Innovative residential for art and history of art teachers returns to campus for the eighth year
Art and art history teachers from across the UK are gathering on campus this July for a three-day residential event at the University of Leeds.
The annual Art Teachers Connect Residential offers a unique opportunity for teachers and their schools to improve their delivery of both academic and practical art lessons, and to build upon and diversify their knowledge of art history.
Now in its eighth year, this free three-day residential course provides critical advice, insight and experience from current art and art history teachers, academics and arts professionals.
Between 14 and 16 July, 28 participants will be immersed in a creatively driven, carefully curated programme of workshops and activities designed to engage the talents and experiences of art and art history teachers.
Teachers participating in a creative workshop as part of the Art Teachers Connect Residential at the University of Leeds in July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
The annual Arts Teachers Connect Residential is part of a wider Art Teachers Connect programme of continuing professional development and support.
It is organised by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and Arts and Humanities Outreach Team at the University of Leeds, in partnership with The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.
Creative session in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies as part of the Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Each year, participating teachers benefit from all of the facilities that the University of Leeds campus has to offer, including free accommodation, refectory meals and access to the university’s museums, archives, libraries and galleries.
The programme is designed and delivered by academics, art technicians and education consultants, in addition to colleagues from The Paul Mellon Centre and the University of Leeds’ Cultural Collections team.
Professor Abigail Harrison Moore with a group of art teachers in Cultural Collections at the University of Leeds, July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
This year’s overarching theme is one of ‘care’. Workshops on offer feature sessions that use art history to work with teachers to address wider issues around care in their own practice and in the classroom.
The programme will include a haiku session in The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, working with the current exhibition, Sick – an artistic exploration of environments of care in two parts by Leeds-based artist Sarah Roberts.
Teachers on a guided tour of the campus of the University of Leeds as part of the Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Attending the three day residential is the first fundamental step in becoming part of wider like-minded creative community and ever-growing network of art teachers, Art Teachers Connect.
Participants are then given access to online continuing professional development (CPD) events across the academic year and the opportunity to apply for a follow-on Postgraduate Certificate in Developing Teacher’s Research and Practice.
Teachers visit a gallery as part of the Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
The annual residential for art and art history teachers was initiated in 2017 by Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds.
Following a number of years working in schools across the UK and abroad, engaging students in art history, Abigail came to realise that working with art teachers and empowering them would make so much more of a difference.
Arranging a conference for teachers in 2016 led to new thinking about building a more creative space for teachers to think through their practice; about why and how they teach art and art history. Working alongside art teachers Anne Louise Quinton and Sarah Philips, the first art teachers residential was born one year later.
Eight years on, this unique programme now supports a network of over 240 teachers who teach over 40,000 young people a week in state schools across the UK.
2024 cohort for the Art Teachers Connect Residential at the University of Leeds. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Professor Abigail Harrison Moore said:
“I look forward to these three days every year. To be able to support creative, passionate teachers is a privilege.
“Despite a change in government, and promises to support the arts and creative subjects, we have still not seen much difference in schools across the UK.
“Art teachers are still struggling to be valued and listened to, and our subjects that can feed into some of the most rewarding, necessary and exciting careers are still not valued enough in the UK Education system. This work is part of a nationwide effort to change this.
Gallery visit as part of Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
“The teachers who are part of Art teachers Connect make a difference in their classrooms every day. Our graduates from the Postgraduate Certificate course use their research to make a massive difference.
“2024’s graduating class includes an art teacher who has gone on to lead the National Education Union, to speak in parliament and launch the national Arts and Minds Campaign. This campaign is calling for the restoration of all arts and creative subjects as a crucial part of the national curriculum.”
Graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate in Developing Teacher’s Research and Practice, University of Leeds, July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Each year, art teachers have so many great things to say about the three days they spend on campus and the value to their professional development. One such teacher is Rebekah who attended in 2024 and whose words reflect the feedback received year on year:
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredible Art Teachers Residential. It was such a valuable experience for me both creatively and as a teacher.
“From the moment I arrived, I felt incredibly welcomed and well looked after. The staff’s warmth and hospitality made the whole experience even more enjoyable. And that fancy dinner was such a treat! It was wonderful to unwind and connect with fellow teachers in such a lovely setting.
Creative workshop, Art Teachers Connect Residential, July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
“Big shout out to everyone involved behind the scenes and delivering. The work to produce such an amazing event should not go unnoticed.
“The residential has definitely rekindled my excitement for teaching. I’m so excited to put all the new tools and ideas explored into practice, implement them in my classroom. I am currently updating project brief to reflect what I have learnt. I can’t wait to see how my students benefit from these new approaches.
Creative session at the Art Teachers Connect Residential at the University of Leeds, July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
“Some activities were definitely out of my comfort zone, but they pushed me to think differently and boosted my confidence. I cannot wait to get my students respond to art by writing a Haiku! This came at just the right time after a tough year, and it’s given me the lift I needed.
“Connecting with fellow art teachers was amazing and a highlight. Sharing practices, bonding over shared experiences and simply having fun together was both therapeutic and enriching. We’re even hoping to set up a Northern teacher’s network to keep supporting each other.
“I’d encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply for this program – it’s such a fantastic experience and I’d love to do it all over again.”
Teachers participating in Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
The Arts Teachers Connect Residential is delivered in partnership with and generously funded via a unique partnership with The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. Rachel Prosser, Learning Manager at the Centre said:
“Building and supporting a community of over 200 teachers across the UK with the University of Leeds is one of the most impactful elements of the Paul Mellon Centre’s work towards ensuring all young people throughout the country have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with art and culture.
“Our community of teachers work tirelessly to provide their students with the space, time and confidence to express themselves and pursue creativity, professionally or personally. In turn, we are proud to take care of them and provide them with a network of support where they can exchange skills, experiences and encouragement.
Art gallery visit, Art Teachers Connect Residential, 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
“The Art Teachers Connect Residential is our first step in bringing teachers into this community, and each year it is a joy to witness teachers from all sorts of teaching environments sharing and learning from each other.
“The residential’s workshops and activities are just the beginning of our journey with these teachers, and we are excited to welcome another 28 individuals to our community this year.”
Participants at Art Teachers Connect Residential, July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
The last words go to a handful of other teachers who attended the residential in 2024:
“This has honestly been the best few days of CPD that I have had in my whole 20 years of teaching! I was nervous about attending, wondering what I would encounter but I have loved every minute of it. It’s really made me think, question and discuss all things art.”
“I have loved meeting new friends and leave feeling so enthused! Every session has been brilliant and I encourage everyone to apply to this fantastic residential!”
“Keep doing this – this should be compulsory to be an art educator.”
Creative workshop in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
More information
Find out more about the annual residential event on the new Art Teachers Connect website, where you can read teacher stories, watch films and see photographs of the network’s creative, collaborative work.
Find out more about the team behind Art Teachers Connect.
Read updates about this year’s residential on the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies LinkedIn page and on Instagram.
Feature image
Teachers taking part in one of the sessions on offer at the Art Teachers Connect Residential in July 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
