Over the past four years, The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester has established itself as a centre of excellence in adult (post-16) learning, offering benefits and resources to thousands of arts students across the region, claims Leanne Manfredi. At the beginning of this period, the Gallery already had in place an extensive schools programme and was working with higher education institutions across the NorthWest. The further education sector emerged as suffering a gap in provision, not only at The Whitworth but also across museums and galleries nationally.
Offering these students the opportunity to take part in dedicated activity within a university gallery setting made good sense and clearly addressed the government focus on progression to higher education. In 2001 this was recognised by the University of Manchester?s Widening Participation Scheme, and the appointment of the Gallery?s first Post-16 Programme Co-ordinator led to a dramatic increase in the number of further education (FE) students working with The Whitworth.
?But what about us?? was the cry soon heard from arts tutors as the relevance and quality of the provision became apparent. This became the starting point for The Whitworth to look into the current (lack of) provision for continuing professional development (CPD) in FE Art and Design. Research was undertaken into the need and preferred methods for continuing professional development in this area. As suggested by the tutors? own feedback, there was a lack of such provision, and the Whitworth had both the ability and credibility to fill that gap.
Preliminary steps are now being taken towards creating a programme of continuing professional development in FE Art and Design and a post-16 CPD co-ordinator has just started work overseeing the programme. The aim is to pioneer a number of courses that take their lead from the unique resource offered by the galleries? and museum?s collections.
These schemes may take the form of a number of short, intense day courses or twilight courses, or may provide the basis for an accredited qualification offered in conjunction with The Whitworth and a HE institute. Another possibility is the creation of an accredited module that could count towards a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE). Although some PGCEs offer gallery or museum-based training, there is scope to improve access to collections, giving art and design tutors awareness of the rich potential for research and study available within museums and galleries.
Leanne Manfredi is the Post-16 Training Co-ordinator at The Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester. t: 0161 275 8455; e: leanne.manfredi@manchester.ac.uk