/21 we supported 6 young people aged 18-23 in paid work placements for six months and supported five of them into full time employment with a diverse range of employers in Suffolk. Next year, 2023, we want to support 1 creative internship and 2 work placments to support young people for six months with transferable skills and with the transition into employment.
Left: A short film by a group of SET Saxmundham students about Hayfever Dream – a week-long event organised by The Art Station Programme Assistant team in which a group of young people (aged 16-24) respond to the highs, lows and funny parts of growing up in a rural area. This film was created during an enrichment workshop led by filmmaker Lewis Wickwar at The Art Station. Other sessions have been led by artists including JMC Anderson, Fiona Grady, Les Bicknell and sound artist Loula Yorke.
Fun online art, coding and yoga activities and resources for children and families.
Interested in robots and computer games? Want to learn more about how they work and have a go at using computer tech in creative ways? Sign up for a 6 week course delivered by Creative Computer Club, teaching a variety of engaging coding and tech skills for children and young people!
In this course learn 2D game development and design graphics and sound effects to build a complete Space Shooter Game!
MAKE YOUR OWN MINI ARCADE GAME. VIDEO TUTORIAL
Artists Emily Godden and Ann-Marie James, have taken inspiration from Dr Seuss’s Oh The Places You’ll Go! to help you make your own mini arcade game using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.
20-30 mins creative fun activities for children: make, paint, shape and draw!
Downloadable 10 minute videos for children 5-11 and families.
Create your yoga animal shapes and start the day with a stretch.