The Victoria Art Gallery is owned and operated by Bath and North East Somerset Council and sits alongside the Roman Baths and Museum of Costume in the Council?s Heritage Services Division, writes Helen Mansfield. The gallery runs a varied exhibition programme and has a fine collection of important paintings, sculptures and decorative arts that date from the 15th century to the present day. Offering free entry for all and attracting over 90,000 visits each year, it has won several awards, including ?Best free attraction in Bath 2003? and the Chartermark.
The gallery has learning, inspiration and enjoyment at its heart, and recognises the importance of engaging young minds early on. So, in April 2001, Percy the Paintbrush was ?born?, along with his Young @ Art Club for three to eleven year olds. The club runs activities for two different age groups: three to sevens and seven to eleven year olds. The activities are tailored to these ages, and adults are required to accompany children at all times. The activities are held in the gallery space itself, enabling family learning to take place in a safe and creative environment. We work towards increasing knowledge, skills and an understanding of art and the process of making art.
Developing children?s feelings and attitudes is also important so that an appreciation of art becomes and remains a part of their lives. Creativity and imagination are central to our activities and it is great how varied and interesting the range of work produced can be.
As part of a commitment to listen to children, staff worked with the Children?s Society towards the Children?s Rights Charter ? based on key articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children have a right to be consulted on things that affect them. We do this through Percy, the club?s mascot, who writes to members several times a year in a newsletter. We ask the children and adults what they like doing and what they want to do more of in future sessions. Their requests are used as the basis for new activities. The newsletter lists the activities coming up and thanks the children for their ideas, thereby making the members feel that they can shape and develop the art club.
We were delighted to be awarded the Children?s Charter for this work in 2003, and to have it renewed in 2004. Everyone has the capacity to build consultation with children into their programming, and we have improved our ways of doing this over the years to ensure that our activities match what the children want to do.
Helen Mansfield is Museums Education Manager for North East Somerset Council.
t: 01225 477757; e: helen_mansfield@bathnes.gov.uk