Updates from QUAD’s Schools in Residence programme

Recently, students from Horizons 6^th Form collaborated with artist Karen Logan from Draw Derby on a creative journey and exploration of drawing techniques and processes.

They began the project by visiting the Museum of Making to see the LEGO® Lake District, created by artist Jon Tordoff, and drawing the sculpture. Returning to QUAD to create drawings inspired by the buildings in the Market Place using LEGO pieces to print and mark-make with.

This project was full of visits to museums and galleries in Derby such as The Nature Galleries and Objects of Love, Hope and Fear: A World Collection at Derby Museum and Art Gallery where they drew inspiration from the natural world and musical instruments. At QUAD, they brought their ideas to life with spinning top pens, infusing their designs with movement, resulting in interesting mark-making. They even created their own sketchbooks with Karen.

“It was an absolute pleasure to work with the talented students from Horizons. The students brought a curious energy and have-a-go attitude which was wonderful to get swept along with. It was fascinating to get to know the group’s signature styles over the five-week project, and I learned so much from their explorations in drawing. I’m keen to playfully expand what drawing can be and the students jumped right in: mark-making with Lego, capturing movement with wire and creating frenetic marks with colourful spinning drawing tools – to name a few of our activities. The engaging and far-reaching collections in Derby Museums provided rich opportunities for focused concentration and in-depth looking and we discovered comfortable corners in these spaces in which to work together, relax and dream.” Karen Logan, Lead Artist.

Since their Easter break, they have embarked on an inspiring photography project with the talented photographer Sofia Yala, The Stills FORMAT Award 2023 Winner. They visited the FORMAT24 exhibitions ‘FUTURE TENSE’ and ‘Jubilee City – Derby Punk in the 1970s’ at QUAD, and joined an artist-led photo walk to photograph nature in Derby City Centre whilst seeing Sofia Yala’s photographs displayed on the corner of St James Street and Cornmarket.

Meanwhile, 15 Year 4 students from Pear Tree Community Junior School have been working on a fantastic project about the history of film. They have collaborated with filmmaker Chris Bevan to create their own silent film based on the book “Hugo,” which they have been learning about at school. The students have designed everything for their silent film themselves, including storyboards, props, costumes, and set designs. They have even directed and shot the film with Chris’ expertise. We are thrilled that their film, titled ‘Hugo- A Silent Film by Pear Tree Community Junior School’ will premiere at QUAD’s cinema next month. The whole of Year 4 will attend an exclusive screening to celebrate.

QUAD’s Schools in Residence Programme enables pupils in formal education settings, particularly those experiencing systemic inequality or disadvantage, to thrive through engagement with high quality, arts-based learning.

Funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.