Download - Going Behind the Scenes
Kettle’s Yard is a beautiful house with a remarkable
permanent collection of early twentieth century
works of art and a gallery presenting a changing
programme of modern and contemporary art
exhibitions.
‘Kettle’s Yard is passionate about education, learning and working with communities. Our vision for the future aims to build on the richness of our current education work. We will extend our welcome to new audiences through our exciting and innovative programme and our beautifully designed new educational facilities. We are indebted to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of many trusts, foundations and individuals who have supported this exciting new development. Looking ahead, we would like to build longer-term creative partnerships with schools and communities both in Cambridge and the region.’
Andrew Nairne, Director of Kettle’s Yard
background image: ‘Pebbletastic’ workshop, responding to the John Cage exhibition,
‘Every Day is a Good Day’, 2010
GoinG BEHind tHE scEnEs
Most of the education programme at Kettle’s Yard
happens outside opening hours so we’d like to
give you an idea of what we have to offer.
We would also like to introduce our exciting plans
for the future – the building of a new Education
Wing, due to open in 2013.
Jim Ede created Kettle’s Yard with his wife Helen and lived in the house from 1957-73. He wrote in the introduction to ‘A Way of Life’ his aspirations for Kettle’s Yard:
‘…a living place where works of art would be enjoyed, inherent to the domestic setting, where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery, and where an informality might infuse an underlying formality… I hope that future generations will still find a home and a welcome, a refuge of peace and order, of the visual arts and music.’
All educational activity at Kettle’s Yard draws inspiration from the house and collection, Jim’s vision of art as a way of life, and the changing exhibition programme.
The following pages give a glimpse behind the scenes. While not showing all that we do, we hope they give a sense of our work. We have ‘spotlighted’ a few projects to give a more in-depth view.
cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE adultsForMal EducationFuturE Plans
cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE
We offer activities for the whole family.
Practical workshops are led by artists
and take inspiration from the
house and the gallery.
‘We were made very welcome and given good directions but we were also able to use our own ideas.’ ‘Kids who are sometimes reluctant to make art immediately wanted to make something when they saw the space.’
Parents responses to ‘Drop In and More’, which offers free use of art materials in the education room and
volunteer-led support over the summer, 2009-2011
Wednesday Club (for 8-11s) in St Peter’s churchyard next to Kettle’s Yard
worKsHoPs For cHildrEn and YounG PEoPlE
‘Holey Mackerel’ half-term sculpture workshop responding to sculptures with holes in the house, 2011
Artists from Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination running a family workshop, responding to the Bridget Riley exhibition, 2011
‘Site Lines’ half-term drawing workshop for families, 2010
‘Rapunzel lived there and the witch lived there. Because she is a very nasty witch, she gives her loads of worms and bugs and beetles.’
Can you look at the picture and tell me what colours are in there?
‘They are just normal colours like we see at nursery and I like the objects because they make me think I’m going to paint them at home.’
rEcollEction : KEttlE’s Yard oral HistorY arcHivE
Children’s responses to artworks in Kettle’s Yard recorded during workshops in 2009
Emma, aged 4, discussing ‘King’s College Chapel’, 1966, by Bryan Pearce:
‘I like it because it’s got really good textures… if you was really angry and really stormed up, it’s got nice calm colours. You could just sit down and look at it and it would just calm you down so much that you could go out and figure out what was wrong and sort it out. It looks like a farm or a field and it’s got houses near to it and it’s, like, the countryside.’
Angel, aged 8, discussing ‘Road Along the Roman Wall’, 1925 by Winifred Nicholson:
tuEsdaY studio ( for 11-14s)
Tuesday Studio end-of-term exhibition This sculpture was made in response to the exhibition ‘Modern Times: responding to chaos’, 2010
sPotliGHt : YounG carErs’ art GrouP
In partnership with Centre 33,
the young carers’ art group have:
•workedwithtwoartists,threefilmmakers,
a poet and an MC
• visitedfiveotherUniversityofCambridgemuseums
•hostedafilmpremiereforfriendsandfamily
at the Arts Picturehouse
• performedtheirpoemsatMiltonYouthCentre
Young carers are children and young people who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse.
