RAPS – Researching Arts in Primary School

What do we mean by an arts rich primary school?  

Briefly, a school in which teaching and learning about and through the arts is integral to its identity and culture.
Why are we conducting this research?  

Because we want to document and share some of the diversity and creativity of arts education in primary schools, and also because we want policy makers to be better informed about the value and benefits of the arts in school.  

Who recommended your school to us?  

Mainly our recommendations have come from Arts Council England’s ten regional youth arts bridge organisations who have agreed to act as critical friends to the project. But we also used our network of arts teachers and researchers to give us recommendations, looked at Artsmark data and had a good look at your website.   

Where can you get more information about the RAPS research?  

You can learn more about the RAPS project, the track record of the researchers and how this project builds on our earlier research at www.artsprimary.com.  

Bradford City of Culture 2025 – Untold Stories, Hidden Communities.

From the city centre to Shipley, Manningham to Keighley, and Buttershaw to Ilkley,  the whole Bradford District would be completely transformed by securing the UK City  of Culture title for 2025. This designation is key to unlocking the potential of all our  people, leading to positive outcomes for everyone that lives, works and studies here.  It will support our shared commitment to tackle inequalities, help change perceptions  of the city in the UK and around the world, and contribute to our economic and social  ambitions for the coming decade.  

Textile Quilt (physical) 

Your school is invited to celebrate the many differences in the City of Bradford; the rich  diversity of people and its histories. In this community arts project we would like to hear your  stories told out in pictures on panels of fabric. Once finished they will be stitched together to  form a collaborative piece of community art. 

The project allows for a total inclusive participation, this is because there is only one  criterion, the panel size. The geniuses of quilt projects are that they can keep on growing,  becoming a historical social document. A celebrator and informative piece of community art. 

Telling your story 

Talk to your adults at home and within your community, ask them about their past, what is  important to them and to you? You may share a common story, but with different  perspectives, points of view, passions and skills. Think about memories and how these could  be represented in your panel. 

A few pointers for working on your ‘panel’ 

Textile Panel – From your fabric, cotton or felt is good to use cut out a piece 26cm x  26cm. Next in the centre draw a square 20cm x 20cm this is where you will tell your  story. The 3cm margin around the edge of the square will be used to join all the  panels together to create one piece of community art celebrating our extraordinary and beautiful city, Bradford. 

Before securely attaching either with stitching or glue it is a good idea to plan where  you objects will be placed before assembling them.  

Fabrics can include most things; here are just a few examples: 

● Fabrics: lace, suede, leather, taffeta, also bubble-wrap and other kinds of  plastic and even small metal items can be added 

● Decorative items like pearls, quartz crystals, rhinestones, sequins, feathers  and buttons are all great ways to tell stories 

● Swatches of clothing: jeans, T-shirts, gloves…