Highlights from the 7th edition of the annual Artist Educator Trainee Programme at Bow Arts.
Each year, Bow Arts facilitates an Artist Educator Trainee Programme – a paid opportunity for visual artists and aspiring educators to gain experience in delivering workshops within formal education settings, to children of all ages. The programme reflects our dedication to growing accessibility in the arts and developing sustainable creative pathways.
In 2023-24, we welcomed three new artists as our cohort. Each artist trainee had up to 15 opportunities to shadow lead artist educators delivering a range of projects in Primary, Secondary and Specialist school settings over Autumn and Spring term.
Some of the projects trainees supported included Artist Cover at Wellington Primary, Artist in Residence at St. John the Baptist Primary, a Creative Careers Event at Sarah Bonnell School, a secondary session at Phoenix Upper, the Thamesmead Consortium celebration at the Nest Library, and a Teacher CPD at Watergate Primary – to name a few!
[I] became aware of using sensory stimulation within an art workshop as the focus, rather than artistic skills or methods.
2023-2024 Artist Educator Trainee
All trainees had one to one meetings with a lead artist educator to learn more about session planning in advance of delivery. There was also the opportunity to develop and lead an activity as part of an ongoing school project, with the aim of growing trainees’ confidence in the classroom.
Trainees also had the opportunity for further professional development through artist-led training sessions covering topics such as Behaviour Management, Promoting Positive Engagement, and Session Planning – all designed to equip artist educator with tips and techniques for planning and classroom delivery.
Supporting [the] programme was a rewarding experience that not only provided children with opportunities for learning and growth but also reinforced the importance of creativity, collaboration, and cultural appreciation in educational initiatives.
2023-2024 Artist Educator Trainee
Supporting [a lead artist] with a collaborative workshop for primary school children has been an incredibly enriching journey, filled with numerous learning opportunities.
2023-2024 Artist Educator Trainee
Applications for the Artist Educator Trainee Scheme open each summer ahead of term. Learn more about what it’s like to be an Artist Educator with Bow Arts here: Artist educators – Bow Arts