Community Arts Project - Patcham High School

In my role as the tutor of this Extension Studies programme in Community Arts Practice for the University of Brighton it was my responsibility to create and coordinate an arts project which aimed to operate on many levels and catalyse the ideas and creative direction of all of the participants involved. The programme introduced new ways of being creative in an informal but intensive 6-week period to create art, which was exhibited in Patcham High School, as an example of group collaboration with students from the Faculty of Arts at the University.

Through establishing different partnerships within the groups, based on mutual equality and respect, the aim was to develop working relationships which allowed school students to learn from the experiences of the university students of the widely varying ways of studying Art and Design and provide an inspiring extra-curricular educational experience of art with the potential for long-term effects in the choice of art and design as GCSE subjects.

For the university students the aim was to encourage the development of skills and abilities in drawing upon their own practice and experience to facilitate young people in a non-judgemental and sensitive way to promote confidence in making creative decisions.

An extension studies programme was originally supported in 2005 by the Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp) to create a site-specific collaborative artwork. It involved a group of 10-12 pupils from Year 8 at Patcham High School who worked in partnership with a group of 10-11 2nd year undergraduate students from within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Brighton.

The Patcham students’ decision to create their own version of their school logo defined the project’s direction. The logo is the Chattri Memorial, a local landmark created to commemorate the loss of lives of 53 Sikh and Hindu soldiers who fought for the British Empire in the First World War, and who were hospitalised in Brighton

The latest project for 2011-12, ‘Eco-Art’, built on a series of projects supported by Cupp. It involved a group artwork entirely constructed from recycled plastic bottles and bags. The theme of the project was to raise the group’s awareness of the effects of environmental damage and to encourage a direct response through exploring recycled materials as an artistic medium.

The celebration event for the resulting artwork was well attended with members of the local community, local press and the Council as well as the participating artists and their families, and staff from both educational establishments.

“…art is not just about drawing – it can be anything that you want it to be”
Patcham High School student

“This experience has totally widened my whole look on teaching and working with children. I’ve realised that it’s a lot harder than one may first think, and the amount of organisation that is needed is vital.... I definitely know that the pupils helped me to understand what I may or may not choose as a career.” University student

The course tutor was Irene Mensah, a local visual artist, with more than 14 years of experience as a project leader of community arts in education.

Robyn Steer provided the coordination of the project from Patcham High as the community arts and media project co-ordinator.

• Dave Wolff – Cupp Director writes: It was with great sadness that we learned of the sudden death of Irene Mensah on Friday 12th April 2013. Irene has been a valued member of staff at University of Brighton, pioneering innovative community engagement work in her teaching. In the 8 years that Irene has worked at the University extraordinary art work has been produced. University students, school pupils and local communities have all benefited hugely from her work. Irene was also a talented artist and performer in her own right and will be sadly missed by colleagues, community partners and friends. To view Irene's work on unfolding identities see: http://www.brighton.ac.uk/cupp/projects/black-and-minority-ethnic-b...