Young Carers at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology with artist Lara Jones
adultsWe run study days, regular workshops &
short courses on a range of topics.
Groups can also book for private tours.
crEativE writinG
Kettle’s Yard (extract) © Rhona McAdam, workshop participant 2012
Beneath the stairs a burnt angel
guards its heaven,
blind and thin as the prow
of a lost ship
while on the walls
the little boats trouble themselves
in all directions upon the paint,
unable to make sense
of the eye’s demands
and plants bathe in the window’s light,
stepped upon stones, each shelf a beach,
while outside winter comes and goes
in a watchful lens,
turning gently on its string,
its appetite for green.
sPotliGHt : saturdaY drawinG
Meeting fortnightly, Saturday Drawing participants experiment with drawing in its broadest sense. The sessions conclude with reflection on the morning’s work over a cup of tea. The artist educators create a welcoming environment for all levels of experience.
‘You were left to try out new things rather than having to stick to anything in particular – but the ideas given really helped to start you off. Also, I liked the evaluation of what we had achieved as a group at the end.’
‘Mind-Spirit-Body-Matter: Drawn to the Human’, a week-long drawing workshop during the Agnes Martin exhibition, 2010
FEEdBacK FroM coursE ParticiPants
‘I did study Design and Art History, but this one was amongst the very best classes I ever attended... It was very inspiring, very stimulating and I would like to thank everybody involved whole-heartedly.’
‘From the Handmade to the Readymade’
discussion-based sculpture course, 2011
‘A thoroughly enjoyable course – it was amazing how quickly the time has passed – an effective way to reduce stress and completely clear your mind of your daily worries.’
‘Blurring the Boundaries’ practical art workshops with staff
at Fulbourn Hospital, 2010
wE also oFFEr
• Freelunchtimetalksinthehouseandgallery
• Freetwilightsessions–achancetovisitthe
house at dusk
• Specialeventssuchasfilmscreeningsand
artist talks
• Studydays–recentexamplesinclude
poetry, print-making and dance
coMMunitY and outrEacH
Regular sessions over the past few years include:
•MonthlyvisitstoAddenbrooke’sHospital,
run in partnership with Wallace Cancer Care and
the Fitzwilliam Museum
• TouchanddescriptivetourswithCamsightfor
blind and partially sighted people
•ExhibitiontoursandhandlingsessionswithHilltop
Day Centre for adults with young onset dementia
sPotliGHt : a woMan’s PlacE
In Autumn 2010, artists Janine Woods and Hilary
Moreton ran a series of workshops with a group
of older women in sheltered accommodation at
Storeys House in Cambridge.
The women toured Kettle’s Yard, learned about the
original owners, and Helen Ede in particular, and
reflected on what home means to them.
Their textile designs were exhibited amongst the
permanent collection and the project concluded
with an evening for friends and family.
One participant commented, ‘At this age it is easy to stagnate’ and she found the challenge of learning new skills particularly inspiring.
A Woman’s Place received funding from Renaissance East of England Community Learning and Outreach Fund, administeredthroughtheUniversityofCambridgeMuseumsDevelopmentOfficer.
ForMal Education
We support group
visits for all ages –
from nursery-aged
childrentoUniversity
students. We tailor
sessions to meet the
needs of the group,
working with teachers
to customise talks and
workshops.
Exhibition previews
for teachers include
refreshments, a tour
with discussion and a
chance to pick up new
resources and network
with colleagues.
sPotliGHt : tEacHEr traininG
Working with the Faculty of Education at Homerton
College, we introduce Initial Teacher Trainees to
techniques for engaging pupils with artworks.
‘It was very interactive and engaging. The Education Officers who worked with us were very friendly and illustrated a whole range of techniques and tips we can use.’
‘It really brought home the importance of artefacts and real objects and reinforced the importance of taking education out of the classroom when possible.’
Teacher Trainees, Early Years and Primary PGCE
ForMal Education in tHE HousE
Central Saint Martins art students installing work for a temporary exhibition, 2011
Parents and children from The Fields Children’s Centre participating in a practical workshop.
