Students and Pupils, Old and Young, All Enjoying 20-21

Last Thursday (4 December) was a busy one here at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre as we welcomed visitors from both St Luke's Primary School and North Lindsey College. 

The group from St Luke's came to look at Nick Sharratt's 'Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants' exhibition. The exhibition explores the colourful world of  internationally-renowned author and illustrator, Nick Sharratt, so it is excellent for school groups to explore not only art and design, but also literacy.

Visitors enjoying the Nick Sharratt dressing up box

The neoprene costumes in the exhibition, based on some of Nick's illustrations, proved to be really popular with both staff and pupils!

Whilst they were here, the St Luke's pupils also made use of our Activity Table. Using ideas from Nick Sharratt's lift-the-flaps books 'Fancy Dress Farmyard' and 'Fancy Dress Jungle', they designed their own fancy dress costume for a sheep, pig or chicken. 

Fancy Dress Jungle, Nick Sharratt

Photography students from North Lindsey College, meanwhile, came to look at Simon Longworth's photographs. Brought up in Winteron, Simon worked as an army photographer during a 6 month tour of Afghanistan, documenting army life from the dramatic to the mundane. 

Simon Longworth's exhibition

Although they came primarily for Simon's poignant photographs, the students just couldn't resist a quick snap of themselves in our Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants comic façade - and we don't blame them!

(Not the NLC students - they wouldn't let us ruin their street cred')

St Luke's joins the expanding list of schools that have visited or organised a visit to see Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants here at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. Don't worry if your school haven't booked their visit yet, there is still time before the exhibition closes on 21 February. 
You can contact us to book a visit to any of our exhibitions for your school or college on 01724 297070, or email us at education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk.

Scunthorpe C of E - Master Puppeteers!

On Wednesday, 3 December, Scunthorpe Church of England Primary School came to 20-21 to have a look at our Nick Sharratt exhibition and then have a workshop on puppet-making! 

Everyone hard at work creating their puppets

The year 1s at Scunthorpe CofE have been looking at the topic of toys and came to 20-21 to try their hands at making their own.

Talk to the puppet

Looking around the Nick Sharratt, 'Pirates Pants and Wellyphants' exhibition, the children took ideas about the different types of characters they could make; human, animal or otherwise! 

Back in the Education Room, the children designed their own characters on paper using ideas from the exhibition and then learnt how to bring their characters to life as their very own puppets - even making them talk!





Each child took their puppet home and we were really impressed with their imaginative characters.


If you would like your school to become master puppeteers too, or to organise your own tour and workshop, please get in touch on 01724 297070, or email us at education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk

Spaces Still Available for the 20-21 Teachers' Group

The 20-21 Teachers' Group is a space for arts educators across all sectors and Key Stages to meet, share ideas and learn new skills in the arts.

The first Teachers' Group session was held on 14th October and delivered by artist Dominic Heffer, who focused on improving drawing skills.

We received some fantastic feedback from teachers from the first session;

"Very informative. Lovely atmosphere. Super interaction with others. Expert, exciting knowledge, super delivery. Many thanks, a very enjoyable experience."

"Superb workshop with excellent instruction. I feel much more confident about trying drawing activities in school myself now." 

But don't worry if you weren't there, you haven't missed out as the 20-21 Teacher's Group still has places available!

Artist Linda Ingham will deliver the next session on improving painting skills on 27th January.Then in April, Alexis Rago will lead the group in a different direction and focus on using clay to coincide with Anthony Gormley's, The Field, here at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. 

20-21 Teacher's Group meet three times every academic year and membership costs only £120. However, joining now will mean a reduced rate of only £80 for the rest of the academic year.

Being a member of the 20-21 Teacher's group, you also receive the following benefits:

• 10% discount on your school workshop bookings,
• 10% discount on all Teacher Training,
• One FREE Guided Tour per school year,
• 10% discount in 20-21’s café and gift shop for the named teacher for the school year,
• A one-to-one consultation meeting with an experienced arts educator worth £50.

If you are interested in joining the Teacher's Group at 20-21, please do not hesitate to contact us on education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or by calling 01724 297070.

Praise for Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants

Praise for Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants has been flooding in as visitors, old and young alike, are captivated by Nick Sharratt's colourful illustrations. 

