Search our website. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch at: hello@wearebluecabin.com.
Nine care-experienced children and young people from Gateshead have achieved their Arts Award Explore qualification, after taking part in four days of creative activities alongside professional artists.
Arts Award Explore is a nationally recognised, entry level arts qualification. The award recognises the children and young people’s achievements throughout the project, including their use of different artforms, their collaboration with professional artists and their exploration of local arts organisations.
The group were presented with their Arts Award certificates at a celebration event at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead, which was attended by friends and family members, and by staff from Gateshead Virtual School.
Arts Award adviser, Jane Gray, said: “All the children and young people worked really hard over the four days, developing their drama, pottery, and mask-making skills. It was a joy to be part of their creative journeys, and to see the wonderful work they created.”
The project, which was a partnership between Gateshead Virtual School and Blue Cabin, was designed to help the children and young people:
Over four days, the group worked alongside professional artists to invent characters and worlds from their imaginations, get an insight into creative careers, and find out about their local cultural organisations. They experienced theatre and mask-making with Blue Cabin associate artist, Pady O’Connor, and ceramics with artist Becky Mackenzie, through Mee Mee Theatre’s Worlds of Curiosity and Play.
Members of the group described their experience of the project as “the best thing ever,” and said “[I have learnt] to express myself through art.”
And carers described the benefits of the children and young people taking part, saying: “It’s great for their individuality, creativity, self-esteem, confidence building,” and “She made friends, more confident, expressed herself in the project and came up with ideas.”
Arts Award gives children and young people the opportunity to participate in and lead arts and cultural activity – and achieve a nationally-recognised qualification at the same time. It also helps develop confidence, communication skills, organisational skills and leadership, alongside arts and creative skills.
Blue Cabin offers a range of packages for virtual schools that want to help their children and young people achieve an Arts Award.
Our approach is trauma-informed and packages range from one-day sessions through to half-term and term-long programmes, suitable for pupils aged from five to 13.
