Ambassadors Network

TV company Mentorn media is looking for inspirational children and young people whose stories they could follow for a documentary they're producing for ITV 1, provisionally entitled "The Children of Britain."

The programme will be a portrait of children in Britain today that celebrates children and young people, and puts their lives and achievements in the spotlight. They are looking for children aged 6-14 whose stories reflect a range of different backgrounds and experiences.

They are looking for:

A Young Carer: a child or young person who is caring for a member of their family who has a physical disability.

A child with a creative passion or a talent that they are pursuing to a high level: someone who is extraordinary not just because of their potential, but because of the circumstances in which they are realising it.

A child from a refugee or asylum-seeking family who are new to Britain: someone who, despite the challenges of linguistic and cultural adjustment, is thriving, and has big dreams and ambitions for the future.

A child or young person who has felt at risk of offending, or who has offended before, but who is pursuing a new goal in life, no matter how big or small.

If this sounds like someone you know, and they are aged between 6-14, then they would like to hear from you. Please get in touch with Sarah: srobinson@mentorn.tv, or Sian, srobins-grace@mentorn.tv. Or you can call 0207 258 6823 or 0207 258 6725.

We have five Angel of the North Information Packs to give away to schools.

Published by Gateshead Council Arts Development Team in 2003, these packs introduce public art in Gateshead, detail some of the ways education and outreach groups have worked with the Angel, and include design drawings and statistics about the Angel.

If you would like an information pack please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk with your school address.

Arts Award is delighted to be working with the Royal Shakespeare Company to offer Shakespeare Challenge, an exciting programme for those interested in exploring Shakespeare through their Bronze Arts Award.

2009-2010 saw a successful pilot with 10 schools, and the Shakespeare Challenge is now available to all Arts Award centres.

For the Shakespeare Challenge young people are encouraged to engage with Shakespeare's language through a practical exploration of the plays and through experiencing live performance. The Challenge also encourages young people to share their knowledge and passion to other individuals or groups in a younger age range.

To find out more about completing the Shakespeare Challenge and getting Bronze Arts Award click here.

Is your school not yet an Arts Award centre? Click here to find out about becoming a centre and training as an adviser.

There is support available through the Arts Award Access Fund - small grants of up to £500 for disadvantaged groups wanting to work with artists or visit arts events as part of achieving an Arts Award. Deadline for application-15 October 2010.

Read on for more information including contact details...

As part of the Community Access Scheme 2010, FREE holiday activities for all age ranges will be on offer at Fell Dyke and Brighton Avenue Primary Schools, and Joseph Swan School this summer including football, rugby, basketball and many more.

This summer Fell Dyke Community Primary School and Brighton Avenue Primary School will be joined by Joseph Swan School in opening their grounds to the public for free use of their outdoor facilities and equipment, providing children, young people and their families with a safe place to play at the heart of their community.

View details of activities at the three schools.

Fellside Community Primary School has used the Cultural Ambassadors' Grant to work with The Bare Toed Dance Company. Here Cultural Ambassador Jane Armstrong, and her colleague Sarah Balkwell describe the project:

Key Stage One were working on a topic called Fire! Fire! So the workshop was based on the movement of flames and the events of The Great Fire of Gateshead. Jo bought with her some fabulous resources - flame coloured chiffon scarves were used as emerging flickering, dancing flames that grew in the raging winds and finally died down into slow moving embers. Sheets of lycra were used to create shapes emerging from burning buildings, movements to suggest frantic and controlled rescues were developed and a story in dance was slowly built up.

 As teachers we were keen to look how resources were used and incorporated into dance sessions to stimulate ideas and help illustrate them and we took away with us a recognition that in school such collection of resources should be developed beyond our much used 'parachute'.

The 2005 River Festival Education website was created for the 2005 Tall Ships Races and is archived within NGI's website. It contains valuable resources for history teaching including fascinating old photographs and the story of Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside. The site will shortly disappear for good - possibly by early May - but you can save and print these useful resources if you get there first!

Please make History staff in your school aware of this resource. If you have difficulty, contact the site's creator by emailing alison.stancliffe@newcastle.gov.uk

Heritage workshops and training

Newcastle Community Heritage Project offers a variety of workshops for families, Early Years & Primary School, Secondary School, Higher Education and teacher training. They are also looking for teachers to help them plan an exciting French language trail for KS2 and 3 in the Ouseburn Valley. If you or your colleagues can help please contact alison.stancliffe@newcastle.gov.uk

World Cancer Research Fund is encouraging everyone to get involved in Fruity Friday next month! Why not organise a fundraising day in your setting? Click here for ideas for healthy eating themed assemblies, which can be used year round.

If you're planning to celebrate Fruity Friday please let us know by leaving a comment below....

This summer holiday, Kids Kabin in Walker is offering a week of exciting opportunities for ages 8+. Please include the following in your letters home to families:

The week of activities will take place 9am - 5pm between Monday 2 and Friday 6 August. Activities are for ages 8 - 16, and those age 17+ can volunteer to assist with the running of the programme.

Success For All has plenty of exciting activities for young people in Newcastle. The following activities run weekly during term time, and workshops can also be delivered in your setting. Please mention the following exciting activities to families you work with:

Manga Cartoon Club for 8 - 18 year olds

Monday 5:30-7:00pm at Millin Centre, 160 Ellesmere Road, Benwell, NE4 8TR

Friday 3:15-4:15pm at Walker Technology College, Middle Street, Walker, NE6 4BY

Solution Finder is an ever-expanding directory of information about the services available to children, young people and their families in Gateshead.

There are sections for children & young people, parents & carers, and professionals & practitioners to find the services, advice and facilities they need.

Bridgewater School has been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'How can the outside area be used to stimulate language and literacy development?'

Over the Spring term the school has been working with Cultural Partner Susan Warlock on designing and building the areas with Reception children. This has been followed by work with Malcolm Green on storytelling activities. The artists will be exploring and investigating the outdoor environment and incorporating the children's ideas into their plans.
Parents will be invited to join in at various points throughout the project and then at the end to celebrate the outcomes.
The creative agent helped explore ideas, identify potential artists and support the planning process and will support the evaluation.
The project reflects national initiatives in using the outdoor area to enhance learning.

Don't forget, you can apply for 2010/11 Creative Partnerships funding for your school up until 1 June!

Walkergate Primary School have been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'Can engaging pupils in activities to develop creativity support their global awareness and give them a better understanding of global citizenship?'

The lead artist, Mark Labrow will work primarily with Year 3 children and staff throughout the Spring term, providing imaginative and exciting interventions, which will be developed as child led enquiries. Mark has been selected for his expertise in developing creative approaches to teaching and his ability to stimulate children's imagination and enthusiasm. Mark will work closely with the two Year 3 teaching staff to support their development and confidence to work creatively and responsively to the children's interests and to incorporate the curriculum into a topic based Spring Term. Year 3 teachers have selected 'Transport' as their topic for the term and are now planning a global approach to broaden the scope of the theme. Both teachers will have opportunities to incorporate their individual interests into the project and will work across Year 3 to maximize their specific skills and share their learning and experiences. Mark will use his skills to support this development by providing additional creative experiences in response to the children's and teachers needs.

