This week on the blog, Nadia Perrotta, Arts Learning Officer at the Historic Dockyard Chatham tells us about an event they ran for home educated young people and their families linked to one of their art exhibitions. Young people created their own ink/splat characters as part of their Arts Award Discover which helped them gain confidence and open up doors to new opportunities.
A day of creativity
In October last year, the Historic Dockyard Chatham came alive with laughter, creativity, and a whole lot of ink splatter! Our Home Educator Art Day welcomed families from across Kent to a vibrant celebration of art inspired by the legendary artist Ralph Steadman. But this wasn’t just any art day—thanks to sponsorship from Kent Reliance, children also had the chance to embark on their journey towards Arts Award Discover, making the event both fun and meaningful.
A warm welcome for home educators
With a mix of pre-bookings and walk-ins, the art day welcomed 45 attendees, including 20 enthusiastic children ready to dive into the workshops. The positive energy in the room was infectious, with parents and children alike embracing the creative process.
Promotions through social media, direct emails, and local networks helped us connect with the vibrant home-educating community, and the feedback we’ve received speaks volumes. One attendee called the event ‘inspiring’, and we couldn’t agree more!
Bringing Arts Award to life
This year marked an exciting first for our Home Educator Art Days: the introduction of Arts Award Discover! Families were encouraged to document their creative journeys in logbooks, showcasing the imaginative work they created during the day. By offering an Arts Award opportunity to home-educated families for the first time, we’ve opened a new chapter in engaging this community with arts education.
Ink-splatter shenanigans: letting creativity flow
For Part A of Discover, I led some art workshops which the young people and parents/carers participated in and were a highlight of the day. Splatter Shenanigans invited participants to unleash their inner Steadman, turning playful ink splats into quirky, imaginative characters. From bold lines to unexpected shapes, the creations were as unique as the children themselves.
One parent shared, ‘My children (aged 10 and 16) and I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. It was such a relaxed atmosphere, and the staff were so friendly. It was hands-on and so much fun!’
Another family loved the freedom to experiment, saying, ‘We got to try something new and messy—just perfect for my son!’
As with any first-time initiative, there’s always room to grow, and we’re already exploring ways to refine and repeat this experience in the future.
Learning about artists and artistic inspiration
Participants dove into the life and work of Ralph Steadman for Part B (Find out), whose exhibition ‘Inkling’ served as the centrepiece of the event. Through guided exploration, they learned about Steadman’s bold career, his love for tackling challenging topics, and his signature ink-splatter technique.
To broaden their artistic horizons, families were encouraged to explore the Historic Dockyard site using a specially designed art map. This map highlighted creative treasures scattered throughout the Dockyard, from ship models and historical engravings to larger sculptures and intricate ropework. These unique artistic elements sparked curiosity and opened up new avenues of inspiration for the young learners.
Sharing achievements at their own pace
For Part C (Share), the emphasis was on creating a safe and welcoming environment where participants felt comfortable sharing their creations and what they enjoyed and learnt from doing their Arts Award Discover. Children talked about their ink-splat characters within their family groups during the event, fostering a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. Many families chose to extend this sharing experience at home, discussing the day with other family members who couldn’t attend and documenting their reflections in digital logbooks. This flexible approach ensured that every child could engage and celebrate their achievements in a way that suited them best.
Why days like these matter
Home Educator Art Day was about more than art; it was about creating connections, building confidence, and opening doors to new opportunities. By linking creative workshops to Arts Award Discover, we showed families that art isn’t just something you do—it’s something you achieve.
Looking ahead
After the success of this event, we’re brimming with ideas for future Home Educator Days. From celebrating new themes to creating even more opportunities for young people to gain an Arts Award qualification, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
At the Historic Dockyard Chatham, we believe every young person has a story to tell and an artwork to create. And if it happens to start with an ink splatter? Even better.
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