From One Island to Another

Project Outline
From One Island to Another was the first year that Satellite collaborated with the inner city all girls secondary school St Saviour's and St Olave’s in Southwark. The project aimed to get the students and pupils to investigate influential female figures, such as their mother and grandmother as a way of investigating and embracing their own diverse cultural histories. They were asked to explore their own personal histories through the generations of women in their families and start to consider how this had an influence on the construction of racial and gender stereotypes.
Students were encouraged to devise workshops and activities, which involved assisting the pupils in planning their research and producing a piece of work as a final outcome.
The students selected the work produced by the pupils and curated an exhibition displayed at the school on the 31st of October 2005. Students experienced working in a different environment, producing work outside of their studios.
This project was part of Black History month and aimed to foster and encourage debate in a culturally diverse environment. It aimed to recognise difference as something positive through a common ground, being female.

Aims
* Introduce students to different practical skills and art practice
* Introduce students to how an artist makes work (using many different types of media)
* Introduce students to content and concept
* Introduce students to researching and collating their ideas
*Introduce students to using their research to inform their visual work culminating in making a finished piece of work.
*Introduce students to displaying their final piece of work

An health and safety seminar was given to the participant students to introduce them to the different aspects of working in a school. It aimed to familiarise the students with guidelines and outlined good practice in schools ensuring awareness of regulations and procedures for working with children.
Having discussed the health and safety issues the next step was to think about themselves as arts practitioners and the creative process involved in preparing a workshop. To do this, a series of meetings were held to discuss the progression of the student’s workshops. This was an important part of the process as there were many different ideas and an open forum acted as a good opportunity to speak about their plans and receive feedback.
Tutor support was also given throughout the entire process in group sessions and individual tutorials, this helped students develop their workshop ideas along with guidance for ensuring effective delivery.
Having a representative (Kelly Fitzpatrick) from the school at each stage of the planning process ensured that we were able to maximise the art experience of the pupils at the school in the following ways. Clare Fitzpatrick was also present at the school which was very helpful for the students from London Met.