Glynwood Primary School have been working on the Enquiry Question, 'How can we raise imagination and motivation to write?'

The project's main focus will be writing, speaking and listening and drama. The creative practitioners will work with Year 5 over nine days between January and February and will develop child led process;
* To increase motivation and engagement in our learners
* To expand horizons and promote self esteem.
* To foster an appreciation and celebration of otherness/difference
* To increase confidence and ambition
* To develop positive relationships

Don't forget to apply for your Creative Partnerships funding by 1 June!

Stocksfield Avenue Primary School have been looking at the ways in which the Creative Curriculum will impact on children's writing.

Children and staff in Years 3 and 4 will be involved in a study of The Romans, during the Spring Term 2010. The children will carry out research into Roman history and through involvement with creative partners, explore the lives of centurians, slaves etc. Visits to the Roman site at Arbeia will add a further dimension to this work and the children will be involved in a range of dramatic activities during the day.

The children will also work with a ceramic artist to link with the idea of mosaics and Roman art. To add to the creative aspect of the project, the areas around the four classrooms will be given a Roman theme, as working with another creative partner, the children turn the shared space into a Roman town. All the activities will be brought together at the end of the Project as the pupils perform an Assembly for their parents and hold a Roman day, when they will dress up as Romans, have a Roman feast and invite parents to take part. There will be a great deal of practical art work taking place throughout the Project and parents will be encouraged to come in to school to support 'Making Days' and artistic ventures.

Don't forget to apply for your Creative Partnerships funding by 1 June!

Chillingham Road Primary School have been exploring the Enquiry Question, 'How can we use the local area as a basis for a creative cross curricular project to engage and enthuse learners in research, exploration and communication?'

The school will explore the background of local author Jack Common who attended Chillingham Road Primary in the early 1900s. Through doing so they will look at the heritage of the local area and devise a half-term's focus of work for year 3. The cross curricular approach to the work will excite and engage our hard to reach learners giving them a real reason to investigate, explore and communicate their findings. The experience will help children to make the jump from their years in KS1 developing the research and communication skills needed for progression to KS2 and beyond.

Read on to find out more about the project and how you can apply for Creative Partnerships funding.

St. Albans have been working on the Enquiry Question, 'How can we use an appreciation of other cultures to help develop and raise standards in communication, including oral and written skills?'

Staff want to do this through exploring folk tales - both from our own culture and those of others, so that children develop an appreciation of our similarities and differences, and the arts and traditions that make up a culture. We have refined it to give a focus on storytelling, to stimulate children's imaginations and through that their communication skills.

Watch this space for more news about the project, and don't forget you can apply for £3,000 funding by 1 June!

St. Oswald's are working with Creative Partnerships on the Enquiry Question, 'How can a creative exploration of other cultures increase our understanding and empathy of the diverse cultures within Reception class and beyond?'

The Enquiry will take place over a three week period. The school hopes to launch it with Mohua Kumar who will tell the children stories from India and will then encourage the children to retell the stories through movement and dance. Staff will follow this work in class with stories, music and art work. Mothers of some of the Indian children in the class will work with the children doing Indian cookery and crafts. 
The school also hopes to work with Lip Lee, who will continue the storytelling using shadow puppets. He will also share stories from China with the children. A mum from China is coming to work with the children looking at cooking and crafts. After each session Jyl Friggens will help staff to extend the ideas. After the second storyteller, Jyl will help the children to make puppets and use the school's own shadow screen to tell stories through the children's own movements, or by using puppets, or a combination of the two. At the end of week two and the beginning of week three Pascale Koyne will work with the children and listen to their ideas and help them to write and act out their own stories.One of the children's mums who is French is coming into school to sing some French songs with the children.

The Enquiry Question 'How do we effectively use creative approaches to develop an innovative and stimulating curriculum that inspires learning and promotes transferrable skills?' has been the focus of Creative Partnership at Fellside Primary.

Work with the costume designers will be over a concentrated period whilst the work with the animator will be over a longer period to ensure that staff and pupils have time to absorb, reflect and apply the knowledge gained with the support of the practitioner still available. The school plans on using costume design as a way to develop the understanding of different cultures using the focus of marriage for key stage 1 children, specifically years 1 & 2. It is hoped that the activity will offer support for a range of learning styles, leading to greater engagement and enjoyment for the children. Key stage 2 pupils in years 3 and 4 will work with an animator to develop staff and pupil skills. It is also hoped that the costume designer will work with year 5. Whilst focusing on a specific topic, the skills developed by staff will be used in other curriculum areas.

Emmaville Primary School have been working with Creative Partnerships on the Enquiry Question 'How can drama and creative thinking empower our pupils to be more effective learners?'

The project's activities will be drama based, working with outside practitioners in school. We would expect our drama activities to take place across the spring term, linking in with the curriculum areas covered during that time. Kirsty Newman is involved in the project, as Year 5/6 were identified as benefiting from wider creative experiences to impact on their literacy skills. She is also part of the arts faculty, which includes leading literacy throughout the school. We have planned for the Year 5/6 class Copenhagen to take part in the project. This may extend the rest of the phase group if possible or advantageous.

Kingston Park Primary School are using their Creative Partnerships project to 'find out if dance, music and creativity can be instrumental in raising standards in writing in Year 4'.

Year 4 will take part in a range of dance and music workshops with The Bare Toed Dance Company, designed to help them explore and develop ideas, leading to writing. These workshops will be part of the planned topic for the first half of the spring term, Our World Our Future. This topic has an environmental focus and the children will be learning about the global impact of rainforest destruction, pollution and waste as well as different cultures.

Larkspur Community Primary School have been using their Creative Partnerships funding to explore the Enquiry Question, 'Can the implementation of a creative curriculum help to raise the aspirations and achievements of children in Year 3?'

The activity will go through stages:
Stage 1: Finding out about growing of food
Stage 2: Finding out about shopping and commercial cooking of food
Stage 3: Cooking Food
Stage 4: Preparing a meal for other people.

National Glass Centre has lots of creative activities in store to keep kids happy this Easter holiday. From the under 5s, 'Little Artists' and family workshops in glass painting, glass mosaics and sandblasting with help from NGC's studio glass makers, to a fun printmaking workshop with artists Michelle Wood and Jacqueline Quinn, who are also showing some of their work in NGC's current exhibition, 'Aligned'. Children can explore NGC's fascinating glass building by following the Easter chick trail to reach an egg-cellent reward!

Little Artists (under 5's) Friday 9 April, 10.45am-12pm, £6

Easter Egg Trail Follow the Easter Chick's mystery trail throughout NGC to lead you to a chocolate egg reward! Friday 2 - Monday 11 April, 10am - 4pm, £2 per participant

Glass Fused Mosaics (age 6+) Tuesday 6 or Tuesday 13 April, 10-11am, £15

Glass Painting (age 5 +) Wednesday 7 April, 10-11am, £6 per child

Sandblasting (age 5+) Wednesday 14 April, 10-11.30am, £8.50

Family Printmaking Fun (age 10+) Saturday 24 April, drop in from 1-1.30pm or 2.30-3pm. Join artists Michelle Wood and Jacqueline Quinn for hands-on printmaking. Children will get creative and explore printmaking techniques including Mono print and Chine-collé.

