RSA ArtsFest

24 Jul RSA ArtsFest

On Wednesday 18^th July 2018 11 Arrow Vale pupils travelled to Whitley Academy, Coventry, to take part in ArtsFest 2018. The pupils worked together to start the day with some physical warm ups which instantly got the pupils working together and becoming spatially aware. The pupils then split off into their workshops: drama, music and visual art. In each of these workshops the pupils spent two sessions exploring the theme of belonging through their chosen medium. Pupils spent time looking at general dramatic ideas, musical composing techniques and ways of making “noise” and different art techniques and practitioners respectively. Through this research pupils then began to use this and their own ideas to create something new and exciting around the theme of belonging. This resulted in new, creative, innovative and imaginative pieces of art that could be viewed, performed or become involved with. The drama workshop created a piece of acting that incorporated physical theatre, narrative, group and individual work and dance inspiration. The pupils involved with this work showed their own beliefs and thoughts behind belonging through this. The music workshop performed their piece of music on devices that made “noise” and weren’t necessarily musical. The pupils created a work that involved percussion, electronic devices, vocals, polyphonic rhythms and improvisation. This work meant that it was unique and fresh. The pupils from Arrow Vale lead the polyphonic body percussion section that portrayed their “map” that showed belonging, which in this case was belonging to school and the layering up of the rhythms showed learning over time. The art workshop created robots that could move. These robots then created the art work through dragging paint across the canvas and through the coloured pens attached moving across the paper. This art work was inspired by Jackson Pollock and showed the pupils own ingenuity and creativity. Arrow Vale pupils created two robots named “Margaret” and “Derrick” which both contributed to the overall piece of art work.

The day was thoroughly enjoyable from all staff and students involved and highlights the commitment to the arts that Arrow Vale has and hopes to continue to inspire and motivate these pupils to be involved, be creative and be imaginative.

Mr M Leach – Teacher of Music