Our Artists e-learning tool launched
Date Posted: July 18, 2017
A unique educational platform that focuses on the lives and creations of artists with Ulster-Scots connections has been developed for schools by communications company, Morrow Communications.
‘Our Artists: An Ulster-Scots Legacy’ is a free comprehensive learning resource that explores the impact of six local artists, including renowned sculptor Anne Crawford Acheson and artist William Scott. Designed for Key Stage 2 pupils, the e-learning tool – which will be available to use from the new school year in September – has been developed in association with teachers and so targets key curriculum areas including the arts, language and literature, history and science.
The brainchild of the e-learning team at Morrow Communications, ‘Our Artists’ is funded by the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund (USBF) and supported by CCEA and the Ulster-Scots Agency.The project follows on from the highly successful ‘Our Innovators: An Ulster-Scots Legacy’ platform which was also designed and created by Morrow Communications last year and is available online now at www.ourinnovators.com.
As well as shining a light on the lives of local artists, this new resource stars many pupils from schools across Northern Ireland who lent their creative talent to the videos featured on the ‘Our Artists’ website.
Talking about the platform, Aisling Gallagher, Producer at Morrow Communications said; “The ‘Our Artists’ resource provides teachers with a unique way to equip our future leaders with skills and knowledge harnessed from successful local figures of our past. It acts as a ‘one stop shop’ providing everything from teacher guides and lesson plans to interactive material, including videos featuring local primary students and online interactive games. Both Our Artists and Our Innovators aim to highlight our Ulster-Scots as a truly inclusive and positive aspect of heritage for all sectors of our community.”
Ian Crozier, CEO of the Ulster-Scots Agency added; “As well as hosting a wealth of arts material, the content found on ‘Our Artists’ can be used to facilitate learning in many other essential curriculum areas. Importantly, the tool can also be used by teachers and pupils to learn about and celebrate cultural diversity and the rich heritage of Ulster-Scots in a contemporary and dynamic way.”
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “Building on the success of last year’s ‘Our Innovators: An Ulster-Scots Legacy’, we are delighted to support the production of additional classroom content that puts diversity and learning at its heart. The wealth of information contained in ‘Our Artists’ is impressive and I’m sure many teachers and parents will end up learning just as many interesting facts as their pupils and children.”
The ‘Our Artists: An Ulster-Scots Legacy’ will be hosted at http://www.our-artists.com/ and will be available for use free of charge from September 2017. It focuses on the lives of sculptor Anne Crawford Acheson, portrait and landscape artist Frank McKelvey, painter John Luke, artist, calligrapher and art teacher Mercy Hunter, ‘The Peoples Painter’ William Conor and Fermanagh born abstract artist William Scott.