To book a place at any of the workshops contact reception on 0191 515 555.

Bensham Grove Nursery School have recently visited Seven Stories, The Centre for Children's Books, for a special session with The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Here Cultural Ambassador Rose Davies reflects on the experience:

At Bensham Grove we ensure all children are offered a visit during the year before they go to primary school. The visits enhance the nursery curriculum by expanding children's experience. There is a special excitement about going on a coach and having a first packed lunch with nursery friends.   It is an important event which builds their self esteem.  We believe it is a key experience which helps prepare them for the transition to school the following September.  The first school trip is also a milestone for parents as they trust their children to the care of the nursery staff.

In preparation for the visit we read the story The tiger who came for tea to the children.  We didn't have duel language versions but we lent the children who speak English as an additional language a copy of the book to take home so that they could become more familiar with the story, translated into their home language by their parents.   In the home corner we set out the porcelain tea set and a soft toy tiger.

Outdoor learning opportunities have been the focus of Hilton Primary's Creative Partnerships project. Using the Enquiry Question, 'How can out of classroom learning opportunities re-engage and enthuse pupils who currently see no relevance in the curriculum?'

The school identified a courtyard space within the school as the 'Wild Wood' which they will focus the project around. The courtyard space has had some investment in the past and has become slightly neglected. There are established willow trees and a pathway leading through it, however the space does not have a focus or identity within the school.

Read on to find out more about the project...

Fell Dyke Primary School have been working with Creative Partnerships on the provocation, 'Can solving a 'real life' school issue engage children in their learning, especially Year 4 boys from emotionally, socially and economically vulnerable families?'

The targeted children in Year 4 will act as 'project managers' and lead the rest of the year group as they explore the possibilities of creating an exciting forest school on our site. They will have a forest adventure of their own in order to generate ideas for the school's plans and will visit children in other settings who have created outdoor environments on a similar theme.

Kells Lane Primary School have been working with South African dance group, Caliber, as part of the Swallows Partnership. This forms part of a project linking artists and performers from Port Elizabeth, on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with communities in North East England.

Fifty-eight Year 5 children worked with the dancers over two days. The dancers performed for the children which instantly engaged their interest, although their focus was on the children's creative expression. Teacher Paul McIntosh said, 'The dancers' enthusiasm was infectious and made the children feel like they could achieve anything, and gave the children lots of confidence and encouragement. I liked the fact that there was a team of dancers and that they worked with small groups of children rather than it being a class focus'.

The children were divided into girl and boy groups and worked with some of the dancers, who focused on the children's ideas and brought out their creativity. During the afternoon, the class put each of their dances together and created a final dance, followed by a question and answer session with the dancers. The dance was performed for a full audience of parents at the Spring Concert on Friday, alongside other year groups who have been focusing on various countries. These included the African drumming afterschool club, which has been led by Cultural Partner Arts Isiziba.

The children thought it was an amazing experience and enjoyed creating their own dances, with some of them commenting that it was the best thing they've been a part of in Year 5.

Whickham School has also been using its Creative Partnerships funding to explore outdoor learning, using the provocation 'How can we use outdoor space to create an environment which will enhance pupils' learning experiences?'

Whickham School sees the project as leading to a tangible benefit in the medium long term for pupils who will see the spaces being of benefit until the projected re-build in 2012. It is also expected to be a means of increasing parental and community involvement. Pupils will be designing a Parental Perception Survey, and consultation exercise, and ideas will be disseminated to parents and the wider community through the newsletter.
Those involved will be Year 7 pupils, and form teachers, teachers within English and other curriculum areas, specialist artists, parents, the wider community and Creative Partnerships.

Monkchester Road Nursery School has been working on a Creative Partnerships project, exploring the Enquiry Question 'Will the creation of stimulating outdoor environments encourage language development and spontaneous storymaking?'

The project will explore of the outdoor spaces surrounding the nursery. Children's narratives, their ideas and interests will be documented, and these will form the basis of a series of story trails, suggestions and stimuli around the nursery. There will be open ended provocations which can be investigated with the children's stories and meaning making as they arise.

Like several other Newcastle and Gateshead schools, The Drive have used their Creative Partnerships funding to explore the possibilities of outdoor learning.

The Drive focused on the question 'How can the development of an outdoor learning space, and the understanding of how it might be used, contribute to creativity in teaching and learning?'

Read on to find out about this project, and don't forget to visit the Creative Partnerships website to find out how your school can get funding for creative projects.

Kells Lane Primary School has received funding from Creative Partnerships to explore how they can use outdoor learning space. The school is working on the Enquiry Question 'What impact does the design, development and use of a creative space for outdoor learning have upon the development of literacy skills in a group of Foundation pupils?'

Self Evaluation has identified literacy as an area in need of development at Foundation stage.
There is also the need to adopt appropriate responses to the NLS. This project aims to help build pedagogy with the needs of pupils at its heart.

Read on to find out more about the project at Kell's Lane. Don't forget that you can apply for funding from Creative Partnerships.

As part of Creative Partnerships, Gibside School has been working on the Enquiry Question ' Does using song and music to support the curriculum encourage enthusiasm to learn?'

Gibside will work with an established musician Steve Jinski, who, together with the staff and children will explore the potential of using song and music to enable children to become more enthusiastic learners, to enable them to access the curriculum in different ways and to enrich their learning.There will be an strong emphasis on CPD for the staff to enable them to develop the confidence to sustain this way of working beyond the end of the project.

Read on to find out more about Gibside School's Creative Partnerships project...

Don't forget, you can apply for funding to explore a creative approach in your school!

Schools in Newcastle and Gateshead are encouraged to apply to become an Enquiry School with Creative Partnerships. This allows you to explore, over the course of academic year 2010/11, how creative learning and teaching can enhance your practice. £3,000 funding is available, to be matched by £1,000 from the school, and applications must be made by 1 June 2010.

The Creative Partnerships website is full of information about how it works and what can be done with the money. In addition, we'll be showcasing Newcastle and Gateshead schools that are currently involved in a Creative Partnerships Enquiry Project... Watch this space for inspiring stories of how local schools are developing their creative approaches.

We'd like to organise an Ambassadors' Networking event in June, but first we want to know what you'd like... The event will take place at Gateshead Old Town Hall (near the Sage Gateshead and Gateshead Metro) and is likely to be between 4 and 6pm one weekday in June. Please take a moment to let us know which of the following you'd be interested in. Please leave a comment or email Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk by Wednesday 29 March:

1. Carnival themed event - a chance to hear from an Ambassador about their experience of working with artists to create a carnival event in school. This would be followed by a session with an artist, in which you'd learn how to make a simple carnival mask. There would be an emphasis on simple technique and affordable materials, to maximise your chances of being able to recreate the activity in your setting.

2. Scrapbooking - Suitable for anyone working with 3 to 11 year olds, this would involve hearing from an Ambassador about how they've used scrapbooks to strengthen the home-school link. This would be followed by a session with an artist in which you'd learn simple and effective scrapbooking techniques that you could use with children in your setting, whether it's a school, nursery, youth group or children's centre.

