Engage is two! Gray’s boosts arts’ education in the North East of Scotland

Since starting almost two years ago, Engage at Gray's has welcomed 700 participants from across the North East of Scotland and established 89 collaborations with 37 different creative practitioners from the region’s creative economy.

The creative programme includes a mix of art weekender workshops, a portfolio building course (online and physical) and evening workshops.

A particular success for Engage, has been ‘A Week in the Life of Art School’, offered for the first time this summer, to 47 young creatives aged 16 – 19, from 18 different secondary schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, as well as NESCol.

The five-day interactive programme included art and design workshops, an artist talk, a ‘group crit’ and participants had the opportunity to install and exhibit their own artwork.

Organisers herald their collaboration with RGU’s widening access team, ACCESS RGU and Gray’s Mobile Art School, as a particular success for the programme, as young people from under-represented groups were prioritised to take part.

Dr Dan Allen, Dean of Gray’s School of Art, said: “We are delighted by the success of Gray’s creative development programme, Engage, and our ability to widen access to arts’ education, particularly to those from under-represented groups. Our programme supports the transition from school to university and provides a practical insight to what students experience in their first year of study at Gray’s School of Art. As central government and local authority funding for the arts declines, it is vital that Gray’s offers a vibrant creative development programme to keep pathways open to an arts education.

“In addition to widening access to the arts, Gray’s Engage programme is a major boost for the region’s creative economy. Since starting almost two years ago, we have collaborated with 37 different creative practitioners, including many alumni from Gray’s, who have delivered a rolling series of Art Weekenders. With Creative Scotland confirming last week that funding has been withdrawn over concerns about the Scottish governments budget, it is critical we continue to support emerging creative practitioners and offer them opportunities to develop their practice, amidst a challenging economic climate.”

Reflecting on her experience taking part in Gray’s Week in the Life of Art School, one participant said: “The artist talk was great as it gave me an idea of what life would be like at the school, and hearing from one of its current students was the icing on the cake.”

Another participant said: “An amazing experience for young artists and a great introduction to what I could possibly be doing in the future.”

Emmajane Kingaby, Creative Development Co-ordinator for Engage and an alumni from Gray’s said: “We were stoked to deliver our first ever ‘A Week in the Life of Art School’. This new provision was delivered by alumni of Gray’s and both staff and students played an integral part of this.

“We were excited to welcome the next generation of creatives into our art school and share what it’s like to study at Gray’s School of Art. The feedback we received from participants is confirmation that the week we created had a positive impact on those involved. This only fuels our ambitions for year three of Engage.

“A BIG thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far."

Gray’s rich creative development programme has been designed in direct response to feedback from members of the public and is open to beginners and more experienced practitioners who want to build up their skills in art and design.

The ‘Week in the Life of Art School’ is a collaboration between, ACCESS RGU, Engage, Mobile Art Schooland Look Again Aberdeen and is fully funded by Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University and Access to Creative Education Scotland.

Gray’s is taking part in Aberdeen’s Doors Open Days | Gray's School of Art on Saturday 7 September and Sunday 8 September at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30.  Visitors can come and explore Gray’s and tours will be led by staff from RGU's Arts and Heritage Collections.

Images show 'A Week in the Life of Art School' at Gray's School of Art, credit Nicole Paterson.