The value of a residency

The value of engaging professional artists and craftspeople to work in schools is firmly established. Artists' residencies can benefit pupils, teachers, participating artists and the wider community by offering opportunities to bring together adults and young people in a special event or activity. They provide pupils with the chance to:-

• experience professional practice at first hand
• develop their ability to articulate and communicate ideas, opinions and feelings about their own and others' work (pupils and professional artists)
• make connections between their own work and that of professional artists and craftspeople
• work with or without reference to the National Curriculum.

Teachers can:-

• gain new skills or explore new areas of working, e.g. silk-screen printing, carving, painting
• construct new projects working with another professional adult
• focus on the critical and historical studies element of the art and design syllabus
• gain new perspectives on the existing school art and display policy.

For artists and craftspeople, residencies provide employment and enable them to:-

• share their skills
• reach new audiences by exhibiting their work
• communicate ideas about contemporary visual arts and crafts