3. China themed event - a chance to hear from an Ambassador about how they've used Chinese arts and crafts in their school. This would be followed by a session with an artist in which you'd learn a Chinese craft technique, using paper, which you could deliver in your own setting.

4. If you are not interested in any of the above events please let me know - all feedback is useful and I'd be interested to hear if you have a suggestion of another event that you'd prefer.

The Cedars School used their grant to create a mural with artist Gavin Mayhew. Here Art teacher Alan Finn reports on the experience: 

Cedars School Sports College were lucky enough to receive a Cultural Ambassadors Grant for creative activity. We decided to transform a plain unappealing wall in the school play ground by painting a colourful mural on it.

We found artist Gavin Mayhew, an artist who has worked on school murals in the past.  The pupils have really enjoyed being involved in working with a 'real' artist, they were very enthusiastic about creating their own ideas and then transferring them into a large mural. 

Now that it is finished the pupils at Cedars have described the mural as 'awesome ' and ' wicked '! It is bright, colourful and full of life very much like the students at Cedars school.

In 2005 this guide was compiled by Gateshead Council Arts Team, following consultation with Council departments, external bodies, Cultural Partners and teachers. It is designed for use by any staff bringing an artist into their learning setting. If you have any feedback or would like further information please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk / 0191 433 6920.

Lucy Carlton-Walker's recycled sculpture workshops, Landscapes of the Future, are booking up fast!

Key Stage Two classes at Glynwood Primary, Waverley Primary, Walkergate Primary and Oakfield Juniors will each spend a day working with Lucy, building sculptures of their community as they think it may look fifty years from now. Watch this space for photographs of their creations...

One workshop is still available for a Key Stage Two class in Newcastle or Gateshead on Wednesday 28 April. Click here to find out more about the workshops and to book.

Susan Warlock, Artist in the Community has been delivering environmental art workshops at Bill Quay Primary School. Here Susan describes the project:

I had been asked to run a series of art workshops with Year 2 based loosely on the environment. For this first session I focused on introducing the children to land art, using two English artists; Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long as inspiration.

The children enjoyed looking at the images I had brought as I explained to them how these two artists used natural materials such as wood, bark, grass, and stone to create often very temporary sculptures only leaving behind photographs of the work as a record.

I provided the children with a selection of natural materials including paper straws, wooden sticks and ceramic beads and they set about creating their own individual patterns. The class took to this task very well and made lots of beautiful and quite complex work. They made and remade their work and didn't mind that it was temporary as I assured them that I would take photographs of it as a permanent record.

Artist Lucy Carlton-Walker is offering Gateshead Ambassadors a sculpture workshop at a special introductory rate, and one lucky Ambassador will even get the workshop for free! Lucy's sculpture workshop, Landscapes of the Future, focuses on how our environments are continually changing, and how everyday objects can be creatively recycled to become part of the planet. The aim is to encourage and improve a range of skills through exploration of contemporary art. This will be done using a cross-curricular approach, with recycling as the key theme.

The workshop will encourage the participants to consider how they think a town might look in 2060, fifty years from now. They will be asked to consider what we need to survive in our environment and what we currently take for granted, and to think what they would want their future landscape to look like and how they would live within it.

After being nominated by the public, The Great North Museum has been shortlisted for The Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award. The 2010 Manifesto has been compiled from families' suggestions of ways in which museums can offer fantastic experiences. It's a practical and powerful tool to encourage and support museums and galleries around the country to make family visits more enjoyable.

How your family can get involved: From the shortlist, families will decide on this year's winner. Each shortlisted museum will be visited, anonymously, by several families of all shapes and sizes. They will measure the museum against the Kids in Museums Manifesto - 20 ways to make a museum family friendly - compiled entirely from visitors' comments. If you'd like to be considered as a judging family for the Award, just email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk

Have you had a great time visiting a museum with children or young people? Why not leave a comment about it!

Fell Dyke Primary School was given a Cultural Ambassadors' grant for their silk painting project, which linked to a school in Uganda. Here Cultural Ambassador Irene Johnson describes the project:

Our school sponsors a teacher at the Hands of Love Orphanage and School in Uganda. The school has over 300 orphaned children who are cared for and taught by dedicated staff who receive no salary unless they are sponsored.

For our Ambassadors Grant project we worked with an artist named Brigid Scott and Family Learning. Brigid worked for six sessions with children, parents and two grandparents to make silk painted banners. One of the banners is displayed in school the other was sent to the orphanage school in Uganda.

The parents and children worked on the designs incorporating the logos of the two schools and 'hands of love' across the middle of the banner.

We had previously received pictures drawn by the children in Uganda and incorporated them into the design. The children made their own pictures of things that are special to them to be included in the banner. The children ranged in age from the Reception Class to Year 6 and everyone, parents and children, were involved in the design and painting of the banner.

The children also wrote letters to the children in Uganda explaining how they had made the banners.  We look forward to hearing that it arrived safely but this may take some time as communication is often difficult.

Watch this space for news of how the other grants were spent!...

Future funding opportunities will be announced in the fortnightly e-bulletins.

Crossroads Care for Young Carers have been working with artist Ruth Gowland to create a felt wall hanging. Here's their report of the project: 

The group decided that the theme for our hanging would be based on caring (positive and negative aspects), 'helping hands' and the local area and environment.  Many hands went into this creation.  The felt was handmade from marino wool.  Each piece is different and an expression of the individuals creativity.  Much of our inspiration came from personal caring experiences, walking in the local countryside and discussing what it is like to be a carer from the viewpoint of being a young carer and from the parents who are 'cared for'. 

As we walked around our centre we saw Red Kites which became very inspirational for the group as a symbol of 'freedom'.  We saw rainbows and sunshine as a reflection of 'hope'. 

We decided to express some positive words and phrases on our banners so that everyone could see them and the more negative feelings which came up have been written on cards and sealed within the small 'purses' stitched onto the banner and hidden away.  A couple of our young carers weren't able to come to the sessions but were still able to contribute as we provided the materials and instructions for them to use at home.  Some of the clients who attend the Daybreak service at our centre have also been part of this project, thoroughly enjoying the whole process of making the felt and seeing their finished pieces as part of our banner - spanning the generations!  Sitting alongside others who are in similar situations created an atmosphere of understanding and support.  Many of the mums really benefited from a time of sharing difficulties and common problems. 

Well done to everyone involved - we are very proud to have such beautiful art work to enjoy and many thanks to Ruth for all her hard work, dedication and patient spirit! 

In 2009 all Cultural Ambassadors were invited to apply for a grant of up to £250, which they could match fund to bring an artist into school or to pay for a creative CPD session.

Whickham School was one of the recipients of the grant, which they used to fund workshops with Cultural Partner Dylan Baker. Here is their report of the project:

The new Creative and Media Higher Diploma course got off to a great start last term thanks to our Cultural Ambassador Grant. Staff and students were privileged to work with Cultural Partner and photographer Dylan Baker, who provided an excellent learning experience for both staff and students. Indeed it was described as the best CPD event ever! Inspired by the Twilight novels, a theme of Dark Romance was chosen and this is how Louise from Year 10 described the day:-

"We visited Dylan Baker, a professional photographer, at his studio in Gilesgate, Durham to find out about his job, learn about photographic techniques and to take part in a fashion photo shoot.  Dylan organised a great day for us.  Firstly we worked with a make-up artist to create the Dark Romance look on the model. Once she was ready, we went out on location to nearby woods. While taking digital photographs of the model, who posed in a variety of places around the woods, we learnt about lighting, reflection, focus, composition and other photographic techniques. 

