Happy International Women’s Day! This is a great time to check in with your young people and celebrate the work of inspirational women in their chosen art form. One of our Trinity Champion Centres, Sherwood Young Artists, did just that! Founder, Natasha East, explains the importance of young women at her centre sharing their female role-models and how this led to discussing their hopes and dreams for the future…
A few years back, in one of my art classes, a young girl asked me why we only learnt about male artists? I had a quick recollect of who we had recently looked at – Picasso, Rousseau, Seurat, Mackintosh, of course all amazing artists, but yes, they were all male, and not only that, but they were all white European males. This obviously wasn’t an intentional choice, rather a complete oversight, possibly a product of how Art history has been written, or of the artists I was taught about as a child. However, as I looked at this young girl in front of me and then at the rest of the wonderfully diverse children in her class, I suddenly realised how important it was that I taught them about a whole range of different artists, designers and cultural art. Giving them positive role models that they could personally identify with and feel empowered by.
I met with my Gold Arts Award students yesterday evening and we spoke about this and about the importance of International Women’s Day. We discussed the female artists that they had learnt about and researched whilst completing their Arts Awards, their female role-models and how they have inspired them with their own arts practice.
They talked about the Fashion Designer legends that were Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood. They spoke in admiration about how they had the courage to break the mould and change fashion forever. They talked about the Architect Zaha Hadid and of how her futuristic buildings are global and truly iconic. They spoke about the award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter, whose designs for the Black Panther films were just simply ‘awesome’. They spoke fondly of the author and illustrator Lauren Child, about her quirky characters and her imaginative use of mixed media. They recognised and respected the imaginative work of Yoyoi Kusama, especially her use of colour and pattern. They also reviewed and shared a whole array of emerging female artists that they follow on social media. Young female artists such as Liz Karcewski and Lois Van Baarle who they have definitely identified with and take so much inspiration from.
These wonderful young women then inspired me as they discussed their hopes and dreams for the future. Their Arts Award journeys have certainly given them the skills, knowledge and confidence that they will require to embark on a creative career, and they have great plans! Plans of working in Graphic Design, Fashion and Textile Design, Architecture, Illustration and Animation. Aspirations of being at the top of their game and making a positive difference through their creativity. As I listened to them and felt their determination and passion, I absolutely believe they will be successful and indeed make a real difference, and who knows, they could well be the artists that I will be teaching the children about in the future.
Thanks to Natasha and Sherwood Young Artists for sharing this story. If you’ve been inspired today, why not follow this centre and open a discussion on women that inspire your young people – they could even use one as their chosen artist to research for Arts Award, for example in Discover Part B, Explore Part B or Bronze Part C.
Does your centre run interesting projects, regularly deliver and act as an ambassador for Trinity College London exams? If so, you may want to consider applying to become a Trinity Champion Centre. In return, we celebrate achievements, profile your success and promote your work as part of our support offer to teachers and centres. Applications for 2023-2024 have now opened and you can apply here. The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 29th March. Contact Amy.Lee@trinitycollege.com for further information.
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