North East Combined Authority and Discover! Creative Careers organised a series of ‘Career Carousel’s’ across the North East, to inspire children to explore creative careers and show them how the things they love to do can translate into a career. In Northumberland, students were invited to Queen’s Hall Arts Centre to enjoy an engaging, hands-on day with professional creatives, gaining real insight into what a day in their career is really like. 

Workshops 

Northumberland schools were invited to bring groups of Year 9 pupils to participate in three hands on workshops with creative professionals. Workshops included a screen printing workshop with Creative Producer and Multimedia Participatory Artist, Emma Tominey, an introduction to scenic arts and prop-making with Backstage Builders CIC, an interactive dance workshop with  dancer and choreographer, Kristin Kelly Abbott and an introduction to theatre in unusual places, with Novo Theatres.

Some groups were able to try out the light and sound equipment with Queen’s Hall technicians, as well as attending an introduction to gallery curation, and a demonstration of stage and special effects makeup by Over the Winks.

The Panel

At the end of the workshops, pupils attended a panel discussions with Creative Director of Queen’s Hall, Katy Taylor, Helen Driver, curriculum lead of Art at Newcastle College, Steve Gilroy from the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries at Northumbria University and Trish Mayes, from Backstage Builders CIC.  The panel was led by playwright  Garry Lyons, and gave students the opportunity to ask questions about different pathways into the arts and creative industries, such as apprenticeships, college courses, university degrees, or more unconventional routes into the sector. 

The Maltings (Berwick) Trust’s creative engagement team delivered a series of workshops through April to May, working alongside Living Barracks Partners Berwick Archivist, Linda Bankier and King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ Veteran, Education and Outreach Officer, Peter McCutcheon.

The Dance workshops were delivered by West End performer Oli Brooks, and the team engaged with 10 local schools in a participatory workshop programme to commemorate VE Day 80th anniversary and inspire learning about WWII. The workshops were adapted towards the level of ability, and included pupils with additional support needs, ranging through the different year groups resulting in each class receiving a tailored educational experience. Despite initial time constraints, the collaboration was highly successful and led to pupils learning and engaging in with topic and with dance in a practical and interactive manner.

The Inspiration

The project emerged from an artist call-out for The Living Barracks project, a multi-partner programme to restore and redevelop Berwick Barracks including a cultural development strand of artist-led residencies and commissions which is produced by The Maltings (Berwick) Trust. The proposal from Martha Ellis combined large scale sculptural techniques with visible and inspiring outcome.

The project took place across 5 different schools from Year 4 to Year 12 pupils.  The artist adapted workshop methods to the level of ability some classes worked in teams to make one lantern, older pupils worked on individual pieces and pupils with additional needs focused on sensory elements to build collaborative lanterns.

The Inspiration

Children and teachers chose four artists to collaborate with to unearth stories linked to the mining and quarrying heritage of the area, including lead, coal and mineral mines. They explored the everyday lives of the workers and their families, as well as the impact of the industry on the region and beyond.

Each school researched the historically heavy industries in their area to find out about the people who worked there. In the first sessions, the children shared their research with the artist, and then through discussion, drawing, singing and drama workshops, the pupils began to co-create their artworks.

The project came about after a local Headteacher told us that the children in her school called the pit head wheel in their village ‘the bicycle wheel’.  She said “Few of the pupils have any understanding of mining.  It is the only visible relic of a local history that is disappearing rapidly.”

The Inspiration

The MELVA programme began life as a children’s theatre show in Christmas 2017, telling the story of nearly-11-year-old, Melva Mapletree, as she navigates her struggles with anxiety and bereavement (or ‘worrits’ as they’re known in her world). The play was developed in consultation with children, who helped shape the character and story at every stage. Following its initial success, the play was developed into a regional schools’ tour with wraparound activities, visiting 28 North East primary schools. When the pandemic hit, Mortal Fools acted fast to transform this live programme into a fully digital resource, and today, it is used by over 100 schools and reaches 1000s of children every year.

The Inspiration

The project specifically supported students who had been referred for support with their wellbeing and skills, due to a range of different needs and lived experiences (e.g., neurodivergence, social emotional & mental health, challenging family circumstances)

In working toward the Arts Award Explore, students made nature-based collages, imaginary maps, zines, and four soundscapes expressing their experiences of real and fantasy outdoors spaces using exploration of the actual outdoors to record Foley sound effects.

The Inspiration

The Eco Project was developed as a Textiles initiative that introduces students to natural dyeing and sustainable practices.

Students learned to use plant-based dyes to create meaningful artwork. Older pupils took on leadership roles, supporting a weekly Textiles Club and leading workshops at local primary schools.

The project expanded to include tailored schemes of work for both GCSE classes and primary cohorts. Collaboration with The Alnwick Garden enabled the project to culminate in a public exhibition and laid the foundation for future events, such as a proposed “Primary Planting Day.”