Cotswold Arts Through Schools
Announcing a new collaboration with "CATS"
I am delighted to announce that I am now working in collaboration with the Cotswold Arts Through Schools charitable organisation to deliver, on a freelance basis, art workshops in schools across the Cotswolds!
I am absolutely passionate about the importance of Art for wellbeing and think that it is a critical strand of education that, often through no fault of the schools, is largely neglected due to underfunding and other conflicting priorities.
I am excited to have this opportunity to share my love of creativity with the classes I teach, encouraging creative play and experimentation and giving children the the confidence and an outlet to express themselves through the Arts.
Abstract Workshops
I have reconfigured and simplified my abstract painting workshop to make it completely suitable for Primary School children and deliverable in just over an hour; this is now available as an option for schools across the area to select when they are working with CATS to deliver additional Arts Sessions to their children.
Depending on the number of classes and children, I will either be delivering these workshops solo, or teaming up with other artists to deliver a whole school programme. With three workshops a day and classes of up to 30 children I will be scaling up my delivery substantially and have hired my daughter as a Studio Technician on an ad hoc basis, to help with the preparation and washing up! (She is delighted to have the extra pocket money to spend... mainly on KPop!).
I am looking forward to having the opportunity to meet and work with other local artists, to deliver my Abstract Workshop as well as to learn and help deliver some of the other workshops from the diverse CATS portfolio... who knows what additional skills and ideas for my own work I will pick up along the way!
Work starts in earnest after Christmas, so in the Spring Term, and I am excited to bring you updates of which schools I have been working with and some of the artwork that the children have produced.
About Cotswold Arts Through Schools
Cotswolds Arts Through Schools (‘CATS’) works in partnership with professional artists, musicians and local arts organisations to deliver and develop the teaching of art, music, drama, dance, and oracy within local state schools.
What is CATS doing? Since our launch in 2023, CATS has:
Reached 60+ schools, expanding from just 20 in its first year
Engaged over 10,000 children in creative learning
Delivered 60+ different artist-led workshops in painting, sculpture, printing and design
Supported whole-school projects including murals, mosaics, and installations
Equipped schools with musical instruments
Placed music teachers in schools for weekly singing sessions
Organised opera workshops with Oxford Opera
Enabled choir performances
Supported dance in schools through The Royal Ballet School’s Primary Steps programme
Delivered drama workshops with The Theatre, Chipping Norton
Introduced African drumming and dance workshops
Launched Cultural History sessions with The Guild of Arts Scholars
Embedded oracy development in drama and opera, supported by the English Speaking Board
Provided teacher training (CPD) in 30+ schools
Restocked art cupboards, funded specialist materials, and covered transport costs so children could attend exhibitions and performances
Supported 34 schools to exhibit at Sculpture at Kingham Lodge 2025, attended by over 4,000 children
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