The Creative Encounters 2024 Project engaged 129 students from three schools in Salford, offering them experiences in four creative disciplines: Art, Design, Photography and Textiles. Most groups participated in three online sessions led by Lead Artist, Jack Brown, who collaborated with independent creatives from across Manchester. Jack has supported the programme and watched it grow over the past six years, Jack has said:
‘I really enjoy building long-term working relationships with the different arts departments and their teachers. I’ve been working with some teachers for over six years now, and we’ve built a trusting partnership that allows for more experimentation and risk-taking. This has led to exciting innovations within the project. For example, a last-minute date changes once prompted me to create an impromptu ‘DIY lighting’ photography workshop, which, unexpectedly, became one of the best workshops I now run.’
The programme also included an in-person visit day, featuring a workshop hosted by one of the university departments, a guided tour of the degree show and a student life session with Student Ambassadors. In cases where an on-campus visit wasn’t possible, students participated in an online careers’ session instead. Jack has said some of the benefits of going online have been, ‘the Q and A’s between students and arts professionals work better online that they did face to face, it feels like students have more time to prep questions, everyone feels less self-conscious and the artists/creatives give better answers too.’
Students who participated in the programme were asked, ‘what extra knowledge did you gain through this activity?’ and they were met with a flurry of positive feedback:
‘University is not just working but gives you an opportunity to make connections’
‘The programme made me think more about my future’
‘I gained some new ideas while I was checking other artwork’
‘There is a lot more ways to express my ideas in exhibitions/displays’
Teachers were asked about whether their pupils that took part in the programme now have learnt about the benefits of higher education. The improvements that teaching staff have seen in their pupils since taking part in the Creative Encounters project have been quoted as:
‘Pupils have had a creative burst, many thinking about skills learnt in sessions and applying them in class’
‘Confidence when discussing and creating ideas. Students have spoken about careers in art’
‘Some students used the work created in the sessions to support their coursework’
To see how the programme has developed over the years, check out the Encounters web page.
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