In February, we brought educators, artists and teachers together for a thoroughly enjoyable, thoughtful two days at RETHINK, our Artist Educators’ Retreat 2026.
This year’s iteration was hosted by Whitechapel’s Brady Arts and Community Centre, and encouraged us to pause, rethink, reset and reflect on artistic practice in the classroom and beyond.
The RETHINK programme featured five of our artist educators and teacher panellists alongside guest speaker – artist and teacher Dianne Minnicucci, Head of Photography at Thomas Tallis School – for a packed programme of talks, discussions and hands-on workshops exploring the boundaries of art-based learning.
Themes that were teased out and delved into throughout the retreat included balancing teaching and personal practice; using art as a vehicle for deeper cross-curricula learning; movement and expression; accessible digital and analogue photography tools for the classroom; exploring silence as a shared space for attention and observation; examining multiple truths in the face of censorship and doubt; navigating the cultural and personal memories that objects hold.
“I feel re-energised and rejuvenated”
RETHINK participant
Day 1
Following an introduction from our project managers, Bella and Sheyamali, and a spot of networking over coffee, day one began with a choice of two workshops run by artist educators Yuliya V Krylova and Sara Heywood.
Dancing the Body & Embodied Creativity, with Yuliya V Krylova
Yuliya’s gentle movement workshop inspired by the Japanese performance style Butoh dance, used slow, expressive movement to explore deep human emotions and the body’s inner states.
Yuliya and the group used the avant-garde dance technique to slow things down and focus attention, creating space to allow contemplative imagination to flow which resulted in a beautiful shared gestural ink painting. Participants agreed that they learnt new strategies to help ground students back in the classroom to ultimately inspire creativity and imagination.
Art as Deeper Learning, with Sara Heywood
In the other room, Sara Heywood explored the powerful role that art can play as a vehicle for cross-curricula learning across all key stages. Her session culminated in the creation of structures using everyday materials readily available in the classroom – inspired by abstract words. These simple ideas acted as springboards to produce complex and interesting forms made from sticks, yarn, paper and card that were lit by lamps and colourful gels producing impressive atmospheric results.
Following a delightful vegetarian lunch, catered by Whitechapel’s Dilpasand Restaurant, we were all impressed by the passionate and engaging talk delivered by Dianne Minnicucci. Dianne’s film presentation focused on her photography residence with Autograph Gallery and how through this experience she was able to regenerate her classroom practice and inspire secondary school students to put themselves in front of the camera to explore self-portraiture. Dianne talked about the importance of being honest and brave in one’s own work to convey authenticity and personal perspective.
RETHINK participants then put themselves in front and behind the camera exploring The Brady Centre’s garden and surroundings to shoot their own photographs on digital cameras with Dianne’s confidence-boosting help and expert guidance.
“The session allowed me to think about how art can be mixed with another subject and how workshops do not have to be rigid.”
RETHINK participant
After a welcomed coffee break, we settled down to listen to wise words and lively conversations from our expert artist/teacher panellists. We welcomed Sara Eng-Carlyle, an artist and educator whose work is grounded in student-centred and socially engaged approaches to learning; Siobhan Tate who has been teaching art in London secondary schools since 2003 and has recently explored making ceramic practice in schools more sustainable; and Sean Orr who discovered digital collage later in life, in the middle of a teaching career, and has recently secured a permanent studio with Bow Arts. All three teachers participated in the 2024-25 Bow Arts Shaftesbury Avenue Artist-Teacher Residency.
Alongside our own Bella and Dianne, the panellists imparted their knowledge learned from their combined arts education experience and answered questions from the floor sparking debate focusing on the relationship between artistic and teaching practices.
“It was amazing to connect to other teachers and educators, discover different career pathways, take part in creative activities.”
RETHINK participant
Day 2
Building on Dianne Minnicucci’s previous workshop, the retreat’s second day began with a practical analogue photography session, where Dianne oversaw more creativity and considered compositions using traditional film – with some very impressive results.
Pausing Together, with Jessica de Silva Oleiro
Next up, artist educator Jessica De Silva Oleiro led her tranquil and thought-provoking workshop, inspired by the book ‘Silence: In the Age of Noise’ by Erling Kagge.
Jessica invited participants to explore what silence really means in this modern, noisy world. Everyone came away with a serene sense of calm recognising that silence can exist anywhere and it’s more about your state of mind than your surroundings. We discovered you can create silence in everyday life by slowing down and disconnecting, which can easily transfer to a classroom setting.
“I now have lots of examples and inspiration for my own sessions.”
RETHINK participant
The afternoon’s choice of workshop sessions was run by artist educator Ayesha Sureya and our artist educator trainee, Kashish Saini.
The Word for World, with Ayesha Sureya
Through her profound session, Ayesha invited participants to think about how we can hold multiple truths at once in the face of censorship and doubt. Participants queried how art education may hold space for personal, social and local histories. Following meaningful discussions, the group responded through collective mind-mapping consolidating their findings.
“The sessions encouraged reflection… giving me confidence to experiment with new methods”
RETHINK participant
What Objects Remember, with Kashish Saini
Kashish guided participants to explore the personal and cultural memories that objects hold through her skills-focused session. After choosing an object to work with, we visited various creative stations personifying the object and questioning what they have seen, what they feel and what they know whilst transforming them into images through prints, stamps and laminating objects in talcum powder!
This original and inventive way of approaching memories illustrated how experimental image-making can be applied to imaginative learning within a classroom context.
“The workshops provoked me to work in 3D – which I don’t often do!”
RETHINK participant
The whole event rounded off with some celebratory reflections, when we came together for a relaxed contemplative session to share what we had learnt.
Thank you to everyone who attended RETHINK and making it such a wonderful experience. And of course, a huge thanks to all our artists, speakers and panellists who brought such wonderful insights to the two days of activities – and an extra special thanks to our amazing guest speaker, Dianne Minnicucci, who seamlessly wove the two days together through her presentations, photography workshops and participating in the panel discussions.