Our 2024-25 Poplar Consortium celebration at The Art Pavilion, showcasing artwork created by pupils and staff, alongside highlights from the past decade of our work in Tower Hamlets.

Bow Arts held an exhibition at The Art Pavilion, Mile End to showcase artwork created by pupils and staff from seven primary schools in Tower Hamlets over the past year, as part of the Poplar Consortium. As this year marked the tenth anniversary of the partnership, there were also project highlights featured from across the last decade. 

‘The best part was seeing other schools’ drawings and getting inspiration from it’

Pupil

Throughout the year, each school has taken part in their own bespoke arts projects led by professional artists from Bow Arts. Teachers and support staff have also benefitted from artist-led professional development sessions each term. A group of children from each school took part in a holiday club in which they gained an Arts Award qualification. Across the year we worked with more than 900 pupils and 18 teachers.

On the day, a group of pupils from each school visited the Art Pavilion to view the exhibition and celebrate their achievements.

They participated in collaborative workshops with Bow Arts artist educators Tom Berry and Esther Neslen, who also led projects at some of the Poplar Consortium schools during the year. 

Tom worked with children to create a rainforest scene. Using coloured paper, the group cut out a series of insect and leaf shapes which they hung in the space. The group also had the chance to draw directly onto the windows using chalk markers, adding colour and patterns. The final outcome was a large collaborative snake drawing.

Meanwhile, Esther led a workshop using large pre-cut cardboard shapes which small groups of children were encouraged to slot together and build structures with. Once constructed, Esther invited the children to decorate their sculptures using coloured tape and paper cut outs, bringing their new environments to life.  

‘When we did art, it was fun!’

Pupil

The exhibition was curated by Liane Harris, and remained open for another two days for parents and the local community to visit. 

‘I enjoyed… sharing my creativity’

Pupil

Find out more by reading about our Consortia Model or contact us at learning@bowarts.com