Public Programmes
Schools AND COLLEGES
WIDENING PARTICIPATION YEAR 12 ART HISTORY SUMMER SCHOOL NOW ONLINE
The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, is the leading centre for the study of Art History in the UK with an excellent international reputation. The Courtauld Gallery is one of the finest small museums in the world. Its collection stretches from the early Renaissance into the 20th century and is particularly renowned for the unrivalled collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
The Public Programmes department works as a bridge between the Institute and Gallery and offers the highest quality learning and teaching experiences that a university and world renowned gallery can offer.
Our programmes can be tailored to suit all ages in formal education with a particular focus on secondary schools, especially students preparing for GCSE and A-level. We also work with students in FE and HE and are happy to collaborate on cross-institution and cross-curricular projects.
Art History as a single subject is rarely taught in state schools, we offer participants the unique opportunity to work with HE level teachers and lecturers to engage with a subject that makes excellent links across the curriculum. Participating students are encouraged to develop visual analytical skills, critical and contextual understanding and to increase in their confidence and enjoyment of looking and talking about art.
We are happy to plan a visit for you or we could work directly with subject teachers and lecturers to devise a bespoke event that adds to and complements classroom teaching.
We are also happy to work with unaccompanied sixth form groups or after school projects, with the rarely cover policy it is becoming increasingly hard to organise out of school trips and we are happy to discuss ways of accommodating groups without disrupting the school or college timetable.
We especially encourage visits from students studying History, Art and Design, English, Modern Foreign Languages and many other subject areas.
e: education@courtauld.ac.uk or t: +44 (0)207 848 1058
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CAN PICK FROM THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS
Find out more about past gallery education projects:
Past schools projects
NEW: Find out more about our language project, Regarde!:
Please visit our Online Learning page to watch movies, download free resources and learn more about the temporary exhibitions taking place in The Courtauld Gallery.
GALLERY TALKS LED BY ART HISTORIANS
One hour, max group size per gallery tutor 30.
Gallery talks are led by art historians and encourage students to take part in discussion and debate looking at least three to five works in the Gallery. Talks can also include a short drawing activity in the gallery as a means of further investigation and interpretation.
Talks can cover a wide range of themes or subjects.
Some suggestions include:-
Portraiture: A historical look at the image of the self
Landscape: A social and political change
Colour: A new way of painting in the 19th and 20th Century
A Modern Style for Modern Times: the Impressionists and their revolution
Gallery talks are available Tuesday to Friday. There is a nominal charge of £50 per guide. For large groups we may need to provide two guides.
PLEASE NOTE we are able to offer a limited number of free tours per year for schools with a high level of free lunches. Please do call us if you wish to discuss the possibilities.
PLEASE NOTE due to the size of some of the rooms in the gallery we may suggest class groups are split into smaller groups.
WORKSHOPS LED BY PRACTICING ARTISTS
Two-hours, max group size per artist tutor 30
Workshops are led by professional artists and include discussion in the gallery looking at three or four art works, ideas are then explored further in a practical studio session. The workshop includes free entry for all staff into the gallery and all materials.
Workshops can be themed to a collection in the gallery or to a particular artistic practice including painting, printmaking, poetry, photography, and sculpture.
Workshops are available Wednesdays and Fridays. There is a nominal charge of £100.00 per artist tutor. For large groups we may need to provide more than one tutor.
PLEASE NOTE we are able to offer a limited number of free workshops per year for schools with a high level of free lunches. Please do call us if you wish to discuss the possibilities.
PLEASE NOTE due to the size of some of the rooms in the gallery we may suggest class groups are split into smaller groups.
DAY WORKSHOPS LED BY PRACTICING ARTISTS AND ART HISTORIANS
Full school or college day, max group size per workshop 30
Workshops can be led by practicing artists or by art historians. Participating students take part in discussion and debate in the gallery looking at three to five works, following which they work with a professional artist to undertake a short project. End results will vary in theme or medium with the intention of producing a contemporary interpretation or response to the works discussed in the gallery.
Participating students could also be introduced to formal techniques, for example pigment mixing or life drawing, following which the students would also produce creative responses to the artists and themes discussed in both the gallery and workshop.
Full day workshops can also be led by art historians who would typically encourage the students to use the gallery as a research tool. During the practical session students would devise a short presentation using information gathered from their gallery visit, following which they would then present their findings in front of the whole class.
We are also able to offer programmes working simultaneously with both an art historian and a practicing artist. For further details please do contact us as these programmes are bespoke and we tailor the ideas to suit what students are covering in class, to ensure the students get the best learning opportunity possible from a gallery visit.
Workshops are available on Wednesdays and Fridays. There is a nominal charge of £150.00 for a full day workshop. For large groups we may need to provide more than one guide.
PLEASE NOTE we are able to offer a limited number of free workshops per year for schools with a high level of free lunches. Please do call us if you wish to discuss the possibilities.
PLEASE NOTE due to the size of some of the rooms in the gallery we may suggest class groups are split into smaller groups.
For examples of some recent workshops or extended projects please click here.
SELF-GUIDED VISITS
Free entry for full time students and staff into the gallery.
Self-guided visits to the gallery are available to all Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities every day except Monday. For each temporary exhibition we produce free online resources for use in planning a visit or for further work in class following a visit. To see resources from our exhibition programme please click here
Please contact the education department to discuss or plan a self-guided visit.
The Courtauld Gallery requests a ratio of 1 adult to 5 primary school pupils and 1 adult to 10 secondary school pupils.
PLEASE NOTE as space is restricted in certain rooms in the gallery self guided group leaders are requested to split larger groups up to the recommended adult to pupil ratio in consideration of other visitors.
PLEASE NOTE group visits are limited so please book early. Schools must be booked at least one month in advance for all activities. Cancellations must be made over a month in advance of your visit otherwise you will be invoiced for a cancellation fee of £100.00.
For further details please contact:
e: education@courtauld.ac.uk or t: +44 (0)207 848 1058
The Courtauld Gallery runs an open access policy to the arts. If your school has any specific requirements or wish to discuss matters relating to bookings please contact:
Joff Whitten
Gallery Education Programmer
t: 020 7848 2705 e: joff.whitten@courtauld.ac.uk
.