Aberdeen Art Gallery is one of three leading Scottish galleries to benefit from a new funding award. The William Syson Foundation Travel Fund supports school visits to galleries and museums across the country.
Along with Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, Aberdeen Art Gallery will benefit from an equal share of the new £75,000 Travel Fund to create a transport subsidy scheme that enables schools to make in-person visits to the galleries.
Post-pandemic, the William Syson Foundation was concerned to see a downward trend in school visits to art galleries and museums in Scotland. From Autumn 2024, the Foundation will support a pilot one-year programme to cover transport costs, in order to ensure that more young people can be inspired by, and positively engage with, Scotland’s world-class galleries and museums.
Aberdeen Art Gallery will work with schools to offer a new and inclusive learning experience, including free transport, which explores portraiture in the Gallery by looking, touching and making. Partner schools include St Machar Academy and Lochside Academy, as well as city schools who make specialist provision for children with additional support needs (ASN), including Orchard Brae and Kaimhill. The offer to ASN schools includes:
- An introduction to the Art Gallery building and the city’s collection
- ‘Sensory Suitcase’ session exploring the portrait of Queen Victoria through multi-sensory approaches
- ‘Curious Case’ session exploring elements of portraiture through an Attention Autism approach
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication tools to support engagement, interaction and pupil voice
Jonathan Syson, Chair of the William Syson Foundation said: “I am delighted that the Foundation will work with three of Scotland’s leading galleries to encourage more young people from our schools to make in-person visits to learn about the remarkable works of art in collections across the country. We look forward to hearing of the many workshops and events that the galleries will create to inspire present and future generations.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “The Art Gallery is for everyone in the city. It is important that young people get into the habit of visiting the collection as early as possible. This funding will help them to start building up their personal relationships with the treasures and the building. These are important local connections that can last a lifetime. The William Syson contribution is generous and will make a huge difference. It is especially helpful that the Gallery’s Learning team will work closely with Karen Gebbie-Smith of Orchard Brae School’s Complex Additional Support Needs service, to ensure that the funding provides a truly inclusive experience at the Art Gallery for all learners.”