Children & the Arts

The Great Art Quest 2008, sponsored by GAM will introduce over 1000 children, from 16 primary schools across the UK, to the visual arts. For the majority of these children this will be their first experience of the visual arts in a professional gallery setting.

The project will involve four art galleries: Graves Art Gallery (Sheffield), The Harris Museum (Preston), The Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge) and The Courtauld Institute of Art (London), each of which will form partnerships with local primary schools. The schools invited to take part are selected because they have very limited art facilities and would be unable to organise cultural visits of this kind otherwise.

Children from these schools will visit their local art gallery where works of art will be brought to life for them by professional artists and storytellers, encouraging them to feel comfortable in a gallery setting and inspiring them to create their own masterpieces.

I helped dream up The Great Art Quest a few years ago in the hope that it would help young people to get to know and love great pictures. I have always drawn pictures and I have always enjoyed looking at other people’s art too. The Great Art Quest will give the children involved a chance to do both of these things. Quntin Blake, Ambassador Children & the Arts

The Quest will culminate in early 2009 with an exhibition of the children’s own work in a special exhibition to be held at The Prince’s Drawing School in London.

We are excited to sponsor this programme which has the potential to make a real impact on many children’s lives. It echoes the cultural heritage of GAM and reflects our historically strong link to the arts. Andrew Hanges, Chief Executive Officer of GAM UK Limited commented

View The Great Art Quest Teacher Training Materials