We welcome visits by groups and individuals to study the Collection and we partner with universities, colleges and secondary schools.
This nationally important collection of C20th and C21st domestic design allows visitors to appreciate the many decisions a maker has made to produce an item, from the inspiration to the materials and production.
It was Ken’s belief that to fully appreciate an object you have to touch it, to hold it, to feel the weight and texture: our learning programme is unique in enabling students to explore and examine objects in detail.
“I came away thinking it was one of the best activities I have experienced with students in terms of impact. It was great to see the realisations they were making about objects in general by being able to pick things up, examine the detail and feel the weight and texture. They really enjoyed it. Thank you very much for a great session – I will hope to do it again next year.”
“Thank you for a highly energetic and interesting tour of the collection, I think you pitched it about right for the students, with lots of anecdotes and questions, keeping them on their toes! Jason and I really enjoyed the day, and I think for the students it was a really good introduction to the world of design history. I am sure we will want to repeat it at a similar time next year after the exams. Thank you once again for a great day.”
EDUCATING THE MAKERS OF TOMORROW
- Opportunities for students to exhibit work developed though inspiration from the Collection
- Drawing, exploring the Collection with the rare opportunity to handle objects of museum quality
- Art design history workshops
- In-depth tours of the Collection, sharing stories about the objects and their makers.
INSPIRING MAKERS AND DESIGNERS
For artists, collectors and the curious we provide workshops, and work experience or hire the space to deliver classes, as well as exhibition space. There is a regular programme of workshops, courses, talks and events. These are provided by working in partnership with experts, teachers, tutors, collectors and makers.
For course leaders and students we can provide support for whatever the theme or topic. We will have objects in the collection that will enhance your project needs. You can hire the space and collection to deliver your class or buy in one of our specific engagement activities we have designed to help teachers and students get the most out of this fantastic resource.
Learning programme exhibitions
Browse our previous exhibitions of work produced as part of our learning programme.
Collections
7th September - 5th October 2024 The Collections exhibition assembles students’ creative responses to the open-ended question: What is a collection? Join us for a showcase of art and design from students at Castle School in Thornbury, Bristol[...]
The Art of Play 2023
‘The plaything is the first initiation of a child to art’ --- Baudelaire The Art of Play - now extended to 29 July! - showcases amazing work from students from schools, colleges and universities[...]
My Family and Other Objects 2022
10 September - 8 October 2022 My Family and Other Objects is a project by our Learning Programme inspired by A Lifelong Passion for Design: Ken Stradling at 100, which tells the story of Ken Stradling's life and[...]
Picturing Lockdown 2021
The Pandemic Diaries and other projects A selection of the wonderful range of Pandemic Diaries produced by local students. In November 2020 at the start of the second lockdown our Education officer David Beech began to meet with students[...]
Feedback
“As the sessions with David progressed and I got to work with the Collection I realised I was gaining valuable knowledge about how to truly observe artwork, and later, how to confidently present myself and my work to an audience. Because of your guidance I was able to devise a great workshop for my classmates, and although it was nerve-racking, I was able to tackle it thanks to what I learned with you.”
“The exhibition was a fantastic success. The students came back buzzing with excitement and were so proud of the opportunity to meet visitors and talk to them about the value of the Collection and how it has acted as a catalyst for their ideas.”
“The Collection is a really valuable resource. It means we have a bank of stimulus that can be used by all our students, moving them away from the internet and secondary sources.”
“Students learned from their objects and explored the history behind them, and also exercised their creativity when colour, design and surface texture were introduced, In the lessons they were encouraged to analyse them not just form photographs, but as real live object that they are responsible for, thus creating a sense of responsibility and appreciation by means of mutual trust.”
“I really enjoyed being able to study items from the Collection ‘up close and personal’ and learning how to really look at them. While at the V&A recently I recognised some names, I felt really pleased that the names and pieces in the V&A had more meaning to me but also that I’d actually touched similar pieces. I wasn’t just looking at them through the glass from one viewpoint; it made my connection to the maker more real.”
Enquire about our learning programme
Some of the pandemic diary ‘zines from Picturing Lockdown, our exhibition of work in 2021 responding to the pandemic, run and curated through our learning programme.