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Global Arts Week a huge success!
Same Difference artists transformed the Royal School for the Deaf & Communication Disorders into three continents during a week of international art for children and young people of all abilities at the end of August.
105 children and young people aged between five and 16 took part in the ‘Same Difference’ global art project from 26 – 29 August. Young people of all abilities worked with professional artists to paint, print, draw and create art from around the world, sampling different music and cultures as they went.
Same Difference volunteer and participant work together during the Global Arts Week at the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders, August 2008: Richard Simpson
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The school was turned into three ‘zones’ – Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. In each area the children produced art based on the region, for example African masks and Palestinian tiles. On the last day they made a Same Difference postcard to be added to the main travelling exhibition and the Same Difference Gallery.
Dominic Tinner, Director of Development at the Royal School for the Deaf & Communication Disorders, said: “We were very excited to host the global arts project and it is wonderful to think that work produced by our students will join the exhibition and be seen by young people all over the world.”
Children and young people making art during the Same Difference Global Arts Week at the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders, August 2008: Richard Simpson
Children inspired at Southampton City Art Gallery
Pupils from Newbridge Junior School, St. Winifreds School and Paulsgrove Primary School took part in a Same Difference workshops at the City Art Gallery in Southampton in March.
During the workshops, the children produced their own Same Difference card, worked on a collaborative collage and learnt about life in Mali, West Africa.
Learning about life in Mali, Southampton City Art Gallery,
March 2008: Nicola Maule
The children worked in the gallery surrounded by wonderful modren art and next to the Same Difference exhibition. Mrs Jackson of Newbridge Junior School commented 'The pupils were inspired by the venue - working on the floor of the gallery. or most, this was their first visit to an art space. They loved looking at work from other cultures.'
Children working on their Same Difference cards in the inspirational surroundings of Southampton City Art Gallery, March 2008: Nicola Maule
The workshops were faciliated by Nicola Maule, who has previously worked for International Service in Mali and Burkina Faso . Nicola said 'It has been a pleasure to work on Same Difference, I loved it, as did everyone involved.'
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400 pupils from Windmill Primary School and Low Road Primary School in Leeds took part in a Global Week in February.
During the week the children participated in many activities including African drumming, story telling and art sessions based around a global theme. Ross and Barry from the Same Difference team devised art activities, trained teachers and ran art sessions in the school halls. The children also produced a film of the week.
An exhibition of the weeks work was visited by many invited guests including Hilary Benn MP and Chris Edwards, Chief Executive, Education Leeds.
Collage based on Leeds theme produced by pupils of Low Road Primary School
The final exhibition at Windmill Primary School
Same Difference prize winners announced!
The four lucky winners of the Same Difference competition have been announced. The winners are: Sam of New Craighall School, Edinburgh, Jordan of Niddriemill Primary School, Edinburgh, Fozia of Hunslet Moor Primary School, Leeds and Elias of St Michaels School, Birmingham.
The answers were: a vet, 7 million and Burkina Faso
Sam, Jordan, Fozia and Elias will each will receive Gift Vouchers worth £50 to purchase art materials so they can create more wonderful art!
The winners names were drawn by Hugh Bayley MP at the International Service offices in York.
Congratulations to all!
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Hugh Bayley MP with the four winning entry forms for the Same Difference competition:Ross Georgeson |
Same Difference at the British Council 2007 Annual Conference for Schools.
A Same Difference case study was used in the key note speech by David Gardner of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at the British Council 2007 Annual Conference for Schools and Local Authorities in London on 12 November 2007.
Same Difference art workshop, Nablus, Palestine, December 2007:
Ross Georgeson
Ross (the artist) has recently returned from Palestine. While there Ross worked with the following organisations:
- Princess Basma School and Rehabilitation Centre, Jerusalem
This was a small series of sessions for the teachers. - Burj Al Luqluq
This youth centre in Jerusalems Old City wanted Ross to provide a range of activities for the volunteers for working in summer camps in 2008. - Sharek Youth Forum
Sharek was originally launched in 1996 as a project implemented by UNDP-PAPP targeting youth development in Palestine. There were three sessions with volunteers and teachers. The first was in Arraba, the second and third were in Nablus and Hebron. The activities received press coverage in Al Quds newspaper. This was the first time International Service has worked with Sharek and it was a very positive experience.
- Spafford Centre
This is a rehabilitation centre in the Old City offering medical, psychosocial support and activities for non-disabled and disabled children. This was the first time International Service had worked with the centre. Four sessions were arranged, one with volunteers, two with the teachers, psychologists and social workers and one with kids. - A.M Qattan Foundation
The Centre for Educational Research and Development is in Ramallah. Ross had previously worked with the centre in Gaza but this is the first year with the West Bank centre.
The course this time was making puppets for teachers. There were over 100 applicants for the course. It was first done for artist/puppeteers through the cultural wing of the organisation and was requested by teachers for more educational purposes using simple materials.
The director has requested a course on Art & Science in 2008. It will target school teachers and introduce a more cross-curricular approach to the training they will have received in becoming teachers.
In May, June and July 2008 the Same Difference project is going to work with Sharek Youth Forum in producing an exhibition that connects childrens work from the West Bank and Gaza. It aims to work in all of Shareks summer camps, between 15 and 20 and other partners working with International Service. The work will be initially exhibited in Jerusalem. Ramallah and Gaza. There is scope for it to travel further and depending on the climate of the situation could involve Israeli children.
Take a look at the gallery!
We have been overwhelmed with the response to the art workshops and some wonderful work has been produced in the UK and overseas.
Can you find your own card in the Gallery?
Children and young people making art during the Same Difference Global Arts Week at the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders, August 2008: Richard Simpson
Detail of collage produced at Southampton City Art Gallery, March 2008
Detail of Same Difference cards produced at Southampton City Art Gallery, March 2008
Torn paper tiles produced during Global Week on display at Windmill Primary School
Torn paper tiles and produced during Global Week on display at Low Road Primary School
Filling in the Same Difference competition at the White Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds: Shabana
Puppets made in a Same Difference art workshop at the A. M Qattan Foundation, Palestine, December 2007: Ross Georgeson
