The art and photography pupils at King’s College have been challenged to create a piece of work to hang in a selected group exhibition responding to the theme ‘people and places’ at the prestigious Brook Gallery in Exeter. This new collaboration is born out of a shared belief between gallery director, Angela Yarwood, and the King’s Head of Art, Clare Schmidt, that pupils need to learn about the commercial side of the art world as well as developing their practical making skills.
The Brook Gallery is one of the most prestigious outside London. Based in Exeter and Budleigh Salterton, the collections include a broad spectrum of media and styles, and a catalogue of some of the most established, collectable and influential artists in the UK today.
As a practising artist who has exhibited her work in London and abroad, Clare knows only too well that making the art is only half of the story. Understanding the requirements of gallery owners and curators, being able to communicate and market your work and having general business acumen are all vital to a successful career. In her new role as Head of Art at King’s College, Clare is keen to give pupils opportunities to experience the commercial side of the art world and build skills to help them move forward in the creative industries once they leave education.
This collaboration will enable pupils to consider how the creative journey changes when they are making work for a public audience or a gallery environment rather than a school wall or portfolio. What limitations or expectations will they have to think about in the making process in order to create work for a specific venue and what decisions will they have to make about how their work will be finally presented? Pupils will need to meet the exacting standards of the gallery director and write a personal statement to accompany their work in order to be considered for selection.
To help the pupils answer some of these questions and get the project underway, Angela Yarwood recently presented the project to the pupils and talked to them about her gallery, curating and the commercial side of the art world.
The exhibition ‘Creative Journeys’ will be launched on Saturday, 27 February 2016 and will run for two weeks.
A drinks reception will be held at the start of the launch from 4.30 – 6.00 pm.
For further details please contact, Head of Art Clare Schmidt: CASchmidt@kings-taunton.co.uk
Photographer: Clare Schmidt