We hosted a series of three-day art based workshops for three groups of children aged 8 and 11 the work of which culminated in a weekend exhibition at Greve de Lecq Barracks later that month. ArtHouse Jersey worked closely with CYPES and three St Helier based primary schools to ensure that the opportunity has been extended to children who stand to benefit the most from participating. Some have been selected because they show particular promise in the arts, whilst others because ordinarily they’d not have the opportunity to be involved in such an initiative.

(Video: Some of the facilitators & children tell us what they made of the ‘You Me & The Sea’ experience.)

The project was designed to encourage students to build confidence, harness their imaginations and work as a team to create pieces of art that they can be proud of and share with their family and the wider community. Throughout the workshop, students took part in activities such as sculpting, painting, printmaking and sketching. Alongside the art based activities, children are also visiting the beach each day and taking part in Jersey Marine Conservation’s ‘Butterfield Marine Watch’, exploring local rock pools and becoming creatively inspired by their surrounding environment. 

The workshop curriculum was designed by Jacque Rutter with support from Karen Le Roy Harris and has benefitted from the input of the Senior Adviser for Curriculum (CYPES) Kate Sugden. The project ran as a pilot with plans for it to be rolled out to more students in the future. As such, ArtHouse Jersey has recruited two assistant teachers George Crane and Amber Hahn who, alongside supporting the children, will receive expert guidance and training to prepare them to become creative workshop facilitators in the future. 

ArtHouse Jersey would like to say an enormous thank you to Waitrose Red Houses who are generously providing nutritious lunches for the students throughout the workshops to ensure that they have the energy to sustain their creativity. Jersey Water also kindly provided reusable water bottles to help the children reduce the use of single use plastic while Homefields Farm supplied delicious fresh fruit boxes for all the children taking part to enjoy. Finally, a special thanks to the Association of Jersey Charities for the grant of £30,000 which helps pay for ArtHouse Jersey’s Community Producer, a role that enables this kind of work to happen for people in the Island from all walks of life.