This week saw the launch of an exciting, interactive art installation following 18-months of collaboration between Kettle’s Yard, artist-in-residence Georgia Akbar and Castle School in Cambridge students.
Pupils from Castle School, an inclusive school supporting SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), have been visiting Kettle’s Yard, part of the University of Cambridge, since 2021 for inspiration and the opportunity to work with artist Georgia through experimental, creative workshops.
The result is an inspiring and interactive artwork, inspired by the play of light and windows within Kettle’s Yard. It encourages visitors to look up, to interact and play with light, and notice how light can change the nature or appearance of our environment.
The students combined their interest in film-making, projection, painting, drawing and installation to create the final artwork. They also found themselves so inspired by the artwork, they went on to create a new music composition which plays alongside the work.
The project is the first of its kind for Castle School and Kettle’s Yard. Its aim has been to celebrate, amplify and importantly, be led by student voices. Pupils across the school, from early years up to sixth formers took part.
Anne Haberfield, Acting Head at Castle School says: “This has been such an amazing project. It's been so accessible for our students, with each one taking their own unique learning and inspiration from a shared stimulus. Georgia Akbar has facilitated this with her creative flair, attention to detail and positive relationships with each of our students. We are so grateful to Georgia, Kettle’s Yard, the Ragdoll Foundation, and everyone that has supported the project, it is a great creative partnership.”
Helen Creber, Learning and Engagement Coordinator and project lead at Kettle’s Yard says: “This has been an incredibly inspiring project for Kettle’s Yard, extending the legacy of Jim Ede, our founder, of inspiring young people through contemporary art. The project demonstrates the power of art to empower and celebrate student voice, especially for those who traditionally may not have been provided this opportunity.”
The artwork will be displayed at Kettle’s Yard for Twilight at the Museums on Thursday 17 February, 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Visitors are welcome to explore the work during this free event. Following the Twilight event, Castle School will permanently display the artwork at their school as a proud legacy of this project.
Kettle’s Yard is part of the University of Cambridge and is one of Britain’s best galleries - a beautiful and unique house with a distinctive modern art collection, and a gallery exhibiting modern and contemporary art. Supporting this is an established learning and community engagement programme, archive, and programme of chamber concerts. Kettle’s Yard’s mission is to contribute to society by inspiring and engaging audiences through art, learning and research of the highest quality.
Students from Castle School have collaborated with Kettle’s Yard gallery to develop a new installation designed to amplify student voices.
The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.