Digital Project .'Listen in at Roche Court'

Listen in at Roche Court’

This is an excellent format for our digital times. The Arts Society Wessex Area was asked by art teachers in the South West Area just before Covid if there was any possibility for their art students to talk to and engage with practising artists. This is a very important part of their coursework submissions at both GCSE and A Level Art & Design.

Roche Court was able to facilitate this meeting of artists and students and encourage the students to create podcasts. The Arts Society Wessex Area were able to fund some of the initial research and transport costs and we have been able to share this with The Arts Society in London and with our local societies. Funding for transport has been provided by Patricia Fay Fund Grants and by individual societies supporting their local school’s involvement in the project. The programme is up and running and numerous podcasts are available on the Roche Court Educational Trust website under;

 Digital Resources. https://rochecourteducationaltrust.co.uk/the-roche-court-educational-trust/digital-resources/podcast/

These podcasts give students such opportunities to actively develop their involvement with art and artists and also give other students the opportunity to use that information in their own studies. A wonderful programme and with outcomes which are both accessible to students who can’t get to galleries or meet artists themselves and also a great inducement to encourage other teachers and students to get involved themselves.

Below is  the press release by Bella Gorman, Education Officer at Roche Court.

'The Roche Court Educational Trust is delighted to have been awarded the RSA’s (The Royal Society for arts, manufactures and commerce) Catalyst Scaling Grant. This funding will enable the Trust to fully produce the second series of their podcast ‘Listen in at Roche Court.’ From 98 applicants, the RSA awarded the Scaling Grant to 9 organisations whose social innovation projects had the potential to have the greatest impact upon local communities. The Arts Society Wessex Area has also generously funded schools' travel to and from Roche Court for the research and recording of the podcast episodes.

Series 2 of ‘Listen in at Roche Court’ will consist of 6 new 30-minute episodes, featuring lively and engaging conversations between local young people and significant artists exhibiting at the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park.  

In preparation for each episode, the project uses the Trust’s process-driven and experience-based approach to learning. Participating students (aged 15-18) take ownership of entire episodes, developing overarching themes through questioning and research relating to each artist’s work. As such, young people are given the opportunity to develop confidence and independence as well as discover more about how to have a successful career in the art world. 

A year 11 student involved in episode 1: “We got to speak with a prominent artist who has work in collections such as the Tate and know why they did what they did. I will remember this for the rest of my life.” 

Laura Joy, Head of Education at the Trust and Project Lead: "In an educational landscape where arts subjects are increasingly marginalised, this project provides opportunities for young people from State-maintained schools to interview practicing professional artists, thus increasing their aspirations towards careers in the arts. In addition, the podcasts will be shared widely with other educational settings and lifelong learners”  

'The first episode of Series 2 featuring conversation between prominent artist Laura Ford and GCSE students from Pewsey Vale can be found here as well as on all major podcast hosting platforms (all episodes from Series 1 are also available). Topics discussed during this episode include the impact of childhood and experiences as a woman artist.  

Editor Notes: 

The Roche Court Educational Trust is an independent arts education charity based at the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park near Salisbury in Wiltshire.  We run a full programme of activities for teachers, children, young people, and specialist groups to develop confidence and skills by looking, thinking, and speaking about art.  

The New Art Centre is a sculpture park and gallery set in over sixty acres of parkland in the Wiltshire countryside. We specialise in 20th and 21st-century works of art that are on view both in the park and in our prize-winning contemporary indoor spaces. We have long standing relationships with the artists that we show, many of which stretch back over the past six decades. All works are for sale. 

We are the RSA. The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. We’re committed to a future that works for everyone. A future where we can all participate in its creation. The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. Our proven change process, rigorous research, innovative ideas platforms and diverse global community of over 30,000 problem-solvers deliver solutions for lasting change. We invite you to be part of this change. Join our community. Together, we’ll unite people and ideas to resolve the challenges of our time.'