Education at KEttlE’s Yard

Going Behind the Scenes

Kettle’s Yard is a beautiful house with a remarkable

permanent collection of early twentieth century

works of art and a gallery presenting a changing

programme of modern and contemporary art

exhibitions.

‘Kettle’s Yard is passionate about education, learning and working with communities. Our vision for the future aims to build on the richness of our current education work. We will extend our welcome to new audiences through our exciting and innovative programme and our beautifully designed new educational facilities. We are indebted to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of many trusts, foundations and individuals who have supported this exciting new development. Looking ahead, we would like to build longer-term creative partnerships with schools and communities both in Cambridge and the region.’

Andrew Nairne, Director of Kettle’s Yard

background image: ‘Pebbletastic’ workshop, responding to the John Cage exhibition,

‘Every Day is a Good Day’, 2010

GoinG BEHind tHE scEnEs

Most of the education programme at Kettle’s Yard

happens outside opening hours so we’d like to

give you an idea of what we have to offer.

We would also like to introduce our exciting plans

for the future – the building of a new Education

Wing, due to open in 2013.

Jim Ede created Kettle’s Yard with his wife Helen and lived in the house from 1957-73. He wrote in the introduction to ‘A Way of Life’ his aspirations for Kettle’s Yard:

‘…a living place where works of art would be enjoyed, inherent to the domestic setting, where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery, and where an informality might infuse an underlying formality… I hope that future generations will still find a home and a welcome, a refuge of peace and order, of the visual arts and music.’

All educational activity at Kettle’s Yard draws inspiration from the house and collection, Jim’s vision of art as a way of life, and the changing exhibition programme.

The following pages give a glimpse behind the scenes. While not showing all that we do, we hope they give a sense of our work. We have ‘spotlighted’ a few projects to give a more in-depth view.

cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE adultsForMal EducationFuturE Plans

cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE

We offer activities for the whole family.

Practical workshops are led by artists

and take inspiration from the

house and the gallery.

‘We were made very welcome and given good directions but we were also able to use our own ideas.’ ‘Kids who are sometimes reluctant to make art immediately wanted to make something when they saw the space.’

Parents responses to ‘Drop In and More’, which offers free use of art materials in the education room and

volunteer-led support over the summer, 2009-2011

Wednesday Club (for 8-11s) in St Peter’s churchyard next to Kettle’s Yard

worKsHoPs For cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE

‘Holey Mackerel’ half-term sculpture workshop responding to sculptures with holes in the house, 2011

Artists from Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination running a family workshop, responding to the Bridget Riley exhibition, 2011

‘Site Lines’ half-term drawing workshop for families, 2010

‘Rapunzel lived there and the witch lived there. Because she is a very nasty witch, she gives her loads of worms and bugs and beetles.’

Can you look at the picture and tell me what colours are in there?

‘They are just normal colours like we see at nursery and I like the objects because they make me think I’m going to paint them at home.’

rEcollEction : KEttlE’s Yard oral HistorY arcHivE

Children’s responses to artworks in Kettle’s Yard recorded during workshops in 2009

Emma, aged 4, discussing ‘King’s College Chapel’, 1966, by Bryan Pearce:

‘I like it because it’s got really good textures… if you was really angry and really stormed up, it’s got nice calm colours. You could just sit down and look at it and it would just calm you down so much that you could go out and figure out what was wrong and sort it out. It looks like a farm or a field and it’s got houses near to it and it’s, like, the countryside.’

Angel, aged 8, discussing ‘Road Along the Roman Wall’, 1925 by Winifred Nicholson:

tuEsdaY studio ( for 11-14s)

Tuesday Studio end-of-term exhibition This sculpture was made in response to the exhibition ‘Modern Times: responding to chaos’, 2010

sPotliGHt : YounG carErs’ art GrouP

In partnership with Centre 33,

the young carers’ art group have:

•workedwithtwoartists,threefilmmakers,

a poet and an MC

• visitedfiveotherUniversityofCambridgemuseums

•hostedafilmpremiereforfriendsandfamily

at the Arts Picturehouse

• performedtheirpoemsatMiltonYouthCentre

Young carers are children and young people who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse.

