Arts week
Our annual Arts Week has run since 2005. This is a fabulous week where the whole school works to a theme and has the chance to explore new materials and techniques and feel part of a joyfully collaborative experience. In creating the theme, we work with Pupil Council to gather their ideas on what they would like to do and fit those around a wide range of core ideas. For example:
- Imagination
- Commotion in the Ocean
- Carnival
- 2021 COVID
- 2020 What makes me, me?
- 2019 What makes a home?
- 2018 Go big, go bold
- 2017 Art + science = wonder
- 2016 British artists
- 2015 We love Barnes
- 2014 Africa
- 2013 Reduce, reuse, recycle
- 2012 London Olympics
- 2011 Art alive
We are lucky to have a wide variety of parents in school who work in the creative industries and they are put to good use during arts week, helping in class and running workshops with the children to add to the progressive and wide-reaching nature of this week.
Also as part of Arts Week we hold our annual Barnes Bake Off. This idea originated from a group of Y5 pupils who were inspired by the TV show. Children create cakes and baked goods linked to the week’s theme. A former parent was the composer of the Great British Bake Off music and for a couple of years came in to teach it to the school orchestra, BOP.
The results of Arts Week go into an exhibition held in the community, at the OSO local Arts Centre in the heart of Barnes. The children derive huge pleasure from seeing their work in a gallery setting. The exhibition and the work that is displayed around school is organised by our schools Display Coordinator. This unique role ensures that the work of the children is exhibited in the communal spaces to the highest level and celebrates all skill levels.
Every two years we sell some of the work that is produced during Arts Week at our school ball. This helps raise much needed funds and is hugely satisfying for the children as well as introducing them to the commercial side of art.
To view some of the artwork from Arts Week visit our Gallery page here
