HotSpot

HotSpot was a pilot for a three-year programme of artist-in-schools residencies, that will form a core element of the Festival’s schools provision across East Anglia.

HotSpot’s aims were to codesign inspiring projects with children and teachers that fostered a sense of community belonging in the children while increasing the creative engagement of teachers; the confidence and creativity of children in the classroom; and developing the delivery skills of artists in educational settings.

Four primary schools in Levelling Up For Culture areas of the region were identified and local artists recruited through an open call process. The residencies were designed to complement curriculum activities and to provide unique artist-led creative experiences for young people alongside their creative education.

‘To see them contribute, have time to think about and then follow a thought was priceless, they were so proud of themselves, confident to follow their creative ideas. they really enjoyed it. To see the children to get stuck in and encouraged was great.’ Teacher, Grove Primary

Pre-residency meetings between artists and school were instigated to discuss and agree delivery, group sizes, session lengths and session plans. Each school also received Psychology for Children Professional Development training prior to residencies.

A loose theme was devised for the programme with the children asked to identify local sites important to them, with the intention of developing pride around their immediate local area. Places as varied as their school lockers, logs outside their classroom and a local graveyard became the subject matter of their projects.

As a way of highlighting the value of the work created by the pupils to their community, each artist developed a virtual ‘postcard’ to document the project which would form part of a showcase at Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2024.

All four schools found that the children who took part showed an increase in creative skills, confidence, ability to express themselves and understanding of place and belonging as a result of the project.

‘The children’s confidence and self-esteem definitely grew over the time that they were with Kate.’ Teacher, Cromer Primary

Artists

Kate Munro, Johann Don Daniels, Rose Feather and Sarah Saxby

Locations

Cromer (Norfolk), March and Peterborough (Cambridgeshire), Lowestoft (Suffolk)

Participants

207 children and twelve teachers and teaching assistants across Cavalry Primary School, Cromer Primary School, Grove Primary School and West Town Primary School