Paintingsdotheschoolrun!
A new pilot programme will see more than 1500 kids take ownership of the Niland Collection for the very first time.
PUNC 1x1, an initiative launched by The Model, will see 11 pieces rotate between ten schools between now and the end of the academic year.
Project leader, Imelda Ryan- Jones, said the programme is a way of giving children ownership of the collection.
She said: “What is very exciting is that the children are able to come and look at the collection in the context of their own lives, but also in their own classrooms.
“Not a lot of people are aware that we as a county own the Niland Collection, so there is a hope that the kids might bring their families to see it in the future.”
It’s the first time such a programme has been rolled out in the county, and only the second time in Ireland.
The Model got the idea from a similar project launched by artist Jobst Graeve in Cavan. When they approached Graeve he even agreed to lend some of his own artwork to the gallery.
“I think by bringing the pieces it encourages the boys and girls to learn about the collection of art. They may never have been to an art gallery before, and may never have gone in the future, but this gives them the opportunity to look at the pieces and understand what the artists were thinking.”
PUNC stands for Pop up Niland Collection and the 1x1 refers to the slow rhythm of the exhibition.
Each piece stays at a school for three weeks before rotating. At first, the students don’t know anything about the artist or the name of the piece, leaving them to come up with their own assumptions.
At the end of the first week, the teacher then reveals all to the children. Sligo Supply Centre supplied the kids with personal journals to log their thoughts.
Imelda said: “They are able to write and draw about their engagements with each piece and some are even inspired to write a story or poem associated with the art. Each child has their own perspective so it’s a great way to develop their interest.”
She added: “By my second visit to the schools, it was amazing to see the amount of art work along the corridors. The teachers are so good at promoting creativity and there has been so much evidence of this within just the first month.”
The news comes as a recent study by the Arts Council found that Irish children who participate in artistic and cultural activities cope better with schoolwork and have more positive attitudes towards school later on in their lives.
“The more time spent being creative, the bet- ter,” Imelda said. “I believe art has such a positive impact on the development of children’s futures.”
The Model will host a celebration between all participating schools in June and are hoping to expand the programme next year.
The pieces involved in the project were curated by Marie- Lousie Blaney, Jobst Graeve and Emer McGarry.