After lunch we took part in a second photo shoot back in the studio. This session was a head shot, aimed more towards beauty than fashion. Dylan taught us how to use a professional camera and equipment to enhance the quality of the photograph, such as the backdrop, spot lights and reflector. The photos will be displayed for public viewing soon.  We really enjoyed the day and would like to experience something similar again."

We can't praise Dylan highly enough for such a fabulous experience!

Watch this space for news of how the other grants were spent!...

Future funding opportunities will be announced in the fortnightly e-bulletins.

National Storytelling week takes place 1 - 7 February, and there are plenty of Cultural Partners available to help you mark the occasion!

Taffy Thomas has just been named the UK's first ever Laureate for Storytelling, and you can hear him at Seven Stories on Saturday 6 February. For details click here.

For details of storytellers available to visit your setting, please see your Directory of Cultural Partners, or contact your Network Coordinator: Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk

Are you wondering how to generate creativity in the classroom?

The Creative Partnerships 'Connect Through Creativity' market place event can help your school become wired up to new ways of learning.

Come along and meet with a variety of practitioners and organisations from the creative and cultural sectors across the region. Be inspired through our Creativity Workshops and get buzzing with new ideas for teaching. This is a chance to network with a wide variety of creative professionals, discover new approaches to learning and spark off your enthusiasm for creativity.

The event takes place on Wednesday 27 January 2010 at Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.

To book your place, please R.S.V.P. to andrew.thorp@twmuseums.org.uk before 15 January 2010.

In September 2009 the Play Providers Association (PPA) launched a scheme in which children across the UK will have access to £2m worth of free indoor play.

The Play4Life scheme is helping to deliver the active side of the government's Change4Life campaign, promoting healthier lifestyles among children. Indoor play centres have been found to help children develop socially, emotionally and physically, encouraging them to workout without realising it.

Ambassadors are invited to direct families to the Play Providers website, where they can find their nearest indoor play centre.

Windy Nook Primary School have enjoyed an International Arts Week as part of their Creative Curriculum.

Pictured are Year 5 / 6 pupils doing an African drumming and gumboot dance workshop with Cultural Partner Arts Isiziba. Year 3 / 4 enjoyed working with John Treherne from Gateshead Schools Music Service, who delivered a fun and informative French workshop, involving plenty of singing and dancing.

Each class chose a focus country for the week. They researched their country to produce booklets, flags and displays, and then took part in an 'International Cafe' to further their knowledge about their country and excite their tastebuds!
Parents joined in assemblies, classroom activities (such as work on the Chinese Zodiac) and cooking. The week was great fun for staff and children, one of whom commented, "I liked it when our mams, dads and Grandparents came into school to help us." Another pupil summed up the experience, saying "Yippee, the whole week was fun!"
Teachers agreed that the week was "totally engaging for the children". The chance to learn about others through various activities and a sponsored event made the week a valuable learning experience.
 

If you're planning an International Arts Week remember to contact your Network Coordinator for details of Cultural Partners you might like to work with: Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk

Artists and educators are invited to this one day conference at Alnwick Garden on Monday 28 September.

Delegates will explore the potential for playing, learning and working creatively in an outdoor environment. Based in Alnwick Garden's stunning grounds, this course will involve hands on experience of playing outdoors, presentations and discussion groups.

This event is organised by Sightlines Initiative, which advocates and demonstrates the development of creative and reflective early years pedagogy in the UK. For details of this conference and other events click here.

September 2009 begins The Year of Music

A national campaign to give every child the chance to get more from music, launched with  a week of activity and events across the country.

One of the days (likely to be Friday 11th September) will involve the creation of a Dawn Chorus, where commuters witness a morning of song and dance by children across the entire city of Newcastle in public places such Central Station and Tyne Bridge. Children will be taking over the airwaves, co-presenting on radio stations and reporting on the events happening around the city.

The year will showcase the wide range of musical experiences available to children and young people.  It will encourage them to find their talent and get involved in music.  They can work with professional musicians, DJs, orchestras, lyricists and performers.

If you have a group of young people who would like to take part, please contact Sarah-Jane King at Freud Communications;

phone 020 3003 6354, or email sarah-jane.king@freud.com

Action for Children's Arts is holding a regional seminar at Seven Stories, Newcastle, on Wednesday 23 September, 1.30 - 4.30pm.

This is one of a series of Action for Children's Arts events taking place across the country, giving everyone involved in children's arts - artists, producers, teachers, parents, local authorities, children's charities - the chance to meet each other, share ideas and contribute to a national campaign to promote the importance of the arts in children's lives.

Tickets are £15 for Action for Children's Arts members, and £25 for non members. To book or for further details click here.

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs in this competition, and with the deadline in the second week of the autumn term, its a great way for schools to get their year off to a creative start!

Primary, secondary and special schools in Gateshead are invited to design a decorative light to adorn Gateshead this winter.

Children are asked to draw a design based on a seasonal theme, and the winning design will be made into a light that will be displayed in Gateshead town centre. The winning design will be reproduced as a line drawing, as close to the original as possible. This drawing will be interpreted by Blanchere Illumination UK, to create a light using an aluminium frame and coloured rope light.

Read on for details of the fantastic prizes and how to enter!

On Tuesday 6 October, between 3.30 and 5pm, teachers are invited to come along and find out everything Seven Stories can offer their school. The event is completely free of charge and will be a chance to enjoy some refreshments whilst being amongst the first to view two fantastic new exhibitions!

The Judith Kerr exhibition opens in mid September, featuring much-loved classics The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, alongside the moving story of Judith's childhood as a refugee. Meanwhile, a celebration of T.S.Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, including a new edition illustrated by Axel Scheffler opens in the Bookden on 1st October.

There are some fantastic family shows coming to The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle later this year!

The Gruffallo is set to delight family audiences on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August. Performances are at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

The Tales of Peter Rabbit promises plenty of friendly and familiar faces, including Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Tom Kitten. The performance will take place on Sunday 20 September at 2pm.

Older children and their families will be gripped by Skellig. Gateshead-born David Almond's bestseller is both eerie and magical, and this stage version promises to enchant audiences. Performances are at 10.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, and 7.30pm between 13 and 17 October.

To book any of these shows, click here.

The creative talents of Gateshead and Newcastle schools have been shining at Baltic. As part of Shine Children's Art Festival, schools were invited to share the creative projects they've been enjoying this year.

A visit to Gateshead Heritage @ St. Mary's inspired Cedars Sports College to create stained glass windows depicting the Angel of the North. Ravenswood Primary School took a sculptural approach, involving parents in creating a wide variety of sculptures with their children, whilst Whickham School took a contemporary approach to knitting, in a project that involved the whole school. Working on the theme of journeys, Newburn Manor Nursery School enjoyed exploring the world we live in, whilst Cardinal Hume School combined Photoshop and pinhole cameras to create some fascinatingly eerie images.

