Rooted in the idea of teaching as artistic practice, From Other Gardens is an experimental programme of exchange and collaboration between artist Shepherd Manyika and art teacher Hannah Rennie to reimagine art-making in the classroom.
Working together, and with students at Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne, Hannah and Shepherd will explore the idea of radical art practice within the school environment, considering how you can make space for risk and question the established norms of art teaching and learning.
With both collaborators experienced in working in educational settings, the project is intentionally designed to respond to the tension of holding two roles – both teacher and artist. The process of sharing their respective expertise and experience is intended to create an atmosphere of mutual support, enabling each to move out of their comfort zones and actively pursue development through shared investigation.
Through Hannah and Shepherd’s experimental and playful collaboration, they will develop a bespoke arts education resource that responds to and pushes the boundaries of working within the arts curriculum. The resource will then be shared with teachers, schools and education providers across North Kent and beyond to inform their own approaches to making and teaching art in the classroom.
From Other Gardens is funded by Freelands Foundation and Arts Council England, and supported by Highsted Grammar School.
If you are an artist and/or teacher and would like to find out more about the finished resource, please contact us at learning@cementfields.org.