Our aim as a network, is to provide opportunities for our students and artist teachers.  We thrive on networking and liaising with partners and informing teachers about up and coming exhibitions, previews and CPDs.

As artist teachers, we continually refresh and update our practice through experimenting with techniques, processes and exploring new ideas. 

• Maintaining an active art practice keeps us artist-teachers connected to the creative process. 

• Active practice allows us artist teachers to bring new techniques, ideas, and challenges into our art practice as well as the art classroom. 

• Exhibiting work, collaborating with peers, and participating in workshops and CPD expands professional networks and can open doors to opportunities for both artist teacher and their students

Whitechapel Gallery

Teacher Political Newspaper CPD x Peter Kennard

A CPD workshop hosted by Whitechapel Art Gallery was a positively enriching experience for the THAT Network London teachers! 

Working directly with Peter Kennard, as he guided them through his ‘Archive of Dissent show’ at the gallery, provided an incredibly enriching and inspiring experience.

Kennard's own practice is famous for political messages, so hearing him discuss his process and the concepts behind his photomontages and mixed media works provided some genuine insight into the potential of art as a form of activism.

The collaborative process of producing THAT Newspaper was an excellent means to facilitate each teacher in sharing their political views and artistic voice. Exploring their chosen medium of newspaper, charcoal, paint, or collage, enabled everyone to generate their own individual responses to the world around them, such as Kennard does in his own political work. 

The idea of displaying this in the exhibition alongside that of student’s political collages was of particularly importance to demonstrate our own creativity and response to a given theme and style. It reinforces the idea that, as creative learners themselves, teachers have an outlet too.

THAT Network would like to extend their personal thanks and gratitude to:

• Kirsty of Whitechapel Art Gallery and 

• Peter Kennard 

for their time and effort put into arranging such a fun, creative and insightful session. The day not only promoted creativity but also reminded everyone of the importance of political activism in art especially in today’s climate. 

- Peter Kennard CPD

Content: 

This CPD workshop in collboration with the Whitechapel Gallery and THAT network was led by artist Peter Kennard, in response and dialogue with his exhibition that was at the Whitechapel Gallery: https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/peter-kennard-archive-of-dissent/ 

Artist statement

‘My art erupts form the rage at the fact that the search for financial profit rules every nook and cranny of our society. Profit masks poverty, racism, war, climate catastrophe and on and on… my aim is to unmask the connection.

Archive of Dissent takes place in Whitechapel Galleries 5,6 and 7 in what was once a historic library known as the “People’s University of the East End” which served the diverse community of children, women and men of all nationalities and beliefs in the 20th century. It was a place where world events were read about in newspapers, leaflets, books and periodicals by Eastenders including writers, artists, anti-fascists, activists, workers and the unemployed. They used the library both as a sanctuary from poverty and as a place to develop radical and dissident ideas about art, literature and politics. I hope my archive follows in that tradition.’ Peter Kennard

Activity 2 - large exquisite Corpse

We repeated the process but this time working in a group of four.

• This time the figure is split into 8 sections

• Each member of the group is assigned two elements e.g. half a head and leg

• Each element is created on an A2 sheet of paper using drawing and or collage media 10-15 mins is assigned for each element

• Finally each A2 sheet is attached on to a wall building up to a giant figure

Activity 3 - Clay Sculpture

Here we were asked to consider  clay as a medium for exploring the figure and form.  We were asked to reflect on our two previous activities and experiment with shape and form.

UCL Slade school of Art

Session 2 - February 2025 - In the second workshop of this year's CPD course we continued the theme of play in art making. We explored expressing ideas around the art that we make and how best to support students to do this with confidence. In the morning we built with paper and found materials, working partly in collaboration as a group. In the afternoon, Phoebe Slade (BA Fine Art) gave a short presentation for us reflecting on her interview preparation and experience. For the afternoon exercise, we used collage papers (some brought in by us) that related to us. We created a collage/drawing with it/from it and briefly talking about what we made with the group. 

UCL Slade school of Art

Session 3 - March 2025 - During this session we worked with drawing, collage and painting. We looked at colour and form, making by following our instincts and not putting pressure on the outcome. We worked partly in collaboration and also independently. 

Warm up Activities - 2-5mins each - we selected an object and then drew the image without looking at our paper 2 - we then tried the activity again but this time looking and drawing with a continuous line 3 - with a partner we described an image/object, whilst the partner drew from the instructions 

Activity 1 - Individual work - 10 mins 

• Stage 1, we selected a magzine image of a form and drew it with as a simple line drawing with one drawing media.

