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

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.