Congratulations to all the schools involved in this fantastic exhibition, which can be seen in the Quay space of Baltic. Please leave your comments below. For information about other Baltic projects you can get involved in, click here.

Children and adults are invited to join Cultural Partner Steve Marshall to create a panoramic drawing of Saltwell Park. No experience is necessary and all materials are provided at this fun and accessible workshop. Tickets are just £2 and should be booked by contacting HannahMackay@gateshead.gov.uk or telephoning 0191 433 6920.

Date: Saturday 15 August.

Time: 10am - 12 noon for 9 - 12 year olds. 1 - 3pm for adults.

Venue: Meet in the upstairs gallery of Saltwell Towers, Saltwell Park, Gateshead. The workshop will take place outdoors so please come dressed for the weather.

Gateshead schools are invited to the City Learning Centre's Poetry and Illustration festival between 14 and 18 September 2009. Professional poets and illustrators including Gez Walsh, Craig Bradley, Shoo Rayner and Rob Lewis will lead a series of workshops, which are sure to inspire children and teachers alike.

One session for a maximum of 35 children is available per school. Places are limited so be sure to book by telephoning Gateshead City Learning Centre on 0191 460 2900.

Click here to visit the Guardian's Creativity in the Classroom summer feature. This is a great place to share your news, projects and comments.

To get some exciting ideas from other teachers, have a look at the video, featuring an A to Z of teachers' creative classroom activities. And don't forget, we'd love to feature your news on this website - just email hello@cultureandcreativity.com

Are you an Artist, or a Cultural Organisation?

Do you offer educational workshops in Newcastle or Gateshead?

If so, please complete and return the attached form (revised for April 10) to apply to join the Network.

Cultural Partner form April10.pdf

(word.doc version of the form, in case you want to complete online:
Cultural Partner form April10.doc)

As a Partner
:you will be promoted in the Cultural Partners Directory,
:you can send information for our fortnightly ebulletin and print for our termly mailout,
:you can ask our Ambassadors questions - tell them what you do and ask them what they want.

Bare Toed Dance Company specialise in movement play and dance with the Early Years and primary school children. They have recently delivered a series of stimulating and inspiring workshops at Brandling Primary School as part of their Creative Partnerships project.

Pictured is the transport themed session for 3 - 5 year olds. Children enjoyed working with scarves and silk, whilst exploring various modes of transport to reinforce their class topic. There was a smile on every face for the duration of the session, which was well paced and structured, and ended with a relaxing meditation session. Sessions for older children were based on Romans and Ancient Egypt; Bare Toed can adapt sessions to any classroom topic.

Other Cultural Partners offering dance and movement based workshops include Dance City, DanceArtPlay, Melting Pot Arts and Gem Arts . For more details please see your Directory of Cultural Partners. You can also log into the Ambassadors Area of this website to chat to other Ambassadors about which Partners they recommend.

Spark Training is one of the latest Cultural Partners to offer drama workshops. Delivered by Jacqueline Hobson, workshops are based on 'The Fish! Philosophy'. Using this philosophy, Jacqueline uses drama as a motivational tool, to develop a positive, empowering environment for learning.

Jacqueline has recently delivered a series of workshops at St. Agnes Primary School in Ryton. Based on The Forest Child by Richard Edwards, the workshops explored characters and storytelling in a fun and stimulating atmosphere, culminating in a performance. Jacqueline also provides a teacher's resource pack, allowing Ambassadors to continue the workshop.

The network involves a number of drama-based Cultural Partners, including Live Theatre, Konflux Theatre in Education, Monster Productions and Patsy Burn. Full details can be found in the Directory of Cultural Partners. If you have not received this by post please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

If you're a Cultural Ambassador and you like something on this site, or you don't like it, or you want to see something else, please add your comments.

How - go to an article, click 'Comments' and send us your thoughts. We'll approve them and your name will be up on lights (sort of...)

If you're not an Ambassador but you want to know more, send a comment, or email hello@cultureandcreativity.com and we'll fill you in.

The network's only as good as the members and our members are great!

BALTIC is offering a free CPD session for primary school teachers, 12.30 - 4.30pm on Thursday 14 May.

Using BALTIC's A Duck for Mr. Darwin exhibition as a focus, you will be able to work with artists, to explore creative methods for evaluating learning, to work  with 'Dr. Maths' and with a consultant in emotional intelligence, exploring the potential of themed learning.

The event is completely free and includes a light lunch. For further information, or to book a place, please contact Helen Burns at: helenb@balticmill.com or phone 0191 4404929.

Now in its seventh year, The Children's Bookshow gives children the chance to experience the enthusiasm, energy and passion of some of today's top children's writers and illustrators, from familiar, well loved names, to exciting new ones.

As part of the Bookshow this year, Guo Yue and Clare Farrow will visit Newcastle to share their book Little Leap Foward. Children and teachers alike will delight in this event which focuses on the husband and wife team's moving acount of growing up in the Cultural Revolution of China. Based upon Yue's chjldhood in Beijing, A LIttle Leap Forward is a tale of family life and the ups and downs of friendship, which gives a fascinating insight into Mao Zedong's China.

Read on for details of free workshops for KS2 with Clare and Yue.

Join Cultural Partner Lip Lee for a free kite making workshop this Saturday 13 June. 5 - 12 year olds will learn some origami techniques to make spinners and kites, which they can fly in the park.

Lip regularly delivers origami and Chinese culture workshops in Newcastle and Gateshead schools. As well as a great chance to make a toy to take home, the workshop is an opportunity for Ambassadors to meet a Cultural Partner who is available to work with your learning setting, and discover techniques to use in the classroom.

To guarantee a place at the workshop please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or telephone 0191 433 6920. Some drop in places are also available, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Venue: Saltwell Towers, Saltwell Park

Time: 10am - 12.00 for 5 - 8 year olds, 1 - 3pm for 9 - 12 year olds.

Date: Saturday 13 June

NewcastleGateshead's festival for children and young people is back! Following the success of last year's exciting events, Juice 2009 promises even more enticing opportunities!

Between Thursday 22 October and Sunday 8 November, NewcastleGateshead will be bursting with events, performances and activities, celebrating the creativity of children and young people.

There will be a wealth of opportunities specifically for schools to join in with. You can subscribe to the mailing list, to ensure you're the first to hear the news. Photos from Juice 2008 can be viewed here.

Fans of Judith Kerr's classic picture book The Tiger Who Came to Tea will be delighted to learn that the tiger is coming to Newcastle! Following the success of the 2008 tour, the stage adaptation is coming to Theatre Royal, 15 - 18 April. Join Sophie, her mummy and their unexpected visitor for magic, sing along songs, and clumsy chaos!

Matinees: Wed 1.30pm, Thu & Sat 9.30am & 11.30am, Fri 10.30am & 1.30pm .

Buy tickets here 

For reviews and a sneak preview, visit the Tiger's website.

Free tickets are available for a post show talk by director and playwright David Wood. Join David on Saturday 18 April, 12.30 - 1.20pm, to learn about the challenges of adapting a picture book classic for stage. To book tickets for the talk please call 08448 11 21 21.

