Invitation to schools

PlayGround - Phase 1

A creative environment to learn by doing

1 IN SHORT

--gt WHAT PlayGround is an interactive and participant-led project for play performance and learning that Bow Arts Education and Dutch art collective TAAT (Theatre in Architecture Architecture in Theatre) are developing together PlayGround invites a group of people from across the school commununity to build a playful environment together

--gt WHY Through PlayGround we want to support three schools to explore how they can incorporate open-ended artistic processes across different learning contexts In its pilot phase we are inviting teachers pupils and school staff to co-create and develop PlayGround with us

--gt WHO At least one group of 10 ndash 15 people We encourage participants who come from across the school community including pupils from different year groups teachers and other school staff and parents

--gt WHERE AND WHEN Your school NovemberDecember 2016

1

Bow Arts project with Sara Heywood

Bow Arts project with Poppy Green

KHOR II a building kit for a pavilion by TAAT

2 CONTEXT AND OUTLINE

We are inviting schools to test out PlayGround a physical toolkit and workshop for collaborative learning that Bow Arts Education and TAAT a Dutch art collective are developing together Through PlayGround we want to support schools to explore the role and value of contemporary art across subjects and school life

PlayGround invites students teachers staff parents and artists and to build a temporary space and playing field together using a combination of modular units we are designing and everyday objects The group will make independent and collective decisions to continually adjust and re-adjust the shape of the architecture and the order of the objects creating different constellations We will lead participants through this process nurturing their ability to associate reflect question observe and experiment

In this pilot phase we will prototype both the initial designs of the modular units and the workshop format How could building a playful environment together develop communication and critical thinking skills Can we create a non-hierarchical space where everyonersquos input is equal and valued Will this approach nurture creativity and increase confidence Our aspiration is that PlayGround can be used across a range of contexts to address a number of priorities such as community cohesion cross-curricular learning and Philosophy for Children

Visual reference open-ended playground structure

3 INDICATIvE PLAYGROUND TImELINE(planning and timeline will be negotiated further in close dialogue with you)1 Initial meeting with Lydia from Bow Arts and staff and or students to

determine the project plan and parameters2 PlayGround session using the toolkit in school during late November

early December3 Evaluation and reflection with TAAT Bow Arts staff and students

4 WHAT DO WE EXPECT YOU AND THE PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN fROm TESTING OUT PLAYGROUND

bull At least 1 x day PlayGround session with TAAT and Bow Artsbull Inspiration and enjoyment from working with artists and members of

the school community to co-create a playful physical environmentbull Increased skills in critical thinking and reflectionbull Increased skills in collaborative learning communication and team

working bull Increased confidence to take risks by participating in an open-ended

artistic processbull Greater understanding of own and othersrsquo creativity bull Broadened knowledge and understanding of contemporary art

practices and how they can support learning across the curriculumbull A digital set of high quality photographs documenting the workshop

and an evaluation report

3What will your PlayGround look like

Visual reference Coherent but adaptable structures 5 WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO PROvIDE

bull A member of staff to act as the main contact for PlayGround and who can attend planning and reflection sessions at school

bull At least one group of 10 ndash 15 people from across the school community to participate in workshops and reflection sessions Depending on the age of particpants and nature of the group(s) we anticipate running 2 x one hour workshops and 2 x 30 minute reflection sessions

bull A suitable space for the workshop ideally a communal area which is at least 10m x10m and clear of furniture

bull Everyday school objects to use in the workshop which will help us to prototype the design eg chairs tables sports equipment stationery

bull Budget to cover material and transportation costs (approx pound100)bull Permission for Bow Arts TAAT and Tandem Europe to use the

documentation from PlayGround in promotional material

INTERESTED LET US kNOW bY 15 JULY 2016

Let us know if yoursquore keen to host PlayGround by contacting Lydia at lashmanbowartscom or on 020 8709 5291 Please tell us why you are interested and what you hope to get out of it

TAAT are a Dutch art collective who work on the cutting edge of theatre and architecture

Bow Arts Education take world-class artists into schools across London to improve the lives and

learning of children and young people

Bow Arts and TAAT are developing PlayGround as part of Tandem Europe an international cultural

managers exchange PlayGround forms part of 10Experiments a series of interventions and activity

designed to develop the Bow Arts education programme

wwwbowartsorgeducation wwwtaat-projectscom wwwtandemexchangeeu

Visual reference existing building kit prototypes in schools

Crossing boundaries by building together

3 INDICATIvE PLAYGROUND TImELINE(planning and timeline will be negotiated further in close dialogue with you)1 Initial meeting with Lydia from Bow Arts and staff and or students to

determine the project plan and parameters2 PlayGround session using the toolkit in school during late November

early December3 Evaluation and reflection with TAAT Bow Arts staff and students

4 WHAT DO WE EXPECT YOU AND THE PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN fROm TESTING OUT PLAYGROUND

bull At least 1 x day PlayGround session with TAAT and Bow Artsbull Inspiration and enjoyment from working with artists and members of

the school community to co-create a playful physical environmentbull Increased skills in critical thinking and reflectionbull Increased skills in collaborative learning communication and team

working bull Increased confidence to take risks by participating in an open-ended

artistic processbull Greater understanding of own and othersrsquo creativity bull Broadened knowledge and understanding of contemporary art

practices and how they can support learning across the curriculumbull A digital set of high quality photographs documenting the workshop

and an evaluation report

3What will your PlayGround look like

Visual reference Coherent but adaptable structures 5 WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO PROvIDE

bull A member of staff to act as the main contact for PlayGround and who can attend planning and reflection sessions at school

bull At least one group of 10 ndash 15 people from across the school community to participate in workshops and reflection sessions Depending on the age of particpants and nature of the group(s) we anticipate running 2 x one hour workshops and 2 x 30 minute reflection sessions

bull A suitable space for the workshop ideally a communal area which is at least 10m x10m and clear of furniture

bull Everyday school objects to use in the workshop which will help us to prototype the design eg chairs tables sports equipment stationery

bull Budget to cover material and transportation costs (approx pound100)bull Permission for Bow Arts TAAT and Tandem Europe to use the

documentation from PlayGround in promotional material

INTERESTED LET US kNOW bY 15 JULY 2016

Let us know if yoursquore keen to host PlayGround by contacting Lydia at lashmanbowartscom or on 020 8709 5291 Please tell us why you are interested and what you hope to get out of it

TAAT are a Dutch art collective who work on the cutting edge of theatre and architecture

Bow Arts Education take world-class artists into schools across London to improve the lives and

learning of children and young people

Bow Arts and TAAT are developing PlayGround as part of Tandem Europe an international cultural

managers exchange PlayGround forms part of 10Experiments a series of interventions and activity

designed to develop the Bow Arts education programme

wwwbowartsorgeducation wwwtaat-projectscom wwwtandemexchangeeu

Visual reference existing building kit prototypes in schools

Crossing boundaries by building together