Overview
Our Process
September - October
School’s lead teacher gathers feedback from teachers and students to identify an area to develop within their school’s arts curriculum
November - January
Project Coordinator researches and recruits suitable artists with the required skill sets to meet the school’s area of improvement. 7 artists are recruited to work in 7 schools
February
Artist residencies commence in all 7 SEN schools. Collaborative partnerships are formed between the artist and the lead teacher and further supported by the Project Coordinator. Filming of the process starts across all 7 schools
February - June
Artists and teachers meet for collaborative training day to gain an insight into the project, share ideas and plan their artist residency. A peer network is formed and communication links are made
April
Peer network review meeting - sharing best practice
May
Exhibition planning
June
Exhibition at the Midlands Arts Centre. Visited by students, parents, carers and the wider community
July
Reflective session to improve and inform following year’s residencies and implement positive changes in the school curriculum
Key People
Project coordinators:
Grace Mahar
“As a department leader at Fox Hollies School I am responsible for students aged 11-19 with severe learning disabilities. My first degree in Fine Arts and postgraduate studies in Autism have formed the basis of my leadership in developing creative curricula for SEN students. I project-led the Common Ground Arts programme and exhibition since 2022. My role is to support teachers and artists through the programme and co-ordinate the creative vision of the project. I care about meaningful arts access for students with special educational needs and aim to bridge the gap between SEN and the arts.”
Sinead Davies
“I’m the Head teacher at Fox Hollies School. I’m passionate about creativity in schools and jumped at the opportunity to be part of the initial Commonwealth Games Youth programme, in which Fox Hollies developed the concept of building ‘common ground’ through our work with artists-in residence towards our first exhibition at MAC. I’m thrilled to see the project grow to encompass the Birmingham Special Schools Trust and at how it has become a powerful driver for school improvement in the arts and beyond”
Videographer: Martin McNalley
Photographer: Nicole Perkins
Web and media development: Sharonjit Kaur Sutton
Business manager: Samantha Hughes
Brief overview of roles and responsibilities
Program coordniator: Grace Mahar
Coordinates and oversees the vision and delivery of the project.
Recruits and delivers training to all artists and teachers.
Monitors and supports artist residencies to ensure the delivery of meaningful and inclusive artist residencies
Works in collaboration with the Cooperative Trust business manager to manage financial aspects of the programme.
Lead teachers (as documented on co-oprative page)
Jointly work with the artist to plan and deliver a successful artist residency in their school setting
Support their artist in inclusive practices including SEN communication strategies
Organise the students visiting the exhibition, including parent and carer engagement
Work in partnership with their artist to plan and document the residency via a workbook
Artists (as documented on residencies page)
Collaborate with lead teacher, creatively sharing ideas, skills, resources, techniques and subject specialism knowledge.
Plan and deliver a meaningful and inclusive artist’s residency in response to school’s expressed requirements.
Develop their own arts practice in the areas of inclusivity and access for SEN students
Plan and deliver a final representative exhibition piece showcasing their SEN students’ work.
Videographer: Martin McNally
Captures on film the process of students’ artistic experiences throughout their residencies
Edits an accessible film capturing the residencies in all 7 schools, including BSL sign language translation
Develops – in collaboration with project coordinator – practical CPD resources for artists and teachers (‘how to:’ films to support arts access for SEN students)
Business Manager
Support the payment of invoices and grant evidence, following financial good practice procedures