Rod Taylor
1991

£9.75 + p&p, 108 pp
Col illus
ISBN 978 0 903319 50 8
Buy from Central Books

The idea of artists working in schools is now widely accepted and the benefits acknowledged, and a number of artists’ residencies in schools have been well documented. This book, however, is an account of the first systematic attempt to place artists in every school in one authority, with a brief to address whole school populations.

The gallery contexts and the role provided by the Drumcroon Education Art Centre in Wigan is outlined, also the establishment of the Artists in Wigan Schools Scheme. Its subsequent growth and developments, and the underlying educational principles and rationale are clearly set out. The book is illustrated with 150 colour photographs.

‘An absorbing book, stunningly illustrated – put it on the required reading list not just of art and design teachers, but heads and administrators too.’ Times Educational Supplement

Rod Taylor was art adviser for Wigan and founder and Director of the Drumcroon Education Art Centre and established the Artists in Wigan Schools Scheme in 1984. He was Director of the influential national Critical Studies in Art Education Project from 1981 to 1984 and this gave rise to the seminal book Educating for Art (Longman, 1986). He is co-author with his wife Dot Taylor of Approaching Art and Design (Longman, 1990), a guide for A-level students which utilizes the work of students from Wigan’s two sixth form colleges. Other publications include The Visual Arts in Education and The Arts in the Primary School, both written for the Falmer Press Library for Aesthetic Education.