Art attack at Kaimhill School

08 November 2016

Pupils at Kaimhill School have gained recognised arts qualifications thanks to a week-long arts initiative which saw them participate in creative workshops, meet local artists and create their own artwork.

Primary One-Primary Three pupils gained Discover Awards; Primary Four-Primary Six pupils achieved Explore Awards and Primary Seven pupils received Bronze Awards – all of which are accredited by Trinity College London.

The Arts Award Takeover! was led by social enterprise See Think Make, which delivers training and support to schools, arts organisations, libraries, museums and youth groups who want to accredit their creative activity for young people aged 0-25 years-old.

Set up by directors Sarah Longfield, Jain McIntyre and Kim Stuyck, the aim is to encourage and help create opportunities for more young people in Scotland to gain a recognised qualification in the arts in as fun, simple and flexible way possible.

The Takeover! was funded by Aberdeen City Council, Awards for All (Big Lottery), Youth Arts Collective North East and Time to Shine. It was also supported by the University of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen City Council’s Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee Councillor Angela Taylor said: “Arts Takeover! is an ambitious and innovative initiative which gave the pupils of Kaimhill School the opportunity to participate in high quality arts activity with a difference. Not only was it educational and fun it gave pupils the chance to be creative and gain a recognised qualification.”

Sarah Longfield, Director, See Think Make said: “Training and supporting people is fantastic, but we want to do more to inspire others to give Arts Award a go. We believe all children and young people are creative and with a project such as Takeover! we create an explosion of imaginative creativity in the school, which leaves a positive and lasting impact both in the learners and the staff involved.”

See Think Make has worked closely with Trinity College London to develop Arts Award in Scotland, linking with SQA, Creative Scotland and other partner organisations including Aberdeen City Council.