• Stage 2, we then turned the paper upside down and drew another image from memory (something we were going to  select from the magazine but didn't) using another drawing media - 

• Stage 3, we then looked at our drawing and decided the best way round the image should be viewed and using more art media preceded to embellish the drawing.

Activity 2 - Collaborative work - 30-40 mins

• Stage 1, we were asked to select an image focusing on shape, form and space, using a long sheet of paper we drew our image using one art media.

• Stage 2, we then rotated around the long paper and settled on someone else's drawing.  Using a new art media we added to the drawing. 

• Stage 3, next we rotated the paper again and settled on another persons drawing and again added to this drawing, this time extending the drawing so it starts to merge with the next scene.  

• Stage 4, by the fourth rotation we were asked to select a new magazine image and add the secen to the new area using a new art media of our choice.

• Each of the rotations took about 8/10 mins.  The final art piece was tapped to the wall to view the completed collaborative art piece.

Activity 3 - Individual work 40-45 mins

• Stage 1 -  We were asked to select a new image from a magazine and drawing with line with one drawing media of our choice.  

• Stage 2 - We were then asked to select a new magazine image with a different colour palette.  

• We selected basic acrylic colours  and proceeded to add paint to our initial drawing focussing on the colour and texture of the new the image.

We found that working with experimental ways of drawing and collaborative ways of introducing and using art media and may help bring more Innovative approaches to art making in the classroom— to capture attention and keep the creative spark alive.

Art isn’t just about technique; it’s about expression and problem-solving. When taught in fresh ways, and are encouraged to think differently, experiment, and take creative risks, thus building critical thinking skills that apply beyond the art room.

National Portrait Gallery 

Schools hub is the Gallery's new free online learning resource hub designed to support Art & Design and History through portraiture. It features more than 150 newly commissioned learning resources and videos, as well as details of our learning sessions for schools. 

Watch the video below to find out more. 

https://www.npg.org.uk/learning/

https://www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/

https://www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/teacher-cpd-the-six-lives-of-henry-viiis-queens

Bow Arts 

Inspire your team through hands-on sessions with professional artists that equip staff with the skills and confidence to lead arts-based activities in the classroom. 

The Photographers' Gallery

TeachMeets are focused on the ideas and experiences of teachers. They include informal presentations and networking related to teacher-proposed themes. TeachMeets aim to share ideas, create dialogue and widen understanding of working with photography within the school environment.

We are always looking to programme new events with and for teachers. If you are interested in leading a session or would like to suggest a theme for the future, please email projects@tpg.org.uk

Teaching and learning resources

Explore our teaching resources, creative activities and in-depth broadcasts suitable for young people of all ages and backgrounds, whether you prefer to look, listen or create.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/page/families-teachers-resources

Freelands Foundation

Is a forum to explore the principles of teaching as artistic practice. Their ARTISTEACHER sessions is a regular discussion forum for art teachers and educators. Through the group, artist teachers explore the principles of teaching as artistic practice, share projects as well as working collaboratively to develop new ideas.

Teachers have attended a range of previews, workshops and CPDs over the years.

• Whitechapel Gallery - previews, workshops, CPD

• Bow Arts - previews, workshops, CPD

• Slade School of Art - workshops, CPD and previews

• Chisenhale Gallery - previews

• RA - previews, exhibition visits

• Raven Row - previews

• Hayward Gallery - previews and exhibition visits

• Autograph - previews and exhibition visits

• Auto Italia - previews and exhibitions

• Peer - Previews and exhibitions

• Tate - exhibition visits

• Royal Drawing School - previews

• Kings Foundation - previews

• National Portrait Gallery - Workshops, previews and exhibition visits

• National Gallery - exhibitions

• V&A - Workshops, previews and exhibition visits

• Courtauld - exhibition visits

• Somerset House - exhibition visits

• Barbican - workshops

• Photographers Gallery - CPD and exhibition visits

• White Cube - exhibition visits

• Barbican - exhibition visits

• October Gallery - exhibition visits

• Gagcosian - exhibition visits

• Stephen Friedman Gallery - previews and exhibition visits

• Flowers Gallery - previews and exhibition visits

• Victoria Miro - exhibition visits

• Saatchi Gallery - previews and exhibition visits

• London Metropolitan University - School of Art, Architecture and Design - workshops, previews, CPD

• University of the Arts London - London College of Communication - Camberwell - Central Saint Martins - London College of Fashion - workshops, previews, CPD

If you have an idea for a workshop or want to share CPD information email us @ thatnetworklondon@gmail.com