Part of the creation of ReCollection: Kettle’s Yard Oral History Archive, 2009
St Mary’s C of E Primary School pupils sketching the skyline from Castle Mound, a short walk from Kettle’s Yard
Model created by Comberton Village College pupils, working with artist Raksha Patel
sPotliGHt : sPacE MaKErs
A two-year partnership project (2011-13), Space
Makers focuses on architecture and the built
environment and follows the creation of the new
Education Wing. A Year 4/5 class from St Mary’s
C of E Primary School, St Neots and a BTEC class at
Comberton Village College are attending monthly
artist-led workshops.
Photography workshop with Marston Vale Middle School pupils, responding to the exhibition, ‘Tim Head: Raw Material’, 2010
tHE Education ProGraMME
Upto6,500peopleengagewiththeEducation
programme at Kettle’s Yard every year.
Upto350variedactivitiesandeventsaredelivered,
including talks, workshops, poetry readings, after
school art clubs and many more.
We collaborate with dozens of creative
practitioners,includingartists,filmmakers,writers,
poets, choreographers, architects and many more.
nEEd For cHanGE
We want to expand our programme to better meet the needs of existing audiences and welcome new audiences.
During 2012 and 2013 we will undergo an extensive building project to create new education spaces. These will replace our current education room and offer many new opportunities.
A reduced programme will run during the build period.
Pupils from St Mary’s C of E Primary School, St Neots participating in a Space Makers workshop with artist Jo Chapman
FuturE Plans
The new Education Wing will span four floors.
Its location, shown in the blue-shaded area, is
adjacent to the gallery and faces Castle Street.
Second Floor
•Discussion-basedsessionsanddigitalworkshops
•Seminars,illustratedtalks,filmscreeningsand
evening courses
• Film,sound,animationandphotography
workshops
•Accesstoonlineresources
FirSt Floor
• Café
Ground Floor
• Entrancethroughthemaingallery
•Orientationpoint
lower Ground Floor: clore learning Studio
• Practicalworkshopsforallages,ledbyartists
•Double-heightspacetostreetlevelallowsfor
natural light
•Abletoaccommodateafullclassof30pupils
tHE Education winG will EnaBlE us to :
• Inspireandengagetwiceasmanyvisitors,both
onsite and online, through our new activities,
events and resources
• Improveourwelcomeandencouragenew
visitors
• Createnewpartnershipswithcommunitiesto
assist those who may need more support to
access our collections and exhibitions
• Buildlong-termpartnershipsandworkmore
closely with schools and communities in
Cambridge and the region
•Offernewopportunitiesandtrainingfor
volunteers
• Providespaciousandattractiveworkingspaces
thatarefit-for-purpose
•Runcreativeandinnovativeworkshopsthatmake
the most of new technologies
•Offerabetterexperienceforall
PlEasE GEt in toucH
to visitDue to the limited capacity of the house and gallery, groups are required to book in advance. Please see our website, email [email protected] or telephone 01223 748100 for more information.The public programme of activities and events is advertised by leaflet and on the website. If you would like to be added to our e-mailing list, please contact [email protected].
to voluntEErVolunteers are crucial to the successful running of Kettle’s Yard andcontributeover6,000hoursofsupporteachyear.Tofindout more, go to www.kettlesyard.co.uk/supporters/volunteers or email [email protected]
onlinE rEsourcEsVirtual tour of the house: www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/tourOral history archive: www.recollection.kettlesyard.co.uk Teachers’ packs: www.kettlesyard.co.uk/education/schools
FEEdBacK‘Going Behind the Scenes’ can be downloaded from the Kettle’s Yard website. We would appreciate your feedback – please go to www.kettlesyard.co.uk/GBTSfeedback to complete a very brief questionnaire.
We are very grateful to all who have supported the education wing and in particular the following major supporters:
The Monument TrustEdlis Neeson FoundationCloreDuffieldFoundationThe Foyle FoundationJ Paul Getty Jr Charitable TrustSir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary SettlementCambridge City Council
Kettle’S YArd Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQtelephone 01223 [email protected]
Opening hours are subject to change due to building works, please see our website or call for more information.