Young Carers at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology with artist Lara Jones

adultsWe run study days, regular workshops &

short courses on a range of topics.

Groups can also book for private tours.

crEativE writinG

Kettle’s Yard (extract) © Rhona McAdam, workshop participant 2012

Beneath the stairs a burnt angel

guards its heaven,

blind and thin as the prow

of a lost ship

while on the walls

the little boats trouble themselves

in all directions upon the paint,

unable to make sense

of the eye’s demands

and plants bathe in the window’s light,

stepped upon stones, each shelf a beach,

while outside winter comes and goes

in a watchful lens,

turning gently on its string,

its appetite for green.

sPotliGHt : saturdaY drawinG

Meeting fortnightly, Saturday Drawing participants experiment with drawing in its broadest sense. The sessions conclude with reflection on the morning’s work over a cup of tea. The artist educators create a welcoming environment for all levels of experience.

‘You were left to try out new things rather than having to stick to anything in particular – but the ideas given really helped to start you off. Also, I liked the evaluation of what we had achieved as a group at the end.’

‘Mind-Spirit-Body-Matter: Drawn to the Human’, a week-long drawing workshop during the Agnes Martin exhibition, 2010

FEEdBacK FroM coursE ParticiPants

‘I did study Design and Art History, but this one was amongst the very best classes I ever attended... It was very inspiring, very stimulating and I would like to thank everybody involved whole-heartedly.’

‘From the Handmade to the Readymade’

discussion-based sculpture course, 2011

‘A thoroughly enjoyable course – it was amazing how quickly the time has passed – an effective way to reduce stress and completely clear your mind of your daily worries.’

‘Blurring the Boundaries’ practical art workshops with staff

at Fulbourn Hospital, 2010

wE also oFFEr

• Freelunchtimetalksinthehouseandgallery

• Freetwilightsessions–achancetovisitthe

house at dusk

• Specialeventssuchasfilmscreeningsand

artist talks

• Studydays–recentexamplesinclude

poetry, print-making and dance

coMMunitY and outrEacH

Regular sessions over the past few years include:

•MonthlyvisitstoAddenbrooke’sHospital,

run in partnership with Wallace Cancer Care and

the Fitzwilliam Museum

• TouchanddescriptivetourswithCamsightfor

blind and partially sighted people

•ExhibitiontoursandhandlingsessionswithHilltop

Day Centre for adults with young onset dementia

sPotliGHt : a woMan’s PlacE

In Autumn 2010, artists Janine Woods and Hilary

Moreton ran a series of workshops with a group

of older women in sheltered accommodation at

Storeys House in Cambridge.

The women toured Kettle’s Yard, learned about the

original owners, and Helen Ede in particular, and

reflected on what home means to them.

Their textile designs were exhibited amongst the

permanent collection and the project concluded

with an evening for friends and family.

One participant commented, ‘At this age it is easy to stagnate’ and she found the challenge of learning new skills particularly inspiring.

A Woman’s Place received funding from Renaissance East of England Community Learning and Outreach Fund, administeredthroughtheUniversityofCambridgeMuseumsDevelopmentOfficer.

‘A Woman’s Place’ participant with her shell-design cushion

Teachers’ evening for the exhibition ‘Mischief: Lucia Nogueira’, 2011

ForMal Education

We support group

visits for all ages –

from nursery-aged

childrentoUniversity

students. We tailor

sessions to meet the

needs of the group,

working with teachers

to customise talks and

workshops.

Exhibition previews

for teachers include

refreshments, a tour

with discussion and a

chance to pick up new

resources and network

with colleagues.

sPotliGHt : tEacHEr traininG

Working with the Faculty of Education at Homerton

College, we introduce Initial Teacher Trainees to

techniques for engaging pupils with artworks.

‘It was very interactive and engaging. The Education Officers who worked with us were very friendly and illustrated a whole range of techniques and tips we can use.’

‘It really brought home the importance of artefacts and real objects and reinforced the importance of taking education out of the classroom when possible.’

Teacher Trainees, Early Years and Primary PGCE

ForMal Education in tHE HousE

Central Saint Martins art students installing work for a temporary exhibition, 2011

Parents and children from The Fields Children’s Centre participating in a practical workshop.

