On the 7th May, I had the great honour of being invited along by House of Illustration to coordinate and support the last in our series of free arts events for families at the British Museum in response to their Sunken Cities exhibition.
The day subsequently took an Under the Sea theme, and families were invited to discover and learn together by taking part in some wonderful activities including our own pop-up interactive, sculptural sea landscapes and pop-up carousel books, which the children were then able to take home.
It was amazing to watch the sculpture grow and change over the day as the children added their own artworks and collages. We were left with an amazing tunnel artwork which families were encouraged to move around and engage with.
Pop-up interactive sea landscape
Our workshop was led by artists Jhinuk Sarkar and Monique Jivram along with myself and the HOI’s Head of Education Emily Jost. Other participants included the British Library, October Gallery, The Science Museum, Frank Barnes School for the deaf and Camden Family Learning.
Workshop leaders; Monique Jivram and Jhinuk Sarkar
Sarah Underwood making coral for the interactive pop-up sculpture
We had a wonderful day and it was especially rewarding to receive such positive feedback from the families who came to join us. We saw families working together to create some fantastic pieces of art including this amazing under water diving girl:
It is incredibly important to offer families in the community opportunities to access the arts and provides a much-needed space for them to work together, use their imaginations and support one another.
A beautiful mermaid emerging from the deep sea
The event was fully BSL interpreted and there was even a signed picture book reading area for children to relax and enjoy stories of the sea.
Frank Barnes BSL interpreted story area
Once again we were hugely grateful to the Mayor of Camden for joining us and for offering her support for our series of events.
Emily Jost, Monique Jivram, the Mayor of Camden, Sarah Underwood and Jhinuk Sarkar
I feel incredibly proud to have been a part of this day and very much hope we can continue our efforts towards inclusivity and access to the arts for all families in the future.
Here I am at the end of our day, a fully transformed sea creature:
Under the Sea Family discovery day at the British Museum On the 7th May, I had the great honour of being invited along by House of Illustration to coordinate and support the last in our series of free arts events for families at the British Museum in response to their Sunken Cities exhibition.