LAKESIDE ART INVESTIGATORS
Why not be an Art Investigator?
The Art Investigator activity bags can be borrowed in the Djanogly Art Gallery by 7 to 12 year olds and used with adult supervision while looking at the exhibition. To help children familiarise themselves with the exhibition, there is an etch-a-sketch, a magnifying glass, some rubber stamps, paper, scissors and pencils in each bag, as well as an activity sheet with questions to encourage children to enquire about the art.
The Art Investigator experience is intended to celebrate the natural curiosity of children, encouraging them to make the most of the stimulating exhibitions at Lakeside, and express their personal responses to the work on show. Although interaction with adults is encouraged and supervision is necessary, these bags have been designed to support children in their independent learning. They can use the contents of the bags at their own pace and return to use them as often as they like.
Whole classes of school children may use these bags, as well as families. Six are available and can be easily shared amongst a class, with provision of extra clipboards and activity sheets. If you bring a class of children it is advisable to book the activity bags in advance by contacting Ruth Lewis-Jones, Galleries Education Officer: ruth.lewis-jones@nottingham.ac.uk. There is no charge for this.
The bags will be available for use in every Djanogly exhibition, with some changes to the contents and a new activity sheet to suit the show.
Once the bags have been used and returned to the gallery counter, every Art Investigator may claim their special stickers and badge.
FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PACKS
'I think it's a brilliant idea. It allowed us to stay in the gallery longer than we normally would because the children were more engaged than they would have been by looking and talking...I think that this sort of activity is excellent - it allows it to be a family visit, rather than something that adults do quickly as a trade off for a play on the park! It really does help to engage children with the art and with the whole experience of visiting a gallery. More please!...Thank you for all the work that has gone into putting the pack together - it really made our visit.' Alison Barnes