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