News Release
Artist and primary schools chosen for MK Gallery’s
new outdoor learning programme
The Green Town Group appointed artist, James Aldridge.
Today MK Gallery’s Learning Teamhas announced the artist and MK primary schoolschosen to participate in The Green Town Group, the gallery’spilot programme of artist-led activity designed to test new approaches to outdoor learning taking place over the next six months, supported by The Ernest Cook Trust.
Heading up the exciting initiative will be artistJames Aldridge, a Wiltshire-based visual artist whose practice combines sensory interaction - such as walking, collecting and making - with research into ecology and history. Selected by MK Gallery from an open call for artists, James has experience of heritage, arts and environmental organisations, and has worked with people ranging from pre-school children through to doctoral students.
From an open call advertising the outdoor learning opportunity to all MK primary schools MK Gallery has selected the following four schools to participate in the project:
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Bletchley;Holne Chase Primary School, Bletchley; Brooklands Farm Primary School and Pepper Hill School in Bradville.
The Green Town Groupwill involve around 130 Key Stage 1 pupils from across the four chosen schools to each take part in three outdoor learning sessions in MK Parks Trust sites between January and July this year. Intended to enable schools to develop skills in outdoor learning in relation to contemporary arts practice, the sessions will also inspire and support teachers with cross-curricular links.
Each school’s participation in the project will culminate in a whole school celebration, involving hundreds more pupils. All children taking part in the programme will also have the chance to achieve their Arts Award Discover certificate, a scheme accredited by Trinity College London.
Commenting on his appointment James Aldridge said: “I’m excited to be working with
MK Gallery this year, using my practice to help bring the outdoors alive for local people.
I’m looking forward to exploring the green spaces of Milton Keynes with school children and families, digging into its past together and examining its role as a home for wildlife as well as people.”
Ian Fraser, Assistant Head Teacher at Holne Chase Primary School said: "We are really looking forward to taking part in the project, especially for how it will help our children to appreciate seasonal changes in the natural environment around them, and for the skills that they will learn from an artist. This will be a springboard for more outdoor learning opportunities throughout Holne Chase, both this year and in the future."
Bethany Mitchell, MK Gallery’s Childhood Learning Coordinator added: “We are delighted with
our chosen artist and schools. As lead artist, James will devise creative activities that will touch on many areas of the national curriculum and allow resultant learning to be fed back into the classroom. And at the end of The Green Town Group project we’ll use what we’ve learnt with pupils and teachers to help shape MK Gallery’s future learning programme.”
Notes to Editors
James Aldridge
Artist James Aldridge’s work forms a body of research into the role that art can play in supporting the development ofan expanded personal and environmental awareness, with benefits for learning, well-being, and the development of more sustainable, resilient ways of living. For more details visit
The Ernest Cook Trust
The Ernest Cook Trust is one of the UK’s leading outdoor learning charities, encouraging children and young people to learn from the land through hands-on outdoor learning opportunities on its estates and by offering grants.
The Parks Trust
The Parks Trust is anindependent charity that cares for c.5,000 acres of Milton Keynes’ green spaces, including river valleys, woodlands, lakesides, parks and landscaped areas alongside the main roads – comprising c.25 percent of the new city area.
Arts Award
Arts Award is a range of nationally recognised qualifications across five levels (Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, Gold) that support anyone up to age 25 togrow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them toconnectwith and take partin the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form - from fashion to film making, pottery to poetry. MK Gallery has trained arts awards advisers who support children to achieve their Arts Awards via its regular and seasonal informal family learning workshops.
MK Gallery
Established in October 1999, MK Gallery presents free, changing exhibitions of world class art. MK Gallery, 900 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3QA.
MK Gallery Expansion
MK Gallery is expanding. By 2017, the city’s 50th anniversary year, it will become a world-class cultural, artistic and social centre with doubled exhibition spaces, facilities for cinema, performances and events, dedicated education and community resources and a new café /bar and shop.
MK Gallery Project Space
During the expansion period MK Gallery continues to present a programme of weekly public events in MK Gallery Project Space (opposite the main building), together with a series of archival Flashback displays examining the gallery’s 16 year exhibition history.
MK Gallery Supporters
MK Gallery receives core funding from Milton Keynes Council and Arts Council England.
Press Information
For interviews, information or images please contact Katharine Sorensen, Communications Director, MK Gallery. Tel: 01908 558318 / E:
Ends / Date of issue 19 January 2016
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