Planning an Arts week
The following brief notes are designed to help you organise an Arts Week in your
school, and provide guidance on planning, budgeting, getting helpers involved and
choosing a suitable theme.
Our Project Teaching Packs also provide detailed notes and step by step instructions
for a range of different projects and are invaluable for running a successful and
enjoyable Arts Week. For teachers in Hampshire and Surrey we can help with the organisation
and run courses for teachers before an Arts Week. Alternatively we could be involved
during your Arts week, offering support ranging from individual days to running the
whole week. See the Artworkshops web site for more details.
Generally an Arts Week will include not only art & craft but other arts such as music,
storytelling, drama and if possible dance. It does involve work for the art-coordinator
in planning timetables and activities, ordering materials and deciding on where things
will happen. But the more organised you are the better the week will be. Remember
it is always a positive experience for both staff and children.
The key points are:
The key points to take into account when organising and Arts Week are:
• Budget - how much can you spend? You will need extra materials, and if you can
afford it a specialist visitor or two. Most schools encourage children to contribute
towards an Arts week; they will after all be taking home exciting art (you hope!!).
The costs vary but generally a few pounds each will cover most of the additional
cost of materials. This can make a big difference to your budget.
• Adult visitors - find someone (or a group) who can come into your school and talk
or demonstrate something. This can be visiting artists which can often be found
by contacting local art/sculpture societies. Lists are usually in your local library
and sometimes on the internet. You will usually have to pay a fee, but not always.
A school appeal can also generate adults who can show or do something related to
travel or a hobby. You will also need extra adult help during an arts week - this
means you can do more exciting unusual art with more help.
• Theme - this is the key to a successful week. You can choose all sorts of different
themes but if you know someone who has artefacts, photographs etc. relating to a
particular theme then this could be your starting point.
• Display - this is really important at the beginning as it will excite and enthuse
everyone. It is also important at the end to show everyone what's been achieved.
• Record the week - this is important for all sorts of reasons including OFSTED!
If you have a school digital camera make sure you take lots of photographs. If not
then cheap disposable cameras can be very effective. Also make sure you celebrate
the event afterwards through the local newspaper.
• Inclusion of a variety of different Arts In successful Arts weeks the art co-ordinator
includes a variety of different Arts in the week. Story telling and drama/dance,
music, food (trip to the local Indian/Chinese restaurant) can all led on to creating
art and craft. In many cases new processes can be explored. In the more successful
Arts weeks every activity is linked to the chosen theme.
• Lots of resources Many resources should be provided for teachers and children
to use to create their art/craft. Pictures, photographs and artefacts (pots, fabrics,
masks etc.) can all used to stimulate creative ideas.
Our Project Teaching Packs include resources to support work during an Arts week
and suggest where to obtain more information.
Please contact us if you would like us to be involved with organising or running
part of your Arts Week in Hampshire or Surrey.
Arts week themes
