Slow Boat Journeys 2

In June, Slow Boat was moored up in Stourbridge, a West Midlands town renowned for its integral role in the glass industry during the industrial revolution.  

Here the boat hosted a series of print-making workshops for students at Glasshouse College, an independent specialist college, for young people with autism and complex needs. Artist Morgan Stockton facilitated a session exploring the relationship between nature and the natural landscape while the workshop with Fae Kilburn, a printmaker specialising in accessible workshops, explored mark-making through mono-printing.   

Groups of students from KEVI College Stourbridge visited the boat for workshops with artists Angelina May Davis, Ayesha Jones and Exodus Crooks. These sessions involved a mixture of film photography, painting, writing and collage.  

During this time, Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) visited Stourbridge Glass Museum and the Red House Glass Cone for tours which demonstrated the area’s rich glass heritage.  

Slow Boat then moved to Smethwick in July. Here Morgan Stockton also met with IYP for a collage workshop addressing the artist’s heritage – having been raised in Smethwick, she has strong family ties to the Chance Glassworks heritage site. 

In July, students from MA Arts and Education Practices, Birmingham City University, met on the boat to test out workshop ideas, including building terrariums.  

Also this month, IYP met with artist and writer James Kennedy for a walking tour around the former Bournville School of Visual Arts followed by a workshop and trip on Slow Boat, thinking about how we might reimagine and reuse old building and spaces.  

About Slow Boat

With the support of Freelands Foundation, over three years (2021-24) Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) navigates the waterways on board Slow Boat, a converted narrow boat. IYP are collaborating with creative thinkers and makers to reimagine Slow Boat as a local art school.