September sees the launch of Seven Stories' exhibition From The Tiger Who Came To Tea, to Mog and Pink Rabbit; a Judith Kerr Retrospective. Keep an eye on the Seven Stories website for all the latest news about this and other Seven Stories events.

The network includes many Cultural Partners who offer music based workshops. One of the latest to join is Stuart Freeland of BEAMworks. This exciting, accessible music technology workshop involves using a piece of equipment called a Soundbeam. Users - from toddlers to adults - use the Soundbeam to trigger notes, melodies, samples and sounds, by interrupting an invisible beam. Groups can record and distort their own voices, as well as create video or still image, which is triggered by the sound. Stuart recently delivered a BEAMworks workshop at Fell Dyke Primary School, where children delighted in creating music with the BEAMworks technology. The workshop provided a stimulating kinesthetic learning experience, whilst linking to Art & Design, Design & Technology, ICT, Music, Mathematics and PHSE.

Other Cultural Partners available for music based workshops with your learning setting include Arts Isiziba for African drumming sessions; Explore Music at the Sage Gateshead - a music research facility to compliment your visit to this world class music venue; Izon Audio Visual with their state of the art facilities where you can record your own music and video; Michaelmusic who can show you how to turn junk into musical instruments, and Piccolo Music's original singing and music sessions for under fives...

For details of any of our Cultural Partners, please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or telephone 0191 433 6920. To chat to other Ambassadors about Cultural Partners, login to the Ambassadors's Area.

Making Music North East invites choirs, individual singers, vocal leaders and conductors to the Big Spring Sing. This one day workshop is aimed at any singers interested in:

meeting other singers
developing their vocal technique
learning new repertoire
singing a major work.

The workshop takes place at The Education Village, Darlington, 10am - 5pm on Saturday 9 May. Discounts are available if you book early. For more info, visit Making Music North East.

Come and celebrate 'Light up the Countryside Week' by making a lantern! The week will culminate in a spectacular lantern parade at Watergate Forest Park, 7 - 8pm on Saturday 21 February. Why not bring along your lantern and join in, or just come and watch. Family lantern making workshops are taking place at the following venues:

Tuesday 17 February, 10am - 12 noon at Thornley Woodlands Centre.

Wednesday 18 February, 12noon -2pm at Saltwell Park.

Thursday 19 February, 1 - 3pm at Bill Quay Farm, and 2 - 4pm at Thornley Woodlands Centre.

Saturday 21 February, 6pm at Watergate Forest Park.

Workshop places cost £2 per person and must be booked in advance by calling 01207 545 212 or emailing countryside@gateshead.gov.uk

Yes, you read it correctly - your help is needed to knit a coat for a boat!

This unique project involves the commissioning of a purpose-built 20ft sailable Coble, which is being constructed by the crew at North East Maritime Trust, South Shields. Cultural Partner and Big Knitter Ingrid Wagner is leading the project forward, bringing an abundance of colour and passion for knitting, and generally helping to realise this fabulously surreal concept.

The project will come together to form an exhibition at Sandford Goudie Gallery at The Customs House, South Shields, in June '09 and the boat will be launched on the River Tyne in July! 

There is so much to do and so we need your help!  Whether you're a nifty knitter or just a beginner, plenty of nautical knitters are needed to help cast off the boat! If you already run a knitting group you could become a Knitting Coordinator, receiving full support from project leaders to create particular sections of the boat's coat.

The first Knitting Gathering is at 11am on Sunday 15 February at the Sandford Goudie Gallery, The Customs House, South Shields.There are plenty more events to come - for further information, please contact Esen Kaya, Visual Arts Development Officer at The Customs House, on 0191 4278199 or email esen@customshouse.co.uk

Culture and Creativity Cross-Curricular Working Party

Walker Tech's Ambassador, Caroline Gregorio, has taken her role at its name and started a regular meeting of teachers from across the school, to create a forum to stimulate creativity and share learning.

The first meeting was in January 2009. Teachers were asked to prepare by thinking about how they already use Creativity in their daily work. As anticipated everyone had a different approach to this activity, some brought lists, others retold anecdotes and one drew a mind map. What became clear was that everyone was inspired and had great examples of how culture and creativity help, whatever they teach.

The discussion went onto considering 'How to offer Culture and Creativity across the curriculum'. Everyone contributed by sharing their ideas and experiences - and a few chocolate biscuits helped along the way.

We left with some questions:
Are there some examples of successfully using culture in maths?
How to get access to a wider range of recommended creatives and artists who can come into school?

It was great to see the whole school engaging in the questions which we work with everyday in the Network, and to see a hard working Ambassador being appreciated for their voluntary role.

Thanks go to Walker Tech for inviting me along. (Caroline Pearce)

Creative Partnerships are inviting applications for maintained schools in England wishing to become Schools of Creativity. Schools will join a two-year project to raise educational standards and develop in students the skills that employers say they need, such as the ability to question, make connections, innovate, problem solve and reflect critically.

Schools of Creativity will receive £40,000 over two years, and a funded education consultant to develop and promote creative learning. Schools will be expected to contribute £5,000 a year to the scheme.

Schools can apply here by Friday 6 March. Gateshead schools wishing to apply should also notify Karolynnehart@gateshead.gov.uk. Newcastle schools should notify Jeanne.hale@newcastle.gov.uk Many thanks to everyone who has already registered their interest in becoming a Change School or School of Enquiry. We will let you know as soon as application forms become available...

We're giving away two family passes for Centre for Life, where there's plenty to explore, from DNA and the senses, to recycling and constellations.

Newcastle Science Fest kicks off in March and promises some exciting events - find out what liquid nitrogen icecream tastes like, have a go at making a rocket and discover the essential ingredients of elephants' toothpaste.

For your chance to win a family pass for Centre for Life, simply tell us how old Charles Darwin would have been this year. (You might find some clues here! ) Email your answer to Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

Baltic are offering Cultural Ambassadors a free twilight session of daring drawing! Join artist Louise Bradley to experiment with exciting drawing methods that you can take back to the classroom. Don't worry if you think you can't draw, all you need is enthusiasm, and Louise will show you the rest!

The session will run from 4 - 6pm on Thursday 19 March at Baltic. For more info or to book contact Helen Burns: Helenb@balticmill.com or phone 0191 440 4929. Don't forget, as with all Cultural Ambassadors events, you can send a colleague if you can't make it!

Celebrate the arrival of Spring with storyteller Chris Bostock and musician Richard Scott with Tales for the Turning Year on Tuesday 24 March. Join them at Clara Vale Village Hall to look towards spring and learn how the lamb outsmarted the wolf and what grandmother spider brought to the earth.  

There'll be participation a-plenty in this musical journey of stories from around the world.

Suitable for family audiences of 5+ Tickets are £3 / £1.50

Tickets available from Clara Vale Village Hall, Clara Vale, Ryton NE40 OJE or the Box Office, 0191 433 8420.

COMPETITION: We're giving away A bit of an Earful - a CD collection of traditional tales told by Chris Bostock with music by Graham Raine and Bridget Enever. Be the first to answer the following question correctly, by email to hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

Which season is being celebrated in Tales of the Turning Year?

