| Education
School Residencies The Guilds' School Residency Scheme is called BIG HAND, LITTLE HAND. Residencies of between one and five days take place in primary and secondary schools as well as special schools and further education establishments throughout Devon. This scheme provides opportunities for pupils, students and teachers in the formal educational sector to encounter the crafts; in particular through direct contact with makers and their work. The purpose of the residency may be a school's wish to create its own permanent artwork, made by the pupils with the help of an artist, or the need to have a specialist to teach techniques to GCSE or A level students making work for exam assessment (e.g. printmaking) or a school,s arts week, where one or more makers are invited to work with pupils on various projects. All residencies start with an approach from the school. The school is visited by the Guild's Education Co-ordinator, then the teacher, the artist and the education co-ordinator jointly plan the project. All residencies are documented and evaluated with examples and photographs on display in the Education Showcase at Riverside Mill. Illustrated reports, including evaluations, are kept in the education department. Recent residencies have included textiles, sculpture in a variety of forms, (ceramic, wood and mixed media), printmaking, mosaic ceramics, baskets and furniture. The majority of residencies use Devon Guild Members, though other craftworkers are used on occasion. The artist's fee is split 50/50 between the school and the Devon Guild, but the school is expected to pay mileage and material costs. Other Outreach and Interpretative work There are 6 main exhibitions at the Riverside Mill in 2006 all of which have talks or workshops associated with them. Please click here to go to our exhibitions page. Talks are often popular and advance booking and payment is now essential. Supporting notes are
circulated to the 170 schools on our mailing list, and made available
to visitors to the exhibitions. Professional Development In addition to the lectures and workshops associated with the exhibitions, the Guild encourages professional development by craftspeople. ArtsMatrix
is an initiative led by Arts Council England, South West, to research
the continuing professional development needs of artists in all disciplines,
and find ways of meeting these needs. The Guild is one of the partners
in the South West along with Arnolfini, Bristol; Dartington College of
Arts; Equata; Watershed, Bristol; The Wren Trust; and Folk South West.
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