School Prints - Year 5
For the fifth edition of School Prints, we invited three artists that we have long-standing relationships with to produce new prints – Phyllida Barlow (1944–2023), Veronica Ryan (b. 1956) and Ro Robertson (b. 1984). All were given Rawnsley’s original brief: ‘I only ask that you create something suitable for children’.
Supported by The Eridge Trust and by Wakefield Council as part of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024.
During the first 5 years of the School Prints initiative we have engaged over 1275 students across 21 schools in Wakefield.
Engagement project
This year we have worked with four local primary schools in Featherstone – Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy, North Featherstone Junior and Infant School, Streethouse Primary School and St Thomas’ CE Junior School.
Nearly 200 pupils worked with artist Rachel Sim during printmaking workshops in school and visits to The Hepworth Wakefield to explore this year’s School Prints and engage with ideas within the artworks.
Taking inspiration from the School Prints, pupils created individual and large-scale collaborative prints, experimenting with different types of drawing, mark making, sculpture making and printmaking.
“It’s been a fantastic project to engage children in art. Thanks again for enabling our children to take part. It was a wonderful opportunity for them all.” Acting Headteacher, Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy
To celebrate the pupils’ creativity each school had a celebration event for their community. This included an exhibition of all the pupils’ artwork from the project, a presentation of their School Prints and the opportunity to share their printmaking skills with their families in art activities.
“I loved today that we got to explore and learn about people’s artwork and make our own art too.”
“I enjoyed the printing because it was enjoyable and it made me feel alive.”
“I liked drawing The Source, it helped my imagination grow and see different designs.”
Year 5 pupils from the project
A selection of the pupils’ artwork are on display in the gallery over the summer, with special family days for pupils to bring their families back to the gallery to see their artwork on display and take part in a selection of family activities and workshops.
