Thoughts:
- Why do you want to do this project?
- What do you want to achieve?
- End product (try to keep your expectations realistic)
- The process (this is often the most important part of the experience)
- Curriculum needs (e.g. the development of specialist skills for GCSE course work)
- Kudos for the school
- Fresh enthusiasm and experience for the staff
- Fresh enthusiasm and experience for the children
- To have fun
- A one off experience
- An ongoing experience (which has longevity even if the workshop is short)
- To utilise previously unused equipment or materials
- Training and skill development for staff with currently underused equipment or materials
Costs to be considered:
- Artist fee
- Materials
- Travel (plus perhaps B&B costs if the artist lives far away)
- The fees and costs may attract VAT (however your school will reclaim the VAT element, so this should not affect your budget)
- Contingency cost (e.g. if very bad weather stopped the artist arriving)
- Supply cover if necessary
- Does your school cover the artist(s) under their public liability insurance?
- Do you need to take up references for the artist/s
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Project co-ordination:
- Do you have someone who can be the project co-ordinator?
- This person’s core role should be to be the main point of contact for the artists, the students and their parents and Artists-in-Schools
- Will this person be available for the term of the workshop?
- To ensure that there is a project plan which has been agreed by the teachers, the artist and Artists-in-Schools
- To ensure that the workshop runs smoothly from initial planning to the culmination of the project.
Project plan should cover:
- Aims, objectives and success criteria
- Importance of end produce and experience
- Which pupils will take part
- Structure, content and timing
- Who is responsible for what
- Materials and equipment
- Proposed evaluation
- Costs
Final Planning:
- Has the school read, signed and returned the contract(s)
- Pupils have been selected and informed about the project
- Pupils parents have been informed enabling the children to be properly clothed and prepared
- Has the whole school has been made aware of the artists visit
- Has provision has been made to ensure that the artist is made to feel welcome i.e. knows where the staff room is, the toilets are and that refreshments are either made available or that they should have provided their own.
- Materials have been ordered and obtained in accordance with the artist and the schools agreement.
- The agreed space has been prepared (and protected) and booked by the coordinator.
- The numbers and ages of the students must be adhered to once it has been formalised by the contract
