Working with the Learning Team

By Lucy Wheeler, Head of Learning

At Ikon, we offer a number of student placements each year across departments. Alex Buck, a student on the BA Art and Education Degree course at Newman University is currently working with us in the Learning team. Find out what Alex has been getting up to below:

‘A component of doing a BA Art and Education Degree Course at Newman University – which explores the practical aspects of art and design incorporated with the study of education both within internal (e.g. schools) and external (e.g.museum / gallery) settings – requires me to complete a work placement related to personal interests and future career goals. One of these interests surrounded the function of learning teams within gallery settings and their roles and impact within art education both for public visitors and school groups alike. The exploration and pursuit of arts and culture is also of importance. I strongly believe that this approach should be upheld and promoted not just for current but future generations too. This is why I believed Ikon to be the perfect complementary element to my course, as the gallery plays an active and engaging part in encouraging the introduction and availability of art to a wide audience and hosts a variety of events to further enrich connections and participation.

 

 

 

 

 

Working with the learning team at Ikon has quickly proven itself to be an incredible and invaluable experience, providing a unique range of industry and educational insights, particularly in regard to the engagement, promotion and processes surrounding art education. My existing involvement so far has also provided me the privilege and rare opportunity to work with a range of age groups during one time with a single institution – from early years to secondary level and family events.

Part of this experience includes supporting an artistic project with artist Oliver Beer, which involves the participation of a range of school groups – a grand total of 2500 children and young people – to reconstruct a section of Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book, in which film stills are distributed based on birth date and will then be rearranged in order and turned into a piece of film, beginning from early years through to 13 years of age. As a result, we are able to explore and observe the development in drawing and mark making across ages through the use of materials which we can all connect and engage with. Application of a variety of techniques (such as cross hatching) and vibrant colour schemes is encouraged to create exciting psychedelic results, with each child and young person’s contribution playing an important part in the overall outcome.’

Oliver Beer’s, I Wan’na be Like You (2016) will be shown at Ikon from 15 March – 4 June 2017.