Supporting artists to develop their practice working with children
Ensuring a quality experience between artists and children is a priority for Kids’ Own. We believe in the creative process and in engaging children in a real arts experience.
Throughout all our programmes we endeavour to support artists as artists and not just facilitators of a process. We acknowledge the value of artists and recognise the need to support not only contact time with children but also processing time and their own practice time.
Kids’ Own want to continue to lead and inspire artists practice working with children.
This happens in a real way by bringing artists together enabling them to share their way of working and experiences with each other, providing real opportunities for artists to learn and to improve their work on the ground working with children.
Good practice in the field of arts and education shows that professional artists can grow within the creative process of collaboration with young people. We encourage artists to act as collaborators and partners in the process, and to leave their expertise behind.
The framework we provide is adaptable to support each individual partnership. It is flexible to enable and empower individual artists to reach their own unique potential.
"Artists must move away from 'delivery mode' in which they provide programs for schools or do things to kids, to a partnership mode where they create programs with schools for kids.The focus moves away from a service delivery to kids to an ongoing professional development of teachers and artists"
Arnold Aprill from CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education) "Finding the Thread of an Interrupted Conversationy" Published on the Community Arts Network. Also see: Renaissance in the Classroom
Highlight
Practice.ie
http://www.practice.ie/
In 2008 Kids’ Own launched a new website reporting on contemporary artists practice working with children in Ireland. This website will provide a unique insight into artists practice working with children. The main sections of the site:
From September 2008 to September 2009, Practice.ie will present this ongoing collaborative resarch as it develops, providing sharing of experience and reflection on practice. A cross-section of current projects/programmes will be profiled, reflecting conversation with the artists involved, learning and best practice. Commissioned essays and on-linediscussions will investigate questions around current practice.
By developing Practice.ie we are encouraging artists working with children and young people to critique practice and to develop a community of practice. Artists who register are encouraged to submit information, joindiscussion and leave comment. Artists who are involved in projects or programmes with children and young people between Sept. 2008 - Sept. 2009 in particular can upload information about their project/programme and processes. All those whose work involves children and young people in an arts context are encouraged to resgister and input into this research.
Objectives of Practice.ie
* Over a one-year period, report on contemporary artists' practice with children and young people with an online publication.
* Provide an online resource that facilitates the development of a community of practice of artists working with children and young people.
