Welcome to Art

Our approach

By studying Art, pupils at Ark Castledown will develop a sense of creativity and individual expression, enabling them to interact with the world and convey their personal responses in an original way. Through exploring a range of skills and techniques, pupils learn to create pieces of artwork that reflect their own ideas and responses. Our Art curriculum is built around three core strands: Theoretical, Disciplinary, and Practical.

Pillars of Art

The theoretical knowledge of artists and designers
The disciplinary knowledge of 'how an artist produced the work'
The practical skill of 'doing'

To ensure all pupils have the opportunity to explore a broad range of artistic media, they are given access to high-quality materials that encourage creative experimentation.

Art also provides a powerful outlet for children to explore and express emotions that may be difficult to articulate verbally. Through studying art, pupils will learn that artwork has often been used by artists to communicate their emotions, respond to challenges, and fight for a cause. Pupils will deepen their understanding through focussing on the historical context of art and how social, cultural and political themes are portrayed.

Aims:

Develop resilience through experimentation and controlled risk-taking, valuing the process of personal creative discovery.
Recall and discuss significant artworks and artists, understanding their impact and historical significance.
Understand how art reflects and often encapsulates the time periods in which it was created.
Gain hands-on experience using a wide range of media and techniques.