This year, Artis had the pleasure of collaborating once again with the Guildhall Art Gallery in London, creating a unique educational experience that bridged the worlds of art and mathematics. Together with their teachers, children embarked on an imaginative journey, exploring one of Britain’s largest oil-on-canvas paintings through drama, movement, and music. The goal? To expand their understanding of maths and introduce them to the arts in a vibrant, interactive way.

The response was fantastic! We welcomed 996 children, representing over 38 classes from schools across the city and surrounding areas, all eager to dive into the workshop. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with teachers and children alike expressing their enthusiasm and appreciation for the workshops.

Wendy (Whirl) our Artis Mentor Leader and the creative force behind the workshops, shared her thoughts on the project:

“Welcoming children and their teachers to The Big Picture workshops has been a joy and a privilege. I have loved seeing the students gasp in awe at the gallery, bring the art to life through drama and dance, and begin to understand the important connections between art, history, maths, and movement.”

The energy and excitement brought by the children transformed the gallery into a lively space filled with joy and discovery. Even visitors found themselves captivated by the children’s engagement, often pausing to watch the workshops with interest.

The impact of these workshops is clear from the glowing feedback we received:

With 100% of the teachers rating the experience as either “Excellent” or “Good,” we are thrilled to have made such a significant impact. We look forward to working again with the Guildhall Art Gallery in the future, continuing to bring art to life through the performing arts for even more children.

To learn more about this project, you can read about a day in the life of our workshop leader, Whirl, here.