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New Scheme Highlights Importance of Crafting in Schools
Listed under: News
Published: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
One of the country's leading craft bodies will be launching an ambitious campaign to get more children crafting this year, seeing the demand for hobby-related materials and interest in the market rise significantly in 2010.
The scheme, which is just one of a number of similar projects introduced in recent times to encourage youngsters to take up crafts, will focus primarily on ceramics, and highlight the different ways schools can incorporate clay into their classroom lessons.
Launched by the Crafts Council and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Firing Up will be rolled out across a number of higher education institutions over the next 12 months, and is expected to make its way into more than 55 secondary schools – reaching up to 11,000 children – within the next three years.
Providing teachers with all the necessary skills and information they need to teach ceramics in a creative and enjoyable way, the project will finance the maintenance of kilns within schools, and encourage students to pursue careers in craft-related industries.
Commenting on the incentive, Simon Steff, an art teacher at New Heyes School in Liverpool, says, “We are delighted to be involved in the pilot year of this very significant project. Our kiln hasn’t been used for years, and we are excited about giving the students an introduction to a craft via hands-on learning with skilled professionals. We think it could really open up some eyes to a previously unknown creative career.”
Rosy Greenlees, executive director of the Crafts Council, agrees getting youngsters crafting is important, adding, “Firing Up is a very significant scheme for the future of ceramics in schools, as it will create sustainable links to ensure the continued presence of this medium within secondary schools and higher education institutions across the UK.”
The scheme, which is just one of a number of similar projects introduced in recent times to encourage youngsters to take up crafts, will focus primarily on ceramics, and highlight the different ways schools can incorporate clay into their classroom lessons.
Launched by the Crafts Council and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Firing Up will be rolled out across a number of higher education institutions over the next 12 months, and is expected to make its way into more than 55 secondary schools – reaching up to 11,000 children – within the next three years.
Providing teachers with all the necessary skills and information they need to teach ceramics in a creative and enjoyable way, the project will finance the maintenance of kilns within schools, and encourage students to pursue careers in craft-related industries.
Commenting on the incentive, Simon Steff, an art teacher at New Heyes School in Liverpool, says, “We are delighted to be involved in the pilot year of this very significant project. Our kiln hasn’t been used for years, and we are excited about giving the students an introduction to a craft via hands-on learning with skilled professionals. We think it could really open up some eyes to a previously unknown creative career.”
Rosy Greenlees, executive director of the Crafts Council, agrees getting youngsters crafting is important, adding, “Firing Up is a very significant scheme for the future of ceramics in schools, as it will create sustainable links to ensure the continued presence of this medium within secondary schools and higher education institutions across the UK.”
