Creative Partnerships: Art Across The City

 (http://www.locwsinternational.com/)

A Creative Partnership relevant to the area of Swansea is LOCWS International, who have developed a programme called ‘Art Across the City’ that has set up a series of public art pieces across the city of Swansea created by artists within the UK.

LOCWS International also runs educational workshops within schools under the Outreach and Education Programme and also LOCWS Schools which helps to educate young people about art and engage them in creative activities. I visited an exhibition that was held by LOCWS International showcasing the work of their Outreach and Education programme in Swansea’s Grand Theatre. Rebecca Rendell, LOCWS International's Arts & Outreach Officer states that the exhibition showcases the scales of the children's imagination and how well the arts can be used as a beneficial way of learning. (LOCWS International, 2014)

Here are some photographs I took myself whilst visiting the exhibition.

Arfyn Education Centre

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontyberem

When speaking to one of the representatives of LOCWS I asked how the children benefit from such a programme and he commented that programmes like Outreach and Education allow children to have learning opportunities outside of the classroom, as well as inside, such as visiting museums and exhibitions. Children have a chance to get out of the school environment and open their eyes to new experiences, then to be encouraged to think and respond to what they have seen. The children learn to broaden their ideas using practical skills and also achieve a sense of pride and a boost in their self-esteem as they get to view their very own artwork in such exhibitions.

I found out that the programme does not entirely focus on just the element of painting and drawing to art, but they also use resources like cameras, film, animation and also performance films and shows.

You can really see the beneficial elements of creative partnerships and the wide variety of new opportunities and experiences they can offer children that are lucky enough to be able to get involved with such partnerships.

References:

LOCWS International http://www.locwsinternational.com/?p=9323&langswitch_lang=en (Accessed: 09 December 2014)