The exhibition, which opened in October and will continue until 21st February next year, has also been growing over the past few weeks with the addition of; a replica of Nick's studio, complete with lightboxes; a comic façade with Tracy Beaker, Pirate Pete and the pants gorilla and even more books for our reading corner! 

"Lookin' good, mum!"

We've also been getting some great feedback from families visiting the exhibition:

“I came with my 3 grandchildren and we all thought the exhibition was excellent. There was so much for them to do and I still learnt something new at 80!”

“A fantastic exhibition - Lots for kids and for big kids like me too!”

“It was amazing! I met Nick Sharratt and he signed my book and I really enjoyed drawing on the drawing wall and really liked all the activities! IT WAS AMAZING!!!”

Nick's Studio; the lightboxes allow visitors to try drawing some of Nick's illustrations for themselves.

For schools wishing to visit the exhibition, there is an education pack available which includes an exhibition activity book for pupils and a resource pack for teachers, chock-full of information and ideas for before, during and after their visit. 

To book a self-guided tour for your school, or to find out about the other educational opportunities that come with Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants, feel free to contact our Audience Engagement Officer, Joy Buckley on education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 297070. 

Celebrating Literacy Links with Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants!

20-21 Visual Arts Centre has world with world renowned children's author and illustrator, Nick Sharratt, to develop Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants: The Illustrated World of Nick Sharratt, which opened at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre on Saturday 25th October and runs until 21st February 2015. 

 Nick joins the visitors in doodling on our drawing wall

On what was one of the busiest weekends in 20-21's history, there were huge queues to meet the man himself - which just goes to show how Nick's distinctive illustrations have captured the imaginations of children and adults alike.

 He has depicted characters from books including; The 100 Mile An Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong; Jacqueline Wilson's Tracy Beaker; the hugely popular picture book, You Choose; and the hilarious Ketchup On Your Cornflakes, written and illustrated by Nick. 

Ahoy there! - The giant neoprene costumes have gone down a storm

Through fun, 'hands-on' displays, the exhibition tells the story of how Nick became an illustrator, what inspires his work and what brings his world of vibrant and humorous characters to life.




There are a number of educational opportunities available with this exhibition, from self-guided tours to workshops. For more information, please contact us on our education email, education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or call us on 01724 297070. 

Crosby Primary's After School Art Club Host Their Own Exhibition!

This academic year saw the start of a new project at Crosby Primary School.

The After School Art Club at Crosby Primary School started in September and is already proving to be a big success. The pupils are exploring the themes of buildings and architecture through a wide variety of art forms.

As well as teaching new artistic skills and how to master new materials, we have also incorporated elements of maths, science and literacy into the sessions.

It has been great fun so far and the kids are really proud of the fantastic work they've produced. So proud, in fact, that they decided to hold their own exhibition to showcase their talents to their parents and teachers! 

'At the last week we invited parents and teachers. 

Art club was cool.' 

They designed and produced their own invitations for the event and then took it in turns to present the artwork to the audience.

'I think this club was the best because there was lots of fun activities every week. I liked best making the houses.' 

 They cannot wait to come back to Art Club next term.

20-21 Visual Arts Centre could run an After School Art Club at your school too. If you're interested, please get in touch via education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or by calling 01724 297070.

20-21 Teachers' Group Have Their First Meeting

Developed on feedback from teachers across North Lincolnshire schools, the 20-21 Teachers' Group is a space for arts educators across all sectors and Key Stages to meet, share ideas and learn skills in the arts.

The first Teachers' Group session on 14th October was delivered by artist Dominic Heffer. He focused on improving drawing skills, in line with The Big Draw, and helped to prepare teachers for work back in the classroom.

The first session, full of fantastic, useful ideas, went down well with teachers;

"Very informative. Lovely atmosphere. Super interaction with others. Expert, exciting knowledge, super delivery. Many thanks, a very enjoyable experience."

"Superb workshop with excellent instruction. I feel much more confident about trying drawing activities in school myself now." 


The second session, due to take place in January, will be delivered by artist, Linda Ingham, who will focus on improving painting skills. The third and final session of the academic year will take place in April and artist Alexis Rago will lead it to coincide with Anthony Gormley's, The Field, here at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. Alexis will deliver something entirely different to the previous sessions and will focus on using clay.

20-21 Teacher's Group meet three times every academic year with membership costing only £120!

