Last month, a group of over 70 Island educators and cultural professionals came together for the IW Cultural Education Partnership’s annual Conference, held at Quay Arts Centre in Newport.
A full day of talks, presentations and workshops, this year, designed to stimulate discussions around inclusion and diversity through creativity.
The importance of collaboration
The day began with Gavin Stride, Director of the National Portfolio Organisation Creative Island – cultural development agency for the Isle of Wight. He talked of the importance of schools and organisations working together to help young people understand their place in the world and the impact culture and creativity can have on their relationships and confidence to achieve.
He then introduced the four other IOW NPO’s New Carnival, Quay Arts, Shademakers and Ventnor Exchange, to demonstrate how they intend to use their investment to improve the lives for all those who live on the Island.
Two Keynote speakers
The event hosted two Keynote speakers. The first, writer and consultant in arts education, young people and creativity in learning, Rick Hall. He discussed the idea of helping to fill young people’s cultural rucksacks, linking formative experiences with learning and allowing curiosity.
The second Keynote; Disabled artist, music maker and Artistic Director of SENSE, Kris Halpin who demonstrated the MiMu Gloves and spoke about our perceptions of disability and barriers to learning.
Interactive workshops throughout the day included topics around inclusivity and its relationship to Drama, AI, text and language in visual art and ‘making’ activities.
Equality and Rights Advocates
Attendees also heard from three pupils of Christ The King College’s Equality and Rights Advocates group who confidently spoke and answered questions around what they are doing within their school and wider community to promote equality for all, which resulted in a call for them to deliver talks in other Island schools.
Arguably, most importantly, the day allowed for the building of relationships between education, creative and heritage professionals.
The IWCEP (under Creative Island) aims to build these strong links and work inclusively for a better future for the Isle of Wight’s children and young people.
News shared by Claire on behalf of IW CEP, in her own words. Ed