The Shipley Art Gallery invites you to celebrate seventy years of Penguin design. Discover what a cover reveals about a book and find out how cover designs have changed over the years.

Children are invited to bring along their favourite books and have a go at re-designing the covers using illustration techniques.

The exhibition runs until 31 May 2009. Workshops can be booked on 0191 4771495.

Edinburgh-based Scottish Storytelling Centre is offering unique training in the use of storytelling throughout the school. 

Storytelling Schools: Whole School Approaches is a chance to hear from primary schools that have applied storytelling approaches through all stages of learning, with beneficial results. How might this work in your situation?

The workshop is on Tuesday 19th May 2009 10.00am - 3.30pm with Judy Paterson and Senga Munro. Tickets are £30 (£25 for network members), which includes lunch and refreshments. To book, call 0131 556 9579 email reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com

We're pleased to showcase the work of Konflux Theatre in Education, who are York-based, but travel all over the UK delivering workshops and performances. They use drama to develop a breadth of skills, such as confidence, citizenship, teamwork and concentration. Based on National Curriculum topics ranging from the environment to Shakespeare and history to healthy living, Konflux's 'Play in a Day' workshops are accessible to all.

Cultural Ambassador Vivienne Howell would like to share the latest cultural and creative activities at Whickham School...

Textile artist and Big Knitter, Ingrid Wagner worked with a group of Year 10 and Year 11 students on a two-day group project using recycled fabrics and yarn.

The project of course began with research, planning and preparation. Using "The Angel" as an inspiration and source, the students listed and discussed what the angel meant to them - powerful, embracing, trust, shelter, safety, security, proud, protecting, a landmark.

It was decided that the textile piece would be a panel made up of sections like the Angel's wings, which would then be used as a chair covering. This would demonstrate many of the Angel's qualities- somewhere to visit, to sit, to read or reflect; somewhere safe to snuggle into, to wrap around and embrace you; a monumental structure to offer protection.

From now on, we will regularly showcase a learning setting that has been engaging in cultural and creative activity. This month's is St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Gateshead, who have been keeping really busy in the run up to Christmas.

Year 5 enjoyed a print workshop with artist Raija Sinikka Patchett, whose work is currently on display at the Nordic Routes exhibition at the Gallery in Gateshead Central Library. The children enjoyed learning two printing techniques and produced some stunning winter scenes. Teachers and children alike learned something new and went home with several works of art, enthusing, "It was a dream day for me!", "This was the best trip in the world!" and, "I hope I can come back soon!"

It's been a busy term for St. Josephs; children have designed safety posters and anti-litter posters for Frank Haslam Builders, which are on display at nearby housing estates; Year Two have been getting creative making Christmas wreaths; and Year Four have enjoyed a visit to English Heritage site Bessie Surtee's house. It's been a term of performing arts for Year Six, who have composed and performed an anti bullying song at The Sage Gateshead, and created a play in a day at Cardinal Hume School.

The City Learning Centre has been the setting of some fantastic school visits: Reception have been programming their own robots, Year One have explored shape and space, Year Two have discovered North East heroes, and Year Six have stepped back in time to a WWII air raid shelter, complete with smoke and sirens.

Amidst all this there have been rehearsals for the Christmas show, a modern day take on the Nativity, entitled Email Jesus@bethlehem Congratulations, St. Joseph's, on the showcased school! Please leave your comments below... If you would like your learning setting featured on this website, please email Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk with your news!

We're pleased to introduce one of our latest Cultural Partners, New Line Graffiti. The group offer graffiti workshops to children and young people, giving them an opportunity to explore the artform and discover the positive impact it can have upon their space.

New Line Graffiti have recently completed a project with West Jesmond Primary School, at the school's temporary site. Concerned that unpleasant graffiti was frequently appearing in the playground, the school decided to commission the artists to run workshops that would fill the playground with the children's artwork.

The theme of 'the jungle' was chosen, and after a week of workshops with New Line Graffiti, the children had brought their playground to life with words, animals and plants based upon the theme.

The teachers, children and artists were thrilled with the results. "We've had a great five days working with some of the nicest and most enthusiastic children you could meet," said the artists, "They worked really well over the five days and we covered years three to six. The kids created some really great work and they all learned a lot, and more importantly had a great time whilst doing it!"

New Line Graffiti are available for workshops with children and young people of all ages. To find out how they can work with your learning setting, email Robby at info@newlinegraffiti.com or see the website www.newlinegraffiti.com

Artist Jane Swan, great granddaughter of Joseph Swan, has donated an original work of art to the school that shares the inventor's name. Jane is based in Cornwall, but travelled to Newcastle last year for the launch of The Joseph Swan Institute for Energy Research at Newcastle University. It was there that she met Headteacher Allan Fuller, and offered to create an artwork especially for the school.

The CCA Network's Fourth Culture in Education Showcase took place on Monday 2nd July. We had stall holders from some fantastic artistic and cultural organisations including Seven Stories, The Sage Gateshead, Baltic, Gem Arts, Tyne and Wear Museums, NE Regional Museum hub with their very popular freebie bags, Eye of the Fly and Dance City.

Teachers had the opportunity to try proggy matting, felt making, chinese painting, weaving with recycled materials, view DVDs of organisations work and pick up loads of information directly from organisations. The 2007 CIE Directory of cultural partners was also launched and given to attending teachers on the day.

We also had Monster Productions in costume, Emma Boor with her puppet show, 'Cinderella Green the Recycling Queen' and African drumming with Arts Isiziba and an after-school club from St Joseph's in Highfield, who all helped to entertained us.

I'd like to give a HUGE thank-you to the Stall Holders who were all fantastic, and I hope that the teachers enjoyed the day.

Please feel free to leave any comments on the Showcase or information on Stall Holders and I'll get back to you.

Help make your school bloom. Enter the Gateshead Council Summer Garden Competition and your schools’ efforts could be recognised whilst helping improve Gateshead’s environment for all to enjoy.

There are 3 area competitions to enter covering the whole of Gateshead each with the category – Best Kept Garden/ Class project. This category is open to all Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special schools in the area.

For further information contact Events Unit, Gateshead Council,
Sport & Leisure, Old Town Hall, West Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HE, or telephone 0191 433 6900.

You can no log on, find out what the ideal virtual school looks and sounds like on the Virtual Vision website and post a comment (scrolling to the Explore menu (right hand side) and clicking onto 'Thoughts and Ideas'):

Click onto:
www.virtual-vision.org

Virtual Vision - Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of June 2006

We invite you to review our flagship project, where Gateshead teachers worked one-to-one with our Cultural Partners to create a virtual creative school, creative curriculum and creative management model.

As part of Gateshead Council's priority on developing Education with Character, especially related to Culture, we built a network of Culture and Creativity Ambassador teachers (CCAs for short) within Gateshead Schools.
This initiative was launched on 3rd June 2003 at The Shipley Art Gallery. Our research has involved looking at various models of Ambassador schemes across the country and in Gotenburg, Sweden (a cultural partner with Gateshead). Due to demand, we welcomed all Early Years providers in Gateshead to join the network in Summer 2005.
Read on for more and see the full, updated list of teachers for Autumn 2005...