Part of the creation of ReCollection: Kettle’s Yard Oral History Archive, 2009

St Mary’s C of E Primary School pupils sketching the skyline from Castle Mound, a short walk from Kettle’s Yard

Model created by Comberton Village College pupils, working with artist Raksha Patel

sPotliGHt : sPacE MaKErs

A two-year partnership project (2011-13), Space

Makers focuses on architecture and the built

environment and follows the creation of the new

Education Wing. A Year 4/5 class from St Mary’s

C of E Primary School, St Neots and a BTEC class at

Comberton Village College are attending monthly

artist-led workshops.

Photography workshop with Marston Vale Middle School pupils, responding to the exhibition, ‘Tim Head: Raw Material’, 2010

tHE Education ProGraMME

Upto6,500peopleengagewiththeEducation

programme at Kettle’s Yard every year.

Upto350variedactivitiesandeventsaredelivered,

including talks, workshops, poetry readings, after

school art clubs and many more.

We collaborate with dozens of creative

practitioners,includingartists,filmmakers,writers,

poets, choreographers, architects and many more.

nEEd For cHanGE

We want to expand our programme to better meet the needs of existing audiences and welcome new audiences.

During 2012 and 2013 we will undergo an extensive building project to create new education spaces. These will replace our current education room and offer many new opportunities.

A reduced programme will run during the build period.

Pupils from St Mary’s C of E Primary School, St Neots participating in a Space Makers workshop with artist Jo Chapman

FuturE Plans

The new Education Wing will span four floors.

Its location, shown in the blue-shaded area, is

adjacent to the gallery and faces Castle Street.

Second Floor

•Discussion-basedsessionsanddigitalworkshops

•Seminars,illustratedtalks,filmscreeningsand

evening courses

• Film,sound,animationandphotography

workshops

•Accesstoonlineresources

FirSt Floor

• Café

Ground Floor

• Entrancethroughthemaingallery

•Orientationpoint

lower Ground Floor: clore learning Studio

• Practicalworkshopsforallages,ledbyartists

•Double-heightspacetostreetlevelallowsfor

natural light

•Abletoaccommodateafullclassof30pupils

tHE nEw Education winG

tHE Education winG will EnaBlE us to :

• Inspireandengagetwiceasmanyvisitors,both

onsite and online, through our new activities,

events and resources

• Improveourwelcomeandencouragenew

visitors

• Createnewpartnershipswithcommunitiesto

assist those who may need more support to

access our collections and exhibitions

• Buildlong-termpartnershipsandworkmore

closely with schools and communities in

Cambridge and the region

•Offernewopportunitiesandtrainingfor

volunteers

• Providespaciousandattractiveworkingspaces

thatarefit-for-purpose

•Runcreativeandinnovativeworkshopsthatmake

the most of new technologies

•Offerabetterexperienceforall

PlEasE GEt in toucH

to visitDue to the limited capacity of the house and gallery, groups are required to book in advance. Please see our website, email education@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 748100 for more information.The public programme of activities and events is advertised by leaflet and on the website. If you would like to be added to our e-mailing list, please contact mail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk.

to voluntEErVolunteers are crucial to the successful running of Kettle’s Yard andcontributeover6,000hoursofsupporteachyear.Tofindout more, go to www.kettlesyard.co.uk/supporters/volunteers or email rosie@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk

onlinE rEsourcEsVirtual tour of the house: www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/tourOral history archive: www.recollection.kettlesyard.co.uk Teachers’ packs: www.kettlesyard.co.uk/education/schools

FEEdBacK‘Going Behind the Scenes’ can be downloaded from the Kettle’s Yard website. We would appreciate your feedback – please go to www.kettlesyard.co.uk/GBTSfeedback to complete a very brief questionnaire.

We are very grateful to all who have supported the education wing and in particular the following major supporters:

The Monument TrustEdlis Neeson FoundationCloreDuffieldFoundationThe Foyle FoundationJ Paul Getty Jr Charitable TrustSir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary SettlementCambridge City Council

Kettle’S YArd Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQtelephone 01223 748100www.kettlesyard.co.ukmail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk

Opening hours are subject to change due to building works, please see our website or call for more information.