Audio Explorers
Audio Explorers is a new sound art bursary scheme that invited primary schools in South Cumbria to explore the creative use of sound through a pupil-led project for Years 5 and 6.
In conjunction with Creative Futures Cumbria and Full of Noises Festival, SAM offered three schools a small bursary and the opportunity to work intensively with a sonic artist to realise their Audio Explorers project in July 2011. An Audio Explorers project could be anything; from a sound sculpture for the school playground to a new school bell or a performance using home-made sonic instruments! The project aimed to engage children and teachers in thinking about sound as a creative medium, as well as enabling them to undertake a self-led project from beginning to end.
In May and June five primary schools had a half day session with a local sound artist to develop an idea for a project. From these ideas three schools were selected to receive the Audio Explorers bursary. These schools were:
Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School, Hawkshead
The school's Year 5 class and teacher worked with artist Shaun Blezard on 'The Big Bash Band' project, exploring graphic scores, animation and creating their own foley orchestra!
See the blog of the work created by the class here
Black Combe Junior School, Millom
Artist Glenn Boulter worked with a mixed Year 5 & 6 class and their teacher to create the 'Super Sonic Sound Store' - an audio library for the school's new sensory room.
Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness
Year 5 and artist John Hall worked with a storyteller and writer to explore the mysterious history of their school building and create 'The Sacred Hear Ghost Tour' - an installation and audio tour of sounds, stories and spooky goings-on!
Aims of the Audio Explorers project were:
To encourage pupils to exercise their imagination and creativity
To invite pupils to engage with listening and sound
To create opportunities for pupils to gain real-world experience of directing their own learning
To provide opportunities for children and teachers to work with professional artist
The three schools and their artists will be worked together through July 2011 to realise their projects. The work they created was showcased to the public on Saturday 6th August at the bandstand in Barrow Park as part of the Full of Noises festival in Barrow-in-Furness.
