For some years the Tate has provided a good education service; it has now excelled itself with Tate Teachers, a continuing professional development programme of courses, conferences and resources available from all four galleries: London’s Tate Modern and Tate Britain, Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool.
Drawing on the Tate collections, the programme aims to “join up gallery and school-based learning” through extended and short courses run mainly in the evenings and holidays. Next year’s schedule includes: “An introduction to modern art” at Tate St Ives, and an MA-accredited module, “Contemporary art, identity and education” at Tate Modern and Goldsmiths, both run on Monday evenings during spring term; and “Making sense of modern art: theory and practice” on Monday evenings in the summer term at Tate Modern and the Institute of Education.
Easter schools will be held at Tate Britain and Tate Liverpool and a summer institute at Tate Modern, July 31-August 4. A free event to introduce the Teachers in Partnership scheme will be held at Tate Britain on April 24, and a taster day to introduce the artist teacher scheme at Tate Modern on June 17, costing pound;50. Other short courses include: art and special educational needs, Tate Modern, March 6, and Tate Liverpool, March 28; cross-curricular art, January 20, Tate Britain, and Tate St Ives, February 27; and art and language, February 20, Tate Modern.
Tate online’s dedicated schools and teachers section holds more than 70 classroom resources. There is also a subscription-based resource for key stage 2-3 art and design called Tate Tools, with the following modules: looking at and thinking about art; visiting a gallery; and sketching in the gallery. Further modules on sculpture and installation; photography, film and video; and concept and object are due next year.
* www.tate.org.uklearningteachers
Valerie Hall
