A Toe in the Water: Introducing Exhibitions on Video with Young People at the Whitechapel Art Gallery

Abstract

This paper focuses on the production of introductory videos for gallery exhibitions through collaborations between young people, professional artists and gallery staff. Fundamental to this process is the quality of encounter young people involved have with original works of art, artists and gallery staff. Their enquiries about the work on show and critical response is valued by the gallery and its diverse audiences for its unique and individual perspective. Students are invited to explore and familiarise themselves with the work prior to articulating their ideas and views on video within the exhibition spaces. Recorded footage is then edited to a professional standard and shown in the gallery during the run of each show. The videos are also posted out to local schools, marketed as peer-led introductions to each exhibition, in order to offer up questions and ideas to students and teachers prior to their gallery visit. A commissioned, external evaluation of the videos, against their stated aims and objectives, was undertaken by Goldsmiths College's Art in Education team. Abstract JADE 20.3 ©NSEAD 2001 IntroductionThe Whitechapel Art Gallery in London has a long and distinguished history of innovative education projects, including their Artists in Schools programme.[1] Developed in the late seventies and early eighties, this initiative became a national model for gallery and museum education. More recently in 1995, partnerships have been forged with local teachers collaborating on the production of exhibition teachers' packs. This has provided professional development for both teachers and gallery staff, ensuring a diversity of approach, relevance and space for multiple viewpoints in the production of resource materials for schools. Currently, the Gallery is involving local students in the production of introductory videos to exhibitions, further extending the range of voices to be heard.

Participatory Action Research with young people in museums

“…Young people's engagement in the design and delivery of programmes became a requirement in the Heritage Lottery Fund Young Roots programme (HLF 2010(HLF , 2007. Art galleries have taken the lead in the exploration of new channels to reach young people (Briggs 2007) and the development of programmes that intend to challenge canonical views of art and productions of knowledge within the gallery space 3 (Herne and McLaren 2001;Sayers 2011).…”

“…3. At the Whitechapel Art Gallery young people participated in the production of videos that were shown in the galleries (Herne and McLaren 2001). Tate Galleries in the UK searching for new channels to communicate with young people extended their marketing approaches to young people and showcased music based on the artworks to give youth an access point into collection displays (Briggs 2007).…”

“…Research has mainly focused on exploring the young people's attitudes towards art museums and galleries to bridge the gap between the institutions' educational provision and the target group (Mason and McCarthy 2006;Xanthoudaki 1998). The need for emancipatory pedagogies in programmes for young people has been clearly articulated in pilot work in art galleries in which new channels and educational practices are sought to reach young people (Briggs 2007;Herne and McLaren 2001;Sayers 2011). This paper explores the notions of youth and inclusion that underpin museum practices as illustrated in the current literature and research about the role of museums and galleries as agents for social change.…”