Learning away day to British Folk Art at Tate Britain

Moira, Alice and Jo found time to go out and visit the British Folk Art exhibition at Tate Britain before it moves onto Compton Verney in September. Volunteers John, Clifford and Imogen were coming along too. It allowed time to reflect upon our public and school programmes and what we have in mind around the British Folk Art exhibition.

We hopped onto Chiltern railway and discovered the toilets had a very familiar scene on the walls.

Chiltern Railway toilet cubicle

We met up with Emily Stone Assistant Curator Public Programmes and Communities who had organised us to meet with other members of the learning team at Tate. It was lovely to meet up with Emily in this setting, she used to work at Compton Verney and often comes back to see what we are up to.

Our first appointment was with Fiona taking place in a new space set up by young people for visitors to use. It included etcher sketch, books, plants, film projections, beanbags and jellybeans. We felt very relaxed and discussed the learning programme around the British Folk Art exhibition.

Tour of Open Studio at Tate Britain

We check out Open studio which takes place during holidays working with an artist Rebecca Birch to develop family activities around the British Folk Art exhibition. The room was inviting with splashes of colour, fabrics and stickers to make patterns to create a collaborative patchwork. Occasionally some sound would appear from a speaker directing us in ceilidh a traditional folk dance.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/daily-activities/curiosities-sonic-trail-british-folk-art

Other family activities around the exhibition were self-guided family trails such as a sonic trail and A Wandering story paper guide which encouraged you to create your own folktale.

We finally ventured into the exhibition to look around. We recognised Compton Verney’s own collection which is on loan for the exhibition. Seeing them next to other folk art objects brought new life to the pieces and grouped them together under themes and similarities.
Lots of ideas were thrown around for schools, families and adult workshops and how the exhibition will sit beautifully next to our own British Folk Art Collection and Art from Ammunition: Trench Art from the First World War.

Digital studio at Tate Britain

To end the trip we were shown the Digital studio where lots of creative thinking and work takes place using technology. It was great to see the resources they have on offer and what can be achieved using these facilities.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/daily-activities/taylor-digital-studio-public-access-drop

Nothing would complete a trip without stopping for afternoon tea and a slice of cake.

Pattern made by a family in the Open studio at Tate Britain

Thank you to John Bishop for take photos on our trip.