You will also receive the following benefits:

10% discount on your all school workshop bookings.
10% discount on all Teacher Training.
One FREE Guided Tour per school year.
10% discount in 20-21’s café and gift shop for the named teacher for one school year.
A one-to-one consultation meeting with an experienced arts educator worth £50.

If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us on education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or by calling 01724 297070.

Priory Lane Community School visit Australia for the day!

Shadow Puppetry has triumphed once again!  We spent a day with year fives of Priory Lane Community School, this week. The year are studying Australia as their classroom topic and approached Education at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, to help them embed their topic in a fun and engaging way for the end of term. 

Our shadow screen with its plush and swanky red velvet curtains.

We began the sessions with discussions about Australia; the types of animals we find there, the sort of sport and recreation people get up to in that continent and places people might visit if they go on holiday. 

Luckily, almost all of the answers featured in the story that had been written by 20-21's Education Officer.

Pupils began making their puppets. Wallaby and koala templates had been made, but children were also given the opportunity to create their own animals and story sections, too. 

The boys' table concentrating on their wallabies and making effective use of the card they'd been given

Teacher assistants were really getting into the spirit!

This table were excellent team payers, helping each other out at various stages! They should be proud!

Some of the wallaby mums and babies and koalas waiting to go on trees.

When all the puppets were made and ready. Demonstrations were given as to how we create scenery and different effects, using a light source and a variety of objects. 

The Education Officer acted as casting director and we all had a few practice runs of telling the story, while the pupils acted out their parts. 

Then the performance was ready to begin:

The Goodchilds took a holiday last year. They went to Australia on an aeroplane! 

When they got there, the Goodchilds got into the spirit of things! Mr Goodchild wore his Australia hat and Mrs Goodchild put on her sunglasses.

They really looked the part as they headed off to Bondi Beach, where they saw lots of surfers and took lots of selfies with their modern camera, with the glistening sea in the background. 

Next, they hopped on a bus tour to explore Australia’s wonderful places:

They drove through the TV set of Neighbours

They drove passed the Sydney Opera House

They drove passed the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Then they got off the bus at the Australian Outback. Where they saw:

A family of koalas in the trees.

A court of wallabies hopping in the distance.

A slippery snake.

Some creepy poisonous spiders.

And they met a big friendly kangaroo.
The Goodchilds made friends with this kangaroo, who convinced them to move to Australia forever. 

One oft he year five classes has learned the words to the song "Land Down Under" and even had dance movements for each of the lines. This was a really special treat for the staff at 20-21, so we decided to add this mini performance onto the end of our shadow play. 

It was an honour to have seen the children acting this song out again! 

Shadow Puppets remains our most popular workshop, because we are able to embed class topic, science, literacy, drama and a lot of fun! Here's some of the feedback from children:

"I enjoyed the shadow puppets and acting out the play and there was nothig that could be better!!" - Brooke, 10

"I thought it was amazing and I loved it." - Anna, 10

"It was good team work. I liked everything." - Jessica, 10

"Everything was amazing and fun. I really want to do it again!" - Callum, 10

"I abserlutely loved it, the scenes was really good and all the sound effects was really good. Everyone got a part and it was just great fun. I would definately reccomend it. It was totally worth it!" - Amy, 10

"I don't think I can say anything bad about it. Haley and Anya do a very good thing to make children happy and laugh. Thanks for coming" - Katy, 10

And some feedback from Mrs Dickens-McCreight, Class Teacher of Year 5s -"A very successful workshop which fully engaged the children. Akk children enjoyed the making and the producing of the shadow puppet workshop."

Newsletter Nine

Issue Nine of our Education at 20-21 Newsletter helps you uncover what we've been up to, exciting news, information on our brand new 20-21 Teachers’ Group and some top notch workshop and exhibition opportunities for you in the new school year!

This has been a really exciting and busy year for us here at Education at 20-21, we've delivered lots of bespoke workshops, run some projects with entire schools, gained a Quality Award from Learning Outside the Classroom Council and developed some fabulous teacher training opportunities. We hope you'll stay in touch for all the excitement planned for the next school year!

We love to hear from schools who are using the arts innovatively in the classroom and across the curriculum. Get in touch and send any photos you'd like us to put into our next newsletter, or onto our blog which features details and pictures of all the schools who engage with Education at 20-21.

For further information on anything that is of interest to you or your school, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01724 297070 or email education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk