THE HERO INSIDE PROGRAMME: LONDON
Creative Producer
MANAGE appoint ,..... a project that would tackle barriers to learning, boost self-confidence, develop critical thinking and raise black achievement.
DEVISE creative opportunities for students, teachers and schools to work together.
PRODUCE a public event to build cohesion among the community.
The Approach
CREATIVE ELEMENTS commissioned NOMAD CREATIVE CONSULTANCY to develop a took the popular art form of the comic arts and forum theatre to explore a range of storytelling techniques to enable young people to look within and understand the attributes associated with a hero.
EMPOWER participants to create new stories by enabling them to look to themselves and their families for inspiration.
ORGANISE schools to host workshops with partner school to foster cohesion.
CREATE opportunities for young people to work with specialist drama facilitators and illustrators to enable them to animate their imaginative stories for the public exhibition.
CURATE an interactive, multimedia public exhibition to showcase the creative learning process of the students following the two-month programme alongside a specialist African American comic exhibition.
Programme Structure
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT sessions designed and delivered by Sarah Nunn.
LEARNING RESOURCE created for teachers at the participating schools to enable them to prepare for the three stages and embed the work into the classroom.
STAGE 1: DRAMA WRITING WORKSHOPS led by the Workshop Director and a team of professional actors.
STAGE 2: ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS led by professional illustrator from Static Motion.
SPECIALISED FOCUSED GROUP WORKSHOPS Six vulnerable students of African descent from each school were selected to participate in a series of workshops focusing on building self-esteem, positive self-image and fostering leadership skills.
SPECIALISED BLACK INVENTORS workshop at the Heritage of Afrikan Descendants Museum. (H.A.D)
STAGE 3: PUBLIC EXHIBITION included a rare collection of African American comics exhibited alongside students' work at the Menier Gallery, London. The exhibition enabled the public to explore the extraordinary creative work developed as a result of the programme.
Theatre, Comic Arts, Film, Music & Poetry Programme & Exhibition
Exhibition in London
Professional Development for Teachers
“This is a fantastic exhibition, very interesting and enlightening. There is so much to look at and learn. Another untold history in our time. A project like this is a great facilitation for engaging children in thinking about concepts of justice and fairness. ”
Drama writing workshops
Illustration workshops
Focused Group Workshops
Elements of Learning
- Communication and collaboration with others
- Critical and creative thinking
- Problem solving and decision making
- Comic design, perspective and character drawing skills
- Story structure, visual literacy and presentation
- Enhanced sensory knowledge
- Improved self-esteem and confidence
- Ability to write stories that reflected their heritage and personal histories
Impact of Learning
INVITED to present the programme at three conferences including The National Strategies Conference as an example of best practice in creative learning.
“Each session was well-structured and had creative elements throughout which promoted team work. Respect for the ideas and understanding of others was a strong theme as was encouraging Young People to bond, work together and make friends. All these workshops provided opportunities for the pupils to think about the positives in their own character and to realise their potential. ”
“Thank you and your colleagues for a stimulating day; both the content and the interesting environment. Excellent resources, clear outline of process and workshops. I am expecting the whole project to be highly enjoyable and very easily applied to the children I teach. It is an exciting and well resourced program of study.”
“The Focused Group workshops gave my students an opportunity to explore where they came from and be proud of where they come from. Previously, I’ve noticed they did not value their own country. My group had a very positive experience at the Museum, they have become more confident in their abilities, being proud of who they are and noticing their own positive attributes.”
“A glorious project. My son’s class had an opportunity to explore who they are, where they come from and most of all realise that they all have a ‘hero inside’ them. Thank you for all the positive work you have achieved with the children. ”
London Partners
- Trevor Blackwood, Creative Director & Exhibition Curator
Sarah Nunn, Creative Elements, Project Management & CPD
Southwark Leadership, Learning & Innovation Department
Menier Gallery, London Bridge
Crying in the Wilderness Productions, Workshop Director, & two actors
Static Motion, Olu Oke and Osho Collection & Gallery (H.A.D)
6 Southwark Schools
40 Specialised workshops
330 Students
30 Students in the Focused groups
Over